"The Big Thirst" Chapters 1-4

1. In Charles Fishman's The Big Thirst (2012), he speaks on the importance and incredibly big role that water has in our everyday lives. He describes it to be marvellous, mysterious, charming, the most important substance in our lives, etc. Fishman delivers the fact that people do not know much about water and do not take water for granted because we cannot even notice it enough to even care. Fishman presents the various ways in which water is used, from providing a outlet source to our flat-screen TVs to filling up our water guns for a little fun. Through the first chapter of his book he manages to immediately illustrate the many ways in which we use water and gives an outstanding demonstration of just how big water is. It makes one be thankful to have a good source of water by him providing us facts about the number of kids how die from the lack of water or the use of contaminated water to countries having droughts. Continuing with the significance of water, he discusses upon the issue of water being wasted such as in Las Vegas with the enormous water fountains they have all over including banks and grocery stores. His purpose is to bring great value to water once again by reminding everyone of the many ways water is used, the many ways can waste it and the limited source we are in risk of having. The audience he seems to have is everyone, from little kids to elderly people because everyone who is on this Earth uses water and hardly takes the time to appreciate it. Everyone needs to be reminded of how great water is. 

2.Vocabulary

• filigree (n.):  ornamental work especially of fine wire of gold, silver, or copper applied chiefly to gold and silver surfaces
• opaqueness (adj.): hard to understand or explain
• blasé (adj.):  apathetic to pleasure or excitement as a result of excessive indulgence or enjoyment 
• corroding (v.): to weaken or destroy gradually.
• meniscus (n.):  the curved upper surface of a column of liquid
• vintner (n.): a person who makes wine
• seismology (n):  : a science that deals with earthquakes and with artificially produced vibrations of the earth
• ephemeral (adj.): lasting a very short time
• elixir (n.):  a substance held capable of prolonging life indefinitely
• gondola (n.):  a long narrow flat-bottomed boat with a high prow and stern used on the canals of Venice
• allure (v.): to entice by charm or attraction
• profligacy (adj.): to be wildly extravagant
• ostentation (n.): excessive display
• aerate (v.):   to supply or impregnate (as the soil or a liquid) with air
• turf (n.):  the upper stratum of soil bound by grass and plant roots into a thick mat

3. Tone: concern, angry, informative

4. Rhetorical Strategies

Personification: "Water speaks a whole range of languages..." (26)

"Water is a team player..." (50)

Allusion: "The Old Testament considers water so primal a substance, so fundamental a tool of creation that the Bible does not mention God creating water." (22)

Anaphora: "Water is transparent, and also reflects light.

Water is soft and soothing, and also hard as concrete.

Water is confusing, and also threatening; gentle, and fierce.

Water is the source of like, and also often a source of death.

Water is all-important, indespensable, but almost always free, or essentially free." (49)

"There is no sign of water. There is no sound of water. There is not only no drama..." (96)

Aphorism: "Water is charming." (49)

"Ice floats." (42)

"With water." (45)

"Then something strange happened" (79)

Epigraph: "Water is H2O, hydrogen two parts, oxygen one, 

But there is also a third thing, that makes it water

And nobody knows what it is." (1)

-D.H. Lawrence, "The Third Thing"

Imagery: "We all know how it feels to be so grungy that nothing but a good shower will make us feel better. We know how it feels to be so thirsty that only water will really satisfy us. And we know exactly how the water will taste- really how the water will feel- going down, in that first swallow." (25)

5. Discussion Questions

1. What exactly does Fishman mean when he refers to water as being sexy? 
2. By every quotation that Fishman provides in the beginning of each chapter, what is he trying to accomplish from them?
3. How will society react if all water on Earth disappeared? Will it make them realize they did not appreciate it and it's importance?
4. What encouraged Fishman to write about water?
5. In which ways does Fishman organize his writing? 

6. Quotation

"Water is both mythic and real. It manages to be at once part of the mystery of life and part of the routine of life."