Xxx xxxxxxYear 12 - Belonging

“Allan.”

Chosen Texts.

Xxxx xxxxx -“Allan” --- Creative Composition.

Peter Skrzynecki – “10 Mary Street” – Immigrant Chronicle Peter Skrzynecki – “Feliks Skrzynecki” – Immigrant Chronicle Andrew Wyeth – “Christina’s World” --- Related Text.

A halt.It’s doors, draped by a rustic frame, heaved open. A cheeky wisp of warmth danced across his face teasingly, escaping into the winter wind. Mud eddied at his feet, glued to the “souls” of his shoes. As his awkward, cloaked frame silked up the stairs, the warm tone of the drivers voice began to greet him. Exactly the same as every other day.What he did not say spoke the truth; The head of hair now plastered to his face, a worn, once-waterproof cloak glued to his person with rain and the black, cold set of relentless eyes that wrinkled a smile in the drivers direction were enough to give off the message that he was not happy.Late… as usual.The drivers oblivious arrogance disregarded the mans insinuations by simply holding out one hand, palm up. The mans build in frustration did not help. He struggled to fumble the various books and folders under one arm, a luke warm cup of coffee cradled tensely between neck and chest, and a now free hand diving into his coat pocket. The three small coins were tossed into the drivers hand, the man stumbling down the isle before he need to say “thankyou”.No further communication needed there now.He made a swift glance around the carriage and made for his usual seat. The small ensemble of pointless, yet familiar, voices reminded him that today, like every other trip, would contain not one ounce of delight.“Perhaps tomorrow…”He removed his coat, now double its usual weight thanks to the rain, and tossed it beside him. The books and folders followed. He was now free to pull the coffee from beneath his chin. He took a sip.“Burnt… yet cold…”He laughed, one syllable, at his “oxymoron-ous” joke. Loud. Very Loud. Heads turned. Eyes stared. Awkwardly, the man restrained himself and bottled the humour that most others would consider unfunny. He turned to the books and folders beside him. A good three and a half hours, at the least, would it take to recover his hollow presentations, his futile documents. After coming to the conclusion that he would be taxed of the little free time he had planned for the evening, he slumped back into the bench. The box set of “Green Acres” would have to wait.

“Allan.” - One-dimensional title – representation of anyone and everyone within society. Positive connotation of natural

elements (Personification)– Juxtaposed to immediate negative –> Mud – (negative connotation) natural elements overpowered by sociological context

Contradiction of natural warmth – reinforces concept of society over nature.

Protagonist’s longing for what is beyond he knows – natural elements -

Alliteration of ‘w’ – suggests fatigue- was once new and exciting – symbolic of protagonists faltering connection to place and people

Physical Barrier – link to “Christina's world”/Felix.

Intentional dislocation from social context.

Tactile imagery – convey extended motif of dislocation in social context.Subtle affinity to nature with

title of book

“Feliks Skrzynecki”“Loved his garden like an only child,Spent years walking its perimeter… Bordered by golden cypress, Lawns – geraniums younger….” -> Peaceful setting indicative of

romantic contempt. The Poem is rooted in ordinary details of domestic life. The plants are symbolic of fertile, new life in Australia.

Skrzynecki’s anthology reflects he quiet, insightful tone of the poet and his attitude toward his cultural herritage. It is only in the last four lines of “Postcards” that we see skrzynecki come to accept the call of his Polish identity.

The house stands In its china-blue coat - With paint guaranteed For another ten years.Lawns grow acrossDug-up beds of Spinach, carrots and tomato.(The whole blockHas been gazetted for industry).

Brief Personification of house makes it appear pathetic – Its demise seems imminent.

Brackets make the statement an understatement (lack of linguistic elevation). Language is emotive and it is sad that the house has met its demise, but the poet controls the melancholy mood using the brackets.

“Christina’s World” – Andrew Wyeth

Imaginative Path

“Christina’s World” – Andrew Wyeth

Imaginative Path

Relationship between foreground and background established through girl and house.

Midground – Empty – Suggests an intentional dislocation from place.

