12 Angry Men Belonging Analysis

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Trappings and requirements of belonging. Billy’sCharacter: Billy | Belonging | Quote | Technique | Alienation and isolation caused by an abusive father | ‘gave me one hard backhander across the face, so hard I fell down… and slammed the door on my sporting childhood.’ (p. 15-16) | * metaphor | Physical dislocation on freight train | ‘I snuggle under the bow of this speeding speedboat and my teeth clenched in some wild frost-bitten grin.’ (p. 10) | * disturbing/grotesque imagery | Kindness of, and inclusion by, the train driver, Ernie | ‘Get your bag and come to the Guard’s van. there’s a heater that works, and some coffee.’ (p. 12) | * imperatives | Lack of control over destiny | ‘and wait for the three whistles todump me…show more content…
21) | * labelling | Solitary paradigm, devoid of faith in fellow man. | ‘I’d go off alone, because you can’t trust those who want to break the rules and you certainly can’t trust those who make the rules.’ (p. 23) | * intertextuality (related to William Golding’s The Lord of the Flies) | Physical sense of belonging | ‘Bendarat is the perfect town. A friendly librarian, a warm McDonalds, luxury train accommodation.’ (p. 39) | * absolute term * irony | Exclusion emphasised through clothing/image | ‘I wouldn’t want to meet her here not when she’s with her friends and in uniform and me dressed in the same clothes as always.’ (p. 39) | * symbolism | Connects with Old Bill by offering a gift of a carton of cigarettes | ‘sharing the hobo hour.’ (p. 49) | * metaphor | Recognises his own disconnected future in Old Bill | ‘Then he stumbled off, an old man before his time, sleeping in a carriage, and I shivered as the sun came up.’ (p. 51) | * metaphoric use of ‘shivered’ as it applies literally and figuratively…show more content…
147) | * invasive authority | Role of physical home in concept of belonging | ‘I knew that Old Bill was giving me more than these keys I held holding someone’s past in my dirty hands.’ (p.166) | * metaphor | Romantic commitment | ‘Caitlin and I lay in the huge bed with the moon a perfect light to show Caitlin the beautiful green emerald ring.’ (p. 194) | * surreal/magical colour * imagery | Homes are not permanent | ‘I know I’m only here for a while so I tread lightly with respect for this house and for Old Bill.’ (p. 200) | * metaphor | Trappings and requirements of belonging. Billy’s uncertainty about belonging in a school environment | ‘Irene went over to the Resource section, brought back a TAFE Handbook and a government study assistance. If they paid me maybe, just maybe, I’d go back to school.’ (p.201) | * low modality | Belonging reaches beyond boundaries | ‘and I looked up into the sky, the deep blue sky that Old Bill and I shared.’(p. 205) | * symbolism |

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