In Mary Roach's novel Stiff (2004), she explains that using cadavers is a really useful when trying to figure out new techniques for surgical uses. The author first implies that cadavers are better for the surgeons practice work by using experiences on how doctors say the cadavars are easier to deal with the pressure and work without doing much harm. Roach then expresses her thoughts of the lack of respect given to the dead or human remains by explaining what happens during the whole funeral arrangement. To conlude, Roach demontrates her belief on why using cadavers are better then animals with demonstrating experiments at Wayne State University for a recent crash. Her purpose is to establish the significance of the use of cadavers in order to help with surgical practice. She seems to have future surgeons or interns audience in mind to help them suceed and make their work much easier on them.
2. Vocabulary
-cutlery-cutting instruments collectively, especially knives for cutting food.
-eviscerate-to remove the entrails from
-saline-of, containing, or resembling common table salt.
gratuitous- given, done, or obtained without charge or payment
heirlooms- a family possession handed down from generation to generation
entomologists- the branch of zoology dealing with insects
haciendas- a large landed estate for farming or ranching.
3. Tone
The tone of the first four chapters is informative and direct.
4. Rhetorical strategies
-telegraphice sentence- “The brain has shut down. The flesh begins to softens” (page 9).
-metaphor: "The heads have been put in roasting pans...for the same reason chickens are put in roasting pans: to catch the drippings."(page 1)
-imagery: " compressed into boxes, packed in saw dust,... trussed up in sacks, roped up like hams.." (page 46)
-telegraphic sentence: ' The atamist clearly didn't care." (page 51)
5. Discussion questions
1.Roach discovered that students in anatomy classes tend not to enjoy touching and smelling cadavers, even though they relish the opportunity to study them. Does this surprise you? Why might someone want to work with cadavers?
2.Why do you think its so important for surgeons to practice on cadavers rather than animals?
3. Do you think a person could get attached to a cadavor when working on one ? (mentally)
6. Quote
“The way I see it, being dead is not terribly far off from being on a cruise ship. Most of your time is spent lying on your back. The brain has shut down. The flesh begins to soften. Nothing much new happens, and nothing is expected of you. ”
