Belonging TEXTS Immigrant chronicles poems Feliks skrzynecki: An Analysis Details
Type- poem Composer- Peter skynecki Audience- young readers Source- From an poetry book published in 1975 was. Felix was the one Context- Felix skryznecki was not Peters biological father, but It is not known who his real father was. that was always in his life. He worked as a labourer for the water board, while growing his own vegetable garden. Felix always retained his polish background. Purpose- To inform and educate
Summary Explores the relationship between the poet and his father, and their contrasting experiences of belonging in a new land.
What ideas about belonging are presented? The poem explores cultural belonging. Felix culturally belongs to Poland; it has shaped him immensely, through hi s memories, language and his friendships. He is at peace with and content in his garden in his new country. Poet has more connections the Australia and less connectedness. The boy accepts the Australian culture culture and surrenders his Polish once, father doesn’t.
Techniques Technique Hyperbole
Imagery
Examples “ten times around the world” (paragraph 1) “why his arms didn’t fall off” (paragraph 2)
Personal pronoun
Effects
“Hands darkened/ from cement, fingers with cracks/like the sods he broke. (paragraph 2) “Bordered by golden cypress/lawnscypress/lawns geraniums younger” (paragraph 6) “my gentle father” (paragraph 1) “I often wondered how he existed” (paragraph 2)
Exclusive pronoun
“His polish friends” (paragraph 3) “Him complain of work” (paragraph 4) “His dog, smoking” (paragraph 6)
The hyperbole creates the sense that Felix spent a lot of time in the garden. This hyperbole creates a sense of his belonging in his setting, as he chooses to stay within these boundaries. Creates a sense of how hard he worked in the garden as well as at work. Emphasizes that his work is a labour of love, it conveys how he had a sense of contentment at this place. It connotes the feeling that Peter owned his father and felt that he related to his father. Shows the boys admiration for a man content with the simple things in life. Allows the poets own feelings of admiration and awe come through for his father. The change of pronoun emphasizes there was a distance between them and that it was growing more and more far apart. The poet feels unease and detachment , due to ignorance of his father’s Polish culture. The division between the father’s culture and the boy’s world is opening up highlighting Peter’s disconnection with his father.
St patrick’s college: An Analysis Summary
Explores the relationship and time that Peter skynecki had as a child at St patrick’s college.
What ideas about belonging are presented? Place - The poet had spent a long time at the school, but he was not happy. The persona belonged to the school as he wore the school uniform and attended it, but did not really belong. People- Peter does not belong with the people there due to the fact that he isn’t all religious. There is no mentioning of individuals, friends or teachers.
Techniques Technique Imagery (metaphor + symbolism)
Examples “Our lady watched” (paragraph 1) “her face overshadowed by clouds” (paragraph 1) “That the darkness around me” (paragraph 5)
Effects
Humour
Simile
“I stuck pine needles/into the motto” (paragraph 2) “Could say The Lord’s Prayer/In Latin, all in one breath.” (paragraph 4) “I fervently counted/ the seventy eight pages/of my Venite Adoremus.” (paragraph 5)
“Like a foreign tourist” (paragraph 3)
Tone
“For eight years”
The statue of the Virgin Mary is a symbol of protection and acceptance. Connotes an image of a huge lady with large arms around the school. The image of Mary’s face covered by clouds foreshadows that the persona will not have a good time here, thus adding to a sense of not belonging. The image of the darkness around the persona allows the reader to image someone surrounded by darkness. It is a metaphor for the uncertainty and burdens that he carried while at the school. Shows his innocence and ignorance of the significance of this school. Conveys may be unhappy and does not want to stay at school as he feels no connection to t he culture of the school. Gives the connotation that the persona took religious activities like the Lord’s Prayer and reading the prayer book as a joke, not to heart. Conveys the message that even though he attended the school for a lengthy amount of time, he still did not fit or feel comfortable in the school. The word “foreign” in the simile, even gives the connotation that he did not belong. The tone of the poem is unenthusiastic – rather dull, with a unsettling atmosphere reinforced by the repetition (3 times) of “For eight years” as if it were a trial of endurance, as well as the anonymity of the people even the streets and buses are unnamed. The tone is ended on a hopeful tone, reinforced by the “prayed that Mother would be pleased. Foreshadows that the persona will be able to find someone happy and will be able to determine his future, once he leaves.
