This month we read about an expedition to Antarctica, and the challenges explorers faced at the Bottom of the World.
Title: The Castle berg, a weathered iceberg / H.G.P. Author: Herbert George Ponting - http://www.loc.gov/pictures/related/?fi=name&q=Ponting%2C%20Herbert%20George
Source: http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2009633367/ License: No known restrictions on publication.
See photos from this article. Click the link above.
Photograph courtesy Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales from National Geographic Article.
This map of Antarctica shows the different claims made to the continent by different nations over the years. It also shows the places various explorers have visited. You can see where Mawson landed near the top right of the continent.
Photo from: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0b/Antarctic_Region.png
Interested in knowing more? Check out these other readings. We won't necessarily talk about them in book club, but they'll help you learn more.
The article we read focuses mainly on one part of the Australasian Antartic Expedition. Read Mike Dash's article from January 2012's Smithsonian Magazine to get a better picture of the overall expedition experience.
Just in case you thought people had had enough of the Antarctic: This article from December 2011's Smithsonian Magazine covers one woman's attempt to ski across the continent.
This article from the UK's The Guardian on January 23, 2012 discusses the successful conclusion of the solo journey of the woman who skied across Antarctica in November/December 2011.
Read the article Sir Douglas Mawson wrote in 1914 about his experiences on the Australasian Antarctic Expedition. The article contains several photos, including portraits of the crew members. Note you must be logged into the library for link to work.
The Home of the Blizzard: Being the Story of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 1911-1914. Sir Douglas Mawson wrote a book about his experiences in Antarctica. You can read the book online for free by clicking the link above.
"The Quitter" by Robert William Service
When Mawson falls into a crevasse and faces death, he gains strength from remembering a verse from his favorite poet:
Just have one more try - it's dead easy to die
It's the keeping-on-living that's hard
Click here to read the full poem by Robert Service.
Mawson's Will: The Greatest Polar Survival Story Ever Written by Lennard Bickel
Explorers and Discoverers of the World by Daniel Baker Click here to find this book in the library's catalog. It is available upon request from South Campus, North Campus, and Deerwood.
Discussion Questions:
Now that you've read the whole poem, think about it in relation to the article we read on Mawson's expedition.
1.Do you think Mawson considered himself “scared as a child” at any point on his journey? When?
2. What phrases of this poem are similar in description of Mawson’s journey?
3. Would the person in this poem have continued on like Mawson did? Why?
Want a little audio? Follow this link to listen to a reading of "Into the Unknown."
Several different expeditions to the Antarctic took place right around the same time as Mawson's, and they are mentioned in many of the additional readings. Click the image above to see an interactive timeline of the exploration of Antarctica.
The main expeditions to know are:
1907-1909: Ernest Shackelton
1910-1913: Captain Robert Falcon Scott
1911-1914: Douglas Mawson
1914-1916: Ernest Shackelton
100 years later, Antarctic Explorers' Huts Look Frozen in Time
National Geographic Live! - Face-to-Face with a Leopard Seal
You may remember this story, which was all over the Internet a couple of years ago. Did you realize that leopard seals lived in Antarctica, and that they were some of the main animals explorers interacted with when they visited the continent? Here's one photographer's story of his encounter with a leopard seal.
National Geographic Live! - Alone on the Ice: The Best Survival Story You've Never Heard
The author of our article, David Roberts, gives a presentation about the Australian Antarctic Expedition.
Jynne Dilling Martin - Antarctica's Poet in Residence
Read about the poet who spent six weeks in Antarctica as the National Science Foundation's artist-in-residence.
"A Day in the Life of Antarctica's Newest Poet in Residence" by Rebecca Greenfield Click HERE to read an article from Fast Company (November 2013) about Jynne Dilling Martin and her position as Antarctica's Poet in Residence. 
"Meet Jynn Dilling Martin, Poet at the End of the World" by Kat Stoeffel Click HERE to read an article from The Cut in November 2013 featuring a Q&A with the poet about her life in Antarctica.
Read two of Jynne Dilling Martin's poems about Antarctica.
"How to Cook an Amazing Thanksgiving Dinner at the South Pole" by Jynne Dilling Martin
Click on the link above to read the poet's November 6, 2013 blog on Food & Wine about Thanksgiving in Antarctica.
Visit Jynne Dilling Martin's Tumblr to see more. See more stories and lots of photos at the poet's Tumblr account.
Here are some of the things we'll be discussing about this reading. The first set of questions are to test your understanding of the reading.The second set are to make you think a little more about the expedition.
Comprehension:
1. In addition to the loss of Ninnis and his dogs, what was the impact of the fallen sled?
2. Why did Mawson throw away his camera during the journey home?
3. What reasons do reseraches state for Mertz's death?
4. How long did Mawson stay in Antartica after his arrival at the hut?
5. How many days was the expedition?
Discussion:
1. What challenges the Far Eastern Party face were the hardest? Why?
2. What personal qualities helped the explorers to overcome the challenges of their journey?
3. Would you want to visit Antarctica, either then or now?
4. Why do you think Mawson lead two more Antarctic explorations and continued to study the area? What do you think of his decision?