I.An overview of the text

The text describes the heroic struggle of the Koshaks and their friends against the forces of a devastating hurricane. Unwilling to abandon their home, the Koshaks had made full preparations for the hurricane. However, they had underestimated the ferocity of Hurricane Camille, which smashed into the Mississippi Gulf Coast with winds in excess of 200 mph and tides over 20 feet. The overwhelming wind and rain whipped the house so that it was on the verge of disintegration. The Koshaks and their friends tried to quit the house but unfortunately failed because of the doused car. They scrambled back, terrified and bewildered. Plunged in a desperate situation, they attempted to support each other with verbal comforts or prayers for the God. With the entire roof lifted off, the staircase breaking apart and the walls toppling, the Koshaks found no room sanctuary and prepared a door for taking the nine children on if the floor split up. Luckily the main thrust of Camille had passed and the Koshaks and their friends survived. Organizations within the country had come to the aid of the devastated coast, and the inhabitants there quickly reorganized their lives. Though the hurricane had deprived the Koshaks of all their material possessions, the family came through it, which was the most significant thing for them.

II. Writing features

Lexically, in order to embody the ferocity of the hurricane, the writer makes effective use of verbs, such as lash, pummel, demolish, lap, swipe, skim, swath, snap, and so on. Syntactically, the writer uses many elliptical and short simple sentences to heighten tension and help create a sense of danger and urgency.

The writer portrays the characters in a heroic and appreciative way. Confronted with the formidable hurricane, the characters show firm determination and utmost courage to fight against the natural disaster. Their mutual encouragement signifies the humanistic greatness, which the writer mainly strives for in the story.

III. Grammar

Participles and clauses are widely used here to construct long sentences and offer complete information. The choice of participles depends on the grammatical relationship between the subject of sentence and the verb concerned. If they form a “S—V” relationship, present participle should be used; If a “V—O” one, past participle stands as the choice.

Participles in the text are used as attributes and adverbials so as to provide necessary details or information.