10 Mary Street: An Analysis Details
Type- poem Composer- Peter skynecki Audience- young readers Source- From an poetry book published in 1975 Context- Peter skynecki moved to 10 mary street after being released from the hostel. It was a very industrious city. Purpose- to educate and inform
Summary
Explores the lack of relationship Peter had in the industrial town but also he connected in the house.
What ideas about belonging are presented? Place- There is a certain warmth and intimacy about this poem about a house in Regent’s Park that the Skrzynecki family lived in despite being surrounded by factories. The house was where all the negative experiences and events of the day were blocked out. Culture- There was a sense of belonging in the house, with the Polish culture and the fun in the backyard garden. The Polish culture was kept alive in the house. They spoke Polish, and ate polish food and drank polish drinks. Wider society- the family did not belong outside the house, where they faced racism, narrow minded Australians and prejudice as Australians. Even after they became Australian citizens, they did not assimilate.
Techniques Technique Inclusive pronoun
Simile
Examples “We departed”
“like a well-oiled lock” “tended roses and camellias/like adopted children”
Effects
Metaphor
“We became citizens of the soil” “Naturalized more/than a decade ago”
Symbolism
“well-oiled lock” “hid the key/under a rusty bucket” “that still too narrow bridge” “Inheritors of a key/that’ll open no house”
Gives the impression that there was unity and affiliation between Peter skynecki and the family. There were unified experiences day to day. There is a warm and positive connotation. It evokes a heartening image of the key working in the house smoothly. There is a comforting connotation of a trouble free, familiar life as if it is natural. Conjures up an image of the parents hard at work in the garden, but it is very willingly, not forceful. Emphasizes that the parents felt a sense of affiliation to the garden. It is metaphoric of Australia, and also of the garden. The soil had fed them food and sense of identity in the new land, and they had literally became part of Australia. The naturalization is metaphoric of the process of assimilation. It emphasizes that it did not allow doors to open, it only alienated them. The “lock and key” imagery reinforces the overall sense of security achieved at t his address. A shared neighborly existence is implied. Enforces that the house and family lived cohesively side by side. The “bridge” is symbolic of the narrow minded Australians, racism in Australia and the prejudice directed at immigrants. The key is a symbol of security and belonging. The fact that an image of a key not opening any house reflects that they will not find a sense of happiness or belonging anywhere else.
Matilda (film)
Title- “matilda”
Composer- Danny DeVito
Summaryo
A young girl, Matilda, who unfortunately was raised into a family that treat Matilda like a stranger rather than their daughter.
Belonging, what ideas about belonging are presented? o
Despite an individual’s desire to belong to a group or community, this is not always possible.
o
More than anything else, belonging is about finding a sense of place in the world.
film techniques Techniques Lighting + contrast
Example + effect In the scene, after Matilda is dragged away from her father after asking for a book, she walks to the stairca se and is clouded by darkness, while the r est of the family is lighted up. This places emphasis on how Matilda is not made to feel welcome in the family. When Matilda is sitting in Ms Honeys lap, she is surrounded and in sunshine. This, in contrast to the d arkness surrounding her at the beginning of the f ilm emphasizes she found a place to belong. At the beginning, when matilda is standi ng at the stairs, ponding on h er family’s first treatment of her, sad and somber music is used to set the atmosphere. This makes the audience feel for her. At the scene where Matilda is setting off to the library, Diagetic sounds of the city, her foot , the trucks along with the happy, exciting music is playing. The audience knows that matilda is going on a happy trip and will have a good time. At the ending of the film, after Matildas family signed the papers and left, optimistic and joyful music is played with the montage of matilda’s happy life. “Matilda was left alone and that was how she liked it”. It has a hopeful tone. It gives the audience a sigh of relief that she would have some rel ief from the neglectful family. Emphasizes that she never belonged with those people at all. “Listen you little wise-ache! I’m smart you’re dumb! Emphasizes that the father does not care for her and reinforces her alienation. At the beginning of the film, when Matilda is reading books on the floor, her father walks in and a low mid shot is utilized with the father filling up most of the screen. This gives the effect that the father is treating her badly, thus makes the audience feel empathy for her. This conveys that Matilda does not belong in the family. At the scenes where Matilda is bonding with Miss honey, e.g. when they are walking at the garden, a medium eye level shot is utilized revealing their emotions. Matilda smiles with not a worry on her mind, emphasizing that she feels a sense of belonging and place when with Miss Honey.
