A Game of Polo with a Headless Goat (Edexcel IGCSE English Language)
A Game of Polo with a Headless Goat Analysis
Spec point —
IGCSE_ENGLISH_LANGUAGE_A:C1T07
Students studying the Pearson Edexcel International GCSE English Language A qualification must study all ten of the non-fiction texts in Part 1 of the Edexcel International GCSE English Language Anthology in preparation for Paper 1. You will be given one of the ten texts in your exam, along with another unseen text, which is thematically linked. Section A, Question 4 will be specifically about the anthology text, and Question 5 will ask you to compare the anthology text with the unseen text.
The following guide to A Game of Polo with a Headless Goat by Emma Levine contains:
- A Game of Polo with a Headless Goat overview **
- A Game of Polo with a Headless Goat summary**
- Themes, ideas and perspectives in A Game of Polo with a Headless Goat
- How does Levine present her ideas and perspectives?
A Game of Polo with a Headless Goat overview
Spec point —
IGCSE_ENGLISH_LANGUAGE_A:C1T07
A Game of Polo with a Headless Goat is an excerpt taken from a book by Emma Levine, a British journalist, who wrote about her experiences of watching unusual games and sports played in Asia, but not anywhere else in the world. In this passage, she tells of her experience trying to photograph a donkey race in Karachi, Pakistan.
A Game of Polo with a Headless Goat summary
Spec point —
IGCSE_ENGLISH_LANGUAGE_A:C1T07
The passage is structured so that it tells the story of the race from beginning to end. It opens with Levine trying to find the best viewing spot to photograph the donkey race, and waiting for the action to finally happen. Just as she thinks the race is not going ahead, she sees the approaching donkeys and vehicles, and then chaos erupts. People, cars, vans, taxis, lorries and donkeys all race and jostle for position, and Levine is in the back of a vehicle whose young driver decides to try to get to the front.
The race finishes in confusion and arguments over which donkey won. The situation turns volatile, and Levine is driven away, with her young driver revealing that he does not even have a driving licence as he is under the legal driving age.
Themes, ideas and perspectives in A Game of Polo with a Headless Goat
Paper 1, Question 4 will ask you to explore how the writer has used language and structure to present a theme or idea within their text. Paper 1, Question 5 will ask you to compare how the writer presents their ideas and perspectives with the unseen text.
What are the key themes in A Game of Polo with a Headless Goat?
| Theme | Analysis |
|---|---|
| East versus West | - The title is a juxtaposition of the Western game of polo with the ridiculous and barbaric image of a headless goat: - Polo is a sport with imperial and colonial connections, and it is still considered an upper-class sport - The image of the headless goat is both absurd and primitive, with goats associated with a simpler and less sophisticated way of life in the East |
| - The writer describes her assumptions, which are influenced by the West, and the reality of the race: - The use of parenthesis in “(no lane discipline here)” shows her Western perspective about the rules of the road - This is further emphasised when she “assumed the winner was the one who completed the race” | |
| - Levine also uses Western cultural references, such as “Wacky Races” and “Formula One without rules” to give the reader some reference points with which to compare her experience: - She appears incredulous at the “complete flouting of every type of traffic rule and common sense” | |
| Culture | - Cultural differences are highlighted at the end of the passage, when Yaqoob reveals that he is underage and doesn’t have a licence, which he and Iqbal find hilarious: - Levine was “glad he hadn’t told me before” as she views this as a breach of rules and the law - The whole race and how it is conducted is an example of something that simply would not happen in Britain |
| - The tension at the end of the race, caused by the arguments over the winner, mean that Levine’s two young drivers decide to remove her from the situation: - They were “nervous of hanging around a volatile situation” and ordered her to stay inside the car - This suggests that the situation might turn quickly into something more hostile, emphasising the lack of rules or laws governing the event | |
| - There appears to be very little concern for the donkeys’ welfare, as the animals are racing with a variety of vehicles which “jostled to get to the front of the convoy”: - The donkeys had to race into oncoming traffic, and the leading donkey fell at the end of the race - The difference in cultures between the writer and the people of Karachi is observed by Levine |
How does Levine present her ideas and perspectives?
Levine uses a variety of language and structural techniques to present her ideas and perspectives.
| Technique | Analysis |
|---|---|
| In medias res | - The passage begins in the middle of the action, referring to the “lads” without context or explanation: - This adds to the sense of excitement |
| Chronological structure | - The events are described in the chronological order of the race, as though the events have some sense of order and control: - This is ironic as the entire race seems to be disorganised and chaotic |
| Colloquial language | - Levine refers to her drivers as “lads” and uses colloquialisms such as “punters” and “massive pile up”: - This is to make the passage relatable to Western readers |
| Short sentences | - The abrupt ending “The race was over” contrasts with the previous more complex sentences, making the end of the race an anti-climax |
| Humour | - The humorous tone of the passage is meant to entertain and to highlight the cultural differences that Levine observes |
| Imagery | - Levine employs cartoon-like imagery, suggested by the reference to the cartoon “Wacky Races”, to imply she cannot believe what she is seeing: - “In front of a cloud of fumes and dust” and “dive into the ditch” evoke the action in chaotic, mad-cap cartoons |
| Juxtaposition | - While Levine finds the donkey race chaotic and possibly dangerous, the local people find it completely normal: - This may be a warning not to impose Western ideals and expectations onto different cultures |
| Onomatopoeia | - The writer employs onomatopoeia in “horns tooting, bells ringing” to emphasise the chaos and excitement |
| Tone | - The tone of the passage could be considered to be judgemental, as the author compares what she considers to be normal to the sense of lawlessness she finds in this event: - This implies that this culture is perceived to be uncivilised in comparison |
| Rule of three | - Rule of three, or triads, are used in “voices were raised, fists were out and tempers rising” to build the tension and atmosphere, which seems to be getting more out of control |
| Personification | - The vehicles following the donkeys are “roaring up in their wake”, suggesting a fierce pursuit |
For more guidance on how to get top marks in your exam, check out our comprehensive revision notes on Paper 1, Question 4:
How to Answer Question 4 Question 4 Skills: Language and Structure Analysis Question 4: Model Answer
And see our guides for the other International GCSE English Language Anthology texts here:
| The Danger of a Single Story |
|---|
| A Passage to Africa |
| The Explorer's Daughter |
| Explorers or boys messing about? Either way, taxpayer gets rescue bill |
| From 127 Hours: Between a Rock and a Hard Place |
| Young and Dyslexic? You've got it going on |
| Beyond the Sky and the Earth: A Journey into Bhutan |
| H is for Hawk |
| Chinese Cinderella |
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