Not a topographical perspective – view the image from subjects outlook. – self portrait – An INTENTIONAL DISLOCATION

Dull/ Yellow wash – negative connotation identifies composers attitude toward the protagonists sense of belonging

Suggests a domesticated lifestyle. Distance from protagonists represents her attempt to distance herself from conformity of familial society.

Wild/untamed grass- beyond the barrier of nurtured, carefully watched grass – suggests a longing for natural elements beyond the known – a direct link to composition “Allan”.

“10 Mary Street” – Peter Skrzynecki “Feliks Skrzynecki”

STANZA 5.Naturalized more Than a decade agoWe became citizens if the soil That was feeding us -Inheritors of a key That'll open no house When this one is pulled down.

At thirteen,Stumbling over tenses in Caesar’s Gallic War,I forgot my first Polish word.He repeated it so I never forgot.After that, like a dumb prophet,Watched me pegging my tentsFurther and further south of Hadrian’s Wall.

Being tied to the land is ironic as the house he felt a sense of belonging to was zoned for demolition.Symbolism for their Australian citizenship, which would ultimately open the door to their assimilation in to the local culture – their key to belonging. However, looking back at the family home he sees only dispossession.

This stanza is an intensely personal anecdote. Poet feels a sense of loss in relation to parents heritage – father insists in enculturation of son- a typical action of most migrants.Images of separation and historical allusion – Extension of Rome – A metaphor which symbolizes movement away from fathers world of the Northern hemisphere. Poet is taking on Australian culture and abandoning his fathers Polish heritage.

A halt.It’s doors, draped by a rustic frame, heaved open. A cheeky wisp of warmth danced across his face teasingly, escaping into the winter wind. Mud eddied at his feet, glued to the “souls” of his shoes. As his awkward, cloaked frame silked up the stairs, the warm tone of the drivers voice began to greet him. Exactly the same as every other day.What he did not say spoke the truth; The head of hair now plastered to his face, a worn, once-waterproof cloak glued to his person with rain and the black, cold set of relentless eyes that wrinkled a smile in the drivers direction were enough to give off the message that he was not happy.Late… as usual.The drivers oblivious arrogance disregarded the mans insinuations by simply holding out one hand, palm up. The mans build in frustration did not help. He struggled to fumble the various books and folders under one arm, a luke warm cup of coffee cradled tensely between neck and chest, and a now free hand diving into his coat pocket. The three small coins were tossed into the drivers hand, the man stumbling down the isle before he need to say “thankyou”.No further communication needed there now.He made a swift glance around the carriage and made for his usual seat. The small ensemble of pointless, yet familiar, voices reminded him that today, like every other trip, would contain not one ounce of delight.“Perhaps tomorrow…”He removed his coat, now double its usual weight thanks to the rain, and tossed it beside him. The books and folders followed. He was now free to pull the coffee from beneath his chin. He took a sip.“Burnt… yet cold…”He laughed, one syllable, at his “oxymoron-ous” joke. Loud. Very Loud. Heads turned. Eyes stared. Awkwardly, the man restrained himself and bottled the humour that most others would consider unfunny. He turned to the books and folders beside him. A good three and a half hours, at the least, would it take to recover his hollow presentations, his futile documents. After coming to the conclusion that he would be taxed of the little free time he had planned for the evening, he slumped back into the bench. The box set of “Green Acres” would have to wait.

“Allan.” - One-dimensional title – representation of anyone and everyone within society. Positive connotation of natural

elements (Personification)– Juxtaposed to immediate negative –> Mud – (negative connotation) natural elements overpowered by sociological context

Contradiction of natural warmth – reinforces concept of society over nature.

Protagonist’s longing for what is beyond he knows – natural elements -

Alliteration of ‘w’ – suggests fatigue- was once new and exciting – symbolic of protagonists faltering connection to place and people

Physical Barrier – link to “Christina's world”/Felix.

Intentional dislocation from social context.

Tactile imagery – convey extended motif of dislocation in social context.Subtle affinity to nature with

title of book

Belonging - to the perception of an individual whilst they seek relation to a particular group, place, or other facet in the larger world, ultimately seeking an enhanced understanding of themselves and their surroundings.

Thankyou.