Music
Dialogue
Camera shots
All Summer in a Day (short story) Details
Composer- Ray bradbudy Key elements- Narrative structure. Includes setting, characters and themes.
Summary
It is about a little girl who moved from earth and is an outcast on Venus. The thick atmosphere of Venus still exists at this time, and it is constantly raining. The sun is only visible for one hour every seven years. In the classroom, Margot and the other children has conflicting views about the sun because she has actually experienced it.
What ideas about belonging are presented? Belonging Children have a sense of belonging as a group in that they have no recollection or experience of the sun. o The children belong to a place (Venus). They were born there and it is the only world they know. o
Not belonging Margot has a “different” history to the others. This history is part of her identity and a barrier to her belonging o to a group. Margot was born on earth and had lived there. She does not feel a sense of belonging to Venus. o
Techniques Technique Excluding pronouns
Examples “they”, “they’re” “she”
Effects
Characterization
“she would play no games with them” “but Margot remembered”
Style (description + dialogue)
"What are you looking at?" "Speak when you're spoken to."
Imagery
Simile- “like a blushing in the face”, “It's like a fire” Metaphor- “She was an old photograph dusted from an album”, “old or a yellow crayon or a coin” Onomatopoeia- “drum and gush of water.
Shows distance/divisions between the strongly bonded groups from Margot. Makes the audience feel that Margot is being left out. Margot is non-participating/isolated from peers. Emphasizes that Margot is excluded and an outsider. The children have different histories. There is jealousy between the group about Margot’s experience. Margot feels displaced, has no affinity with peers. The audience/reader emphasizes and feels for Margot due to the way she is treated. There is a sense of immediacy and authenticity. It builds emotion + suspense. Dialogue develops ideas about exclusion; which was raised in paragra phs of prose (what’s said to her) The audience understands and comprehends more of Margot’s exclusion. Helps the reader picture make a contrast between the group’s and Margot’s image of the Sun. Highlights Margot’s difference and isolation. The reader can put together an image and imagine the world that the group of children live in.
Comparative studies TEXTS Looking for richard Purpose
To connect Shakespeare’s universal themes and the powerful language with the everyday public.
To present a Shakespeare about how we think and feel today.
Context
Multicultural religious influence
lack of or loss of power of the monarchy
existential belief- that man is responsible for his own destiny
Capitalist , egalitarian society, 20 century
th
Text techniques Technique Context (feature of text form)
Effect + example Elizabethan era had very dim interiors, while today’s brightly lit indoor areas were utilised for rehearsals, design and discussions. Daylight vox pop interviews and the diagetic sounds of the streets enabled Pacino to literally bring his “search for Richard” out of the darkness into the light. Pacino’s intent to make Shakespeare accessible i s depicted in numerous direct to camera responses which are bright contra sts to the more sombre Shakespeare scenes. Al Pacino’s actors switch between fully costumed to arguing around a table. This stream of fluid cuts between discussing, practi sing and then acting in costume i s a highly effective technique used by Pacino to juxtapose a tradition with a modern setting. Also, seeing behind the scenes, when actors are arguing and discussing and stumbling through the text just like a anybody else etc. allows the audience to feel more on the same level as the actors and not as if they are simply watching that can do things they can't. Establishing shot, camera pans across a church, the angle from the spire to t he ground level parallels the journey viewers will take with pacino as he strives to bring Shakespeare closer to us. Close up shot of Richard clutching a copy of the text Richard III while his dialogue conveys his personal desire to portray “how we think and feel today”. His perspective is that despite the hundreds of years’ time difference since Elizabethan times, Shakespeare’s work remains extremely relevant to us, with contemporary resonance of themes and character traits. Uses clothing from Elizabethan time period to accurately portray King Richard III Richard = black clothing, Clarence= white clothing >> , contrast between Richards darkness (evil); Clarence innocence Wearing blood red – also represents royalty along Lady Anne wearing virginal white (She’s already married) Buckingham wearing purple -> colour of royalty and conveys his loyalty to Richard Medieval music – repeated during the dialogue to emphasis the historical nature of the play. Also used to foreshadow where they go to film next. Mysterious menacing music used when Richard is giving a speech – this rises to a crescendo as there is flashbacks of Ri chard’s planning. Classical music rises to a crescendo to parallel the rising action. When Richard enters the scene to take control of Anne in the mourning scene, the music begins to get louder Menacing music begins with the entering of Ri chard many scenes such as the council scene. With the increasing loudness of t he music to a crescendo, Richard’s aggressiveness rises. This emphasizes the increasing tensions that Richard cr eates in
Quick jump cuts
Camera shots/angles
Costuming
Music
order to use the situation to manipulate others.
