Ancestors- Joey When considering the concept of belonging, one must understand the composer’s personal experiences, and how they fit with the personal, cultural, historical and social contents of the persona. Such texts as Ancestors challenge the common attitudes of belonging which urges the audience to consider their own experiences and ideas. Thus this is displayed through Peter Skryznecki- Ancestors Through such techniques to personify the signature motif of uncertainty and seclusion. Ancestors is based purely on uncertainty and seclusion as the persona dreams of his past ancestors, feeling exclusion as the figures stand shoulder to shoulder in front of the persona. Word choice of: Shadows, dream and faceless all contribute to
They are deprived of learning the ‘intricate’ and colourful patterns that have shaped their lives, and thus, have lost their heritage. The poet uses a farmhouse as the setting, and through the references to the farmhouse, effectively illustrates the massive change that has taken place over the centuries. Our lost touch with the past is the prominent theme expressed in the poem. Both the theme and dark imagery used throughout, help to set the depressing tone and emphasize how Buck is deeply disturbed by the changes. Furthermore, Buck directly refers to us throughout the poem by using words such as ‘our’ and ‘we’, expressing his view that we all have a role, and that we are all responsible for our lost heritage.
The shadows formidable presence is highlighted in “From the circle around you”. Skrzynecki’s search to understand their significance is expressed through his many questions. Skrzynecki is compelled to understand his ancestors looking at how they guide him towards a future and questioning how to connect to the past in “To what star do their footprints lead?” Skrzynecki is rendered speechless and his failure to connect is articulated in the simile “Your tongue dry as caked mud. The poet uses the unknowability of his ancestors to represent, his failure to connect with them and therefore ultimately his inability to
“Futility” appeared in “The Nation” on 15th June 1918. Wilfred Owen talks “of the grievances of a wounded man who they move into the sun, in the hope that it will “stir” him”. It takes the form of a short elegiac lyric the length of a sonnet though not structured as one, being divided into seven-line stanzas. The term and title of the poem; “Futility”, over views: how pointless and worthless war is. Futility means that something is destined to fail.
Belonging Non Written: Refugee Blues The poem Refugee Blues by W H Auden explores the concept of belonging by illustrating the sense of alienation German Jews felt during World War II. This text explores the inherent human condition of the need to belong, as well as the role of cultural differences in belonging, through a variety of literary techniques. The poem communicates the involuntary expulsion of German Jews during the Holocaust and the destruction of their identity, home, and belonging. The protagonist in this poem felt that he had a sense of belonging with Germany much like Romulus and Lydia felt for Romania. This loss of belonging is metaphorically illustrated via the symbolism of the passports in the stanza “ The consul banged the table and said: ‘If you’ve got no passport, you’re officially dead” Here it can be implied that the loss of their passport symbolizes their loss of identity and the loss of their sense of belonging.
However John Agard comes across in a sarcastic method and Tatamkhulu clearly shows his anger and opinion in an angry mood. Both Tatamkhulu Afrika and John Agard portray racist attitudes as an unlawful punishment because of only their ethnic group. Both Poems are autobiographical so both authors have had their own experience meaning that the anger shown is very descriptive. John Agard uses irony and satire “excuse me, standing on one leg” to show emphasis and ridicules the social stigmata towards half-caste. Afrika uses his poem to illustrate the diverse conditions of two social cultures within his society (“but we know where we belong”).
How is the concept of 'belonging' represented in two of Skrzynecki's poems and one related text Loss of identity and unfamiliarity are catalysts for a lack of acceptance by society and as a result the comfort associated with belonging is lost. The concept of belonging, or rather to not belong, is explored in both of Peter Skrzynecki, an ex-immigrant, Australian poet of Polish and Ukrainian origin’s poems, ‘Migrant Hostel’ and ‘Ancestors’ as well as Hayao Miyazaki, a Japanese animator and producer, and one of four sons’ animated film, ‘Spirited Away’. Both Skrzynecki and Miyazaki carefully employ language and visual techniques respectively to effectively convey this notion of lack of acceptance by society. In doing so, a bond between the audience and subject of this notion is formed and emotional response is amplified allowing for this idea to be more readily received and understood by the audience.
It represents the burden of the past on the present and Heaney’s subsequent frustration as he ponders on how ‘to conquer [the] weight’ this aspect of Ireland. Montague expresses his frustration at the “lost tradition” of the old Irish culture. He is frustrated by the way that modern society neglects its heritage despite the “shards” of history surrounding it in the form of the landscape and the language. He reflects upon his own experience of growing up in Ireland and compares it with ancient Irish history. Both poets use the Irish past as a stimulus for their poems.
Reminiscent of Kurtz’s last words (“The horror! The horror!”), Eliot’s poem reflects on the hopelessness and futility of life to those unable to ascend to Heaven. Using setting, Eliot effectively enhances the poem’s feeling of being lost in the dark and hopeless. In many sections of the poem
In the poem “Elegy For My Father’s Father” by James K. Baxter, the grandfather is described with themes of lack of understanding and regret. Through the use of different imagery ,diction, and the structure of the poem James K. Baxter is able to present the idea of misunderstanding and admiration from the poet him self Themes of lack of understanding and regret are present in this poem and are primary components in the relationship between the poet and his grandfather. Even in the title, instead of saying ‘grandfather’ he says “My Father’s Father” showing that Baxter did not understand his grandfather well and feels distanced from him. The personification “his heart had never spoken” shows the lack of communication between the man and the people around him as the heart is the poetic emotional Centre of the human and that has not “spoken”, the grandfather of the poet has never shared emotions with anyone and keeps all of his thoughts and feelings inside himself “never” emphasizing his silence and lack of expressing emotion. Because of this lack of communication, not even his own family understands him.