Tales of a Shaman's Apprentice
In Chapter 3 of Tales of a Shaman's Apprentice, Plotkin's use of long lists, detailed descriptions, and analysis forces us to understand the value of his expedition because these well-kept secrets in the rainforest have numerous possibilities as medicines which are in demand right now in our world. Mark Plotkin talks about many plants that serve as healing products. These plants can be found in the jungle and used for all kinds of different pains or diseases. From page seventy to page seventy-one, he is visiting with the Maroons in Suriname and gets his first lesson learning the vernacular names of common plants. He talks about agrobigi, fire liana, mispel, jarakopi, konsaka wiwiri, mokomoko, and the herb found growing at the edge of a trail. In this scene, he, like us, is a student and is getting his first taste of ethnobotany. Plotkin introduces this passage by bringing up his first lesson, which is taught by his guide-Fritz von Troon. Fritz and Mark hike into the jungle located at the edge of the Suriname village. During this first lesson, Mark tries to learn Fritz's language and his plants. He senses something special about the way Fritz and other Maroons related to their surroundings. It is then that Mark no l
Plotkin uses this list style to show that in one day alone, he found cures to many common ailments. There are many plants that no one even knows exist which can serve our needs. He also uses a list to give us direct facts and information. Description is used to place the reader right there next to him learning the Surinamese plants. In this scene, he is Fritz's student and we are Plotkin's students. Plotkin describes each plant in detail, what it looks like, where it is found, and what it can do to give us a picture of what it looks like. This shows us that Plotkin is being extremely observative, making sure that nothing is overlooked, so that he will not have to ask Fritz or any other native again. He tells us what he sees so that we know what it is he is talking about. In school, a teacher would describe the cause, effects, events, and people involved in the war. The teacher would not just give the name of the war and leave it at that. Same goes for Plotkin. He is trying to put us in his shoes. By intriguing us with a list and describing in detail the plants he observes, he does more than just draw the reader in; he puts us there right next to him on this expedition. Plotkin also gives us an analysis of what these plants can do and how they can be used to treat ailments that we suffer from every day. The jungle and rainforest are more than what they seem. It is actually a pharmacy that can serve the needs of people all over the world. In a way it seems as if this pharmacy has been kept a secret from everyone. Plotkin writes about these plants because these discoveries affect the audience. Everyone knows someone who has suffered from a headache, cut, or burn. The reader or audience can understand why Plotkin is searching for these plants. The audience can
Some common words found in the essay are:
Guiana Fritz, Mark Fritz, Maroons Suriname, Plotkin Suriname, Mark Plotkin, Apprentice Plotkin's, Fritz Mark, Mark Plotkin's, Fritz Plotkin, Thanks Plotkin, konsaka wiwiri, names common plants, vernacular names, names common, common plants, fire liana, growing edge, reader able, analysis reader, growing edge trail, vernacular names common, tea drunk, brewed tea,
Approximate Word count = 1206
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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