Richard the 3rd Purpose
Explores the consequences of the individual’s relentless pursuit of power.
Explores the role of conscience in moral decision-making.
Context
Machiavellian influence, Clear class structure, Monarchy supreme
Themes
The allure of evil –Richard engaged in evil words and deeds Lust for power- Richard’s use of Machievellian ideas to attain the goal of the crown. Richard not the only character who lies and manipulates to obtain power and control.
Text techniques Technique Soliloquy
Location 1,1
1,1 1,3
Example Richard I am determinèd to prove a villain As I am subtle, false, and treacherous, RICHARD Go, tread the path that thou shalt ne'er return. RICHARD I do the wrong, and first begin to brawl.
1,2
Richard Was ever woman in this humor wooed?
5,3
RICHARD. O coward conscience, how dost thou afflict me!
Aside
1,3
Aside + metaphor
1,3
QUEEN MARGARET (aside) Out, devil! I do remember them too well: Thou killed’st my husband Henry in the Tower, QUEEN MARGARET O BUCKINGHAM, take heed of yonder dog! Look when he fawns, he bites; and when he bites, His venom tooth will rankle to the death.
aside
3,1
Dramatic irony
1,3
Imagery
RICHARD (aside) So wise so young, they say, do never live long RICHARD To fight on Edward’s party for the crown;
2,2
RICHARD Sister, have comfort. All of us have cause
3,7
BUCKINGHAM Two props of virtue for a Christian PRINCE, To stay him from the fall of vanity; And, see, a book of prayer in his hand,
4,4
Richard Heaven and fortune bar me happy hours, GHOST OF KING HENRY VI
5,3
Effect This reveals Richard’s thoughts and villainy while also allowing for the audience to understand what he has planned. It also allows the reader to wonder until his conscience will take hold of him. This reinforces the deep and dark nature of Richard’s intent for his actions. Richard experiences the deeply divided emotions that characterize real human beings. This allows the audience to feel for queen Margaret, as here she expresses her anger in her mind. This imagery depicts Richard as a rabid dog in the perspective that whatever such a dog bites on will die. The dog itself will end of dying a long painful death.
This foreshadows the death of the young prince to come and shows that he will even kill children. This reveals how devious he is as a actor, the audience knows that he is devious and evil. This is used to invoke emotion in the audience. Richard is the cause of the king’s death, and is only acting sad. The audience knows that Richard is not religious, a believer and arrogant through the past soliloquys.
This connotes strong images of Richard being in darkness. Richard’s demise has already
When I was mortal, my anointed body By thee was punchèd full of deadly holes.
GHOST OF PRINCES Dream on thy cousins smothered in the Tower.
begun with his conscience beginning to affect him. His efforts to attain the status of king through his immoral killings and orders of death have come back to haunt him. He cannot ignore his conscience anymore but it is too late.
