Observing and describing in Storm Boy 3: Describing a crowd

Chin cupped in hands

The passage concludes with the observer and their judgment of the whole scene. While you already know what they think by the words chosen in the description, this snippet reinforces it, concluding with a final reaction or idea or daydream to the crowd they’ve observed.

Storm Boy felt the excitement and wonder of it; he often sat on the shore all day with his knees up and his chin cupped in his hands. Sometimes he wished he’d been born an ibis or a pelican.

Storm Boy(1963)

Remember this statement from the start of the lesson?

Storm Boy thinks the crowd of bathing birds are exciting and wonderful.

This was backed up in the passage by these actions and descriptors:

rippled, flapped, clapped, cheered, happy, splashing, sousing, swishing, busy, gargling, gurgling, running, flapping, pedalling, crisscrossing

Check out the examples.

Amelia was worried and saddened by it; from time to time she sat on the footpath with her legs crossed and a coin cup at her feet. Sometimes she wished there was no need for money or work and people just did what made them happy.

Xavier felt awed and overwhelmed; he was sitting atop the outer fence, feet dangling down, far enough away to take it all in. He thought, all these dudes are so big. How big do you have to be to ride a chopper exactly?

Example 1

Amelia thinks the crowd of peak hour commuters are sad and worrying.

Actions and descriptors in the passage:

Creaked, crunched, trudged, tramped, trundled, busy, cacophony, grunts, shouts, discussions, moaning, groaning, complaining, weaving, honking, swerving, yell, scream, impatient, complaints, side remarks, abuse.

Example 2

Xavier thinks the crowd of bikers are awesome and overwhelming.

Actions and descriptors in the passage:

Thrummed, roared, revved, raised, howled, braying, barking, booming, roaring, racing, slapping, riding, tinkering, sitting, walking, admiring, spun, pouring, spattering, cheering, running, launching, sailing.

Write your own variation.
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