The Sixth Extinction By Elizabeth Kolbert: Chapter Analysis

Jessica Toppins

Dr Burbery

Eng 210

8 Apr 15

Title

In the making of The Sixth Extinction, author Elizabeth Kolbert travels to corners of the Earth in search of evidence to support her theory that humans are the cause of the next big extinction. In her travels she visits the remote yet widely known, One Tree Island. While the name is not representative of the tree population on the Island, Kolbert found that the island has many other extraordinary qualities that are both beautiful and frightening. The “island” is in fact a collection of coral rubble and is susceptible to humans, wearing the damage with as much dignity as a coral reef can muster. One Tree Island holds some answers to Kolbert’s questions and with the help of the scientists living

That being said, one would see the importance in preserving the integrity of this structure. Elizabeth Kolbert’s choice to explore the destruction of this massive landmark will surely evoke passion for her subject matter and as a reader had no difficulty depicting her passion. I favor the assumption that other readers will react in a similar manner with the thought that the Great Barrier Reef is in peril. Much of society is only concerned with what affects them personally In chapter seven, she piggybacked with atmospheric scientist Ken Caldeira on One Tree Island to find out learn about ocean acidification and her findings show neither good news nor promise concerning the future of the ocean’s coral reefs. The tone of the chapter is that of death: the balance of coral reef revolves around life and death in its current state. But as Caldeira explains in the text eventually life will phase out leaving only death (138). I feel Kolbert’s approach was apt if she hoped to spark any interest leaving no room for the reader to believe there can be change unless change is

Her thoughts were “The reason I’d come to the Great Barrier Reef was to write about the scale of human influence. And yet Schneider and I seemed very, very small in the unbroken dark.” (145). In the grand scheme of things, the earth is infinitely larger than its inhabitants and that is what Kolbert means by that quote. She is at awe with the sheer size of the horizon and how the complete darkness illuminates the stars in the night’s sky. This type of imagery is throughout the chapter, as a way to help the reader visualize what she is seeing and feeling. When she takes part of the spawning, she describes how the coral reef gets goose bumps, something most humans can relate to getting as well, giving them that connection