Speeches TEXTS
Conflicting TEXTS Matilda (film)
Composero
Danny DeVito
What ideas about conflicting perspectives are present ed? o
Conflicting perspectives are an inevitable part of the human experience.
o
By studying texts that deal with conflicting perspectives, responders are exposed to both sides of an issue.
film techniques Techniques Lighting + contrast
Example + effect In the scene, after Matilda is dragged away from her father after asking for a book, she walks to the staircase and is clouded by darkness, while the rest of the fa mily is lighted up. This pla ces emphasis on how Matilda has a different perspective to recreation and a source of entertainment. In the scene, where the family is watching TV, Matilda is reading a book. Her location in the frame is much more lit up in comparison with the darkened lighting of the rest of the family. This emphasizes how she does not find television interesting, rather more liking books as a sou rce of imagination and relation. When Mrs trunchbull is dealing with children, dark lighting is used. In the scene where she puts a children in the “chokey” a psychological device, only the path to the door is bright, putting emphasis on her treatment towards children. When Mrs. Honey treats the children, the whole classroom is bright and illuminated. This evoke s us to think about how children should be raised in real life. When Matilda asks her father for a book, he replies, “There’s nothing from a book, that you can cant get from a television screen faster.” Effect >> this emphasizes how useless and were a waste of time, Matilda felt that books provided a great source of imagination. Matilda- “Daddy you’re a crook, this is illegal”. Effect >> this emphasizes how her father is an unethical person without any regard for the customers safety, Matilda, senses this is wrong and feels that safety should come first . “You chose books, chose looks, I have a bi g house”. Effect >> emphasizes the wormwoods disregard for the value education vs the opportunities that being educated can take you. Purpose >> to allow the audience to make a judgment on whether morals are important in the world of business. “Most parents believe their children are t he most beautiful children to grace t he planets, others take a more emotional approach”- provides an insight into how the parents felt toward the adoption. Purpose >> Invokes the audience to t hink about whether some people should reconsider adopting. “Matilda saw that she was somewhat different to the family, she saw that whatever she needed in this world, she would have to get herself” . Effect >> emphasizes the main characters realization of how differently the family’s values and behavior was different to hers. In the opening scene, a mid-shot shows the different perspectives towards the baby, one which i s disgust, and one which is adoration. This is emphasized with the 2 different faces in the front view. Effect >Allows the audience to judge how conflicted the Wormwood’s are to the new household. When Matilda comes home from school, wanting to have someone to talk to (33:38 to 33:45), full face shots are utilized of both Matilda and her mother to show the eagerness for Matilda to have someone talk to compared to her mother’s perspective that her talking is an annoyance.
Dialogue
Voice over
Camera shots
MISSING HER Purpose
Entertain
Context
Made for 2011 tropfest competition (the world’s largest short film festival)
Conflicting perspectives
Interracial adoption
Family loyalty/duty
Identity: familial and cultural
Form
Short film
Techniques Technique Characterisation
Dialogue
Example
Symbolism
The boy is still has very strong ties with his mum, but not with a father. The father and mother want to love him and give him a good life.
Effect/purpose It shows and underlines how much knowledge the new parents lacked about the child. Emphasizes how the child had painful experience relating to his family and is not ready to make another connection so soon. Reiterates how Henry’s perceptions and desires are different to the parents. While Henry desires to have his family, the new parents see this positively as an opportunity to raise a child.
“Hey boy, your new mother looks like a buffalo, don’t you think? (Thai) “My mother told me she’d be watching me from the stars” (thai) “But all the stars are gone here” (thai) The stars are seen at the start and at The stars and the suitcase represent the the end of the film. The boy places the connection to the old life and his mother . binoculars carefully into his suitcase, It shows that even though the new parents and holds it tightly in the car. are not his biological parents, they have The boy sits near the ocean. This is taken his mother’s role but cannot ever be recreated for Henry in his bedroom. the same. (artificially) Extreme long shot of beach >> establishes the general setti ng and provides knowledge on the lifestyle that has been lived by Henry. Mid shot of henry in taxi >> Establishes the interactions and responses of Henry to the others. E.g. Henry’s face glows up when the t axi driver ridicules his new mother. Henry’s face shows mistrust and unhappiness when the new mother attempts to pa ss food on. Long shots of Henry in the city >> Emphasizes he is just a small boy in a big world there. It reinforces how vulnerable and out of touch he is with the city.
Camera shots & angles