How Does Michael Morpurgo Use Language to Create Sympathy and Show the Significance of Topthorn as a Character When He Dies?

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How does Michael Morpurgo use language to create sympathy and show the significance of Topthorn as a character when he dies? When Topthorn life dwindles away, Morpurgo selected words that create vivid imagery in the readers mind. As a result, the reader becomes even more sympathetic for the character. To signify that Topthorn is near the end of his life Morpurgo has used the verb ‘slumped’. This suggests that he is a large helpless lump ‘slumping’ to his death quite suddenly, one may think this because the connotations of slumped are plunge, collapse and tumble. It also suggests that Topthorn could no longer take the continuous strain of being a war horse; therefore he literally plummeted from his war duties to a less painful place. In addition the way Topthorn dies links back to an earlier point in the novel when another horse coco is over-worked, consequently ends her pitiful life in a pit neglected and unwanted. This suggests that when you’re a war horse you’re fate has already been determined. Freidrich shows great bitter longing towards Topthorn’s death. Morpurgo has created a breath-taking atmosphere by doing this to increase sympathy for the character. “For God sake he’s dead” Freidrich wails desperately. This shows the admiration the soldiers have for the horses. “For god sake” is a phrase which prickles the readers feelings- it is sharp, strong and full of raw emotions. Morpurgo has added this to show how some had a lot of gratitude for horses. It is a painful way to say goodbye though and Morpurgo has pressed upon the fact that just because a horse, like Topthorn, is beautiful doesn’t mean it will survive the harrows of a merciless war. The significance of Topthorn is highlighted when the vet officer expresses the unpleasant truth. The vet officer leaves a harsh mental image in the reader’s mind which instantly creates deep sympathy. Morpurgo

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