Skrzynecki uses the idea of ancestors and ghosts to show familial, cultural and historical belonging. In “Ancestors” the narrator experiences a disconnection and lack of belonging to his polish heritage. This is shown through the description of his ancestors. Adjectives such as shadowed and faceless show the detachment between the narrator and his ancestors as well as a lack of intimacy. The fact that there are only males present suggests that they have had a greater influence over the narrator’s cultural and social identity than females.
Further, although Grant and Jefferson are not blood relatives, they are connected through their common experiences as black males. Although physically free, Grant lives in a mental prison of his own making created by his hatred of whites, his arrogance, and his detachment from the black community. As an educated man, he sees himself as superior to people like Jefferson and Rev. Ambrose. Instead of preparing him to contribute to his community, his formal education has taught him to despise his own people.
Paper 1 Area of Study Section I Question 1 Sample responses Text one – Image (a) Describe how the image depicts the idea of belonging or not belonging to a family. 2 Families offer a sense of belonging but can also be limiting. This is suggested by the image Family Sculpture by John Searles. The similarity in the head shapes which incline inwardly towards each other suggests a strong bond but the organic shapes and different colours of the bodies which seem to float away from the centre suggest a struggle against the constraints of belonging. The image therefore illustrates the paradox of belonging which gives a sense of unity but can also be restrictive.
We have to understand ourselves before we can truly belong. It is nearly impossible to feel a sense of belonging without understand oneself first as the knowledge of who you are determines where you feel you belong. Self assurance, acceptance and perception can arise from many different facets of life; family, culture, place and similar people, so in order for someone to start to feel a sense of belonging, it is essential that they connect with those aspects of their life first. In Peter Skrzynecki’s Immigrant Chronicle, he explores the difficulties of himself and other immigrants like himself in the poems ‘Migrant Hostel,’ ’10 Mary Street,’ and ‘Feliks Skzrynecki’ whilst trying to not only belong in a world where they were pre-determined to struggle to fit into based on their different culture but also understand who they truly are because of the struggle they endured. Ernest Hemingway’s ‘A Clean, Well-Lighted Place’ expresses the internal desire of having a place where you can be yourself and belong.
To have a true sense of belonging you have to be adaptable and willing to move on with any changes. This is represented through Skrzynecki’s story as he was constantly on the move never really settling down in one place for a lengthy period of time. But through all this, even if deep inside he felt that he did not truly belong, there is always something or someone to which you are attatched. As seen in Skrzynecki’s poem ‘Feliks’ Skrzynecki although his father in many ways feels a sense of detachment and not belonging to the society in which he lived, his garden was a thing which he felt and knew he belonged to. Relating to my thesis this shows that his father did know enough of himself that he could find a real sense of belonging with his garden and in many ways this expresses the type of person he
His ex-friend Bennie Reid taught Paul that sometimes relationships ‘just happen’ even though Paul did not like the prospect of befriending Bennie largely because of his position in the social hierarchy, he still could not abandon Bennie and be left with nobody. Paul’s relationship with Keller is therefore very important to him because although Paul might be at the bottom of the school hierarchy along with Bennie, he is as his parents often remind him, a talented musician. The maestro sees Paul’s arrogance for what it is and conversely devises his teaching methods to suit the position at which Paul was at. As this was initially an insult to Paul the relationship started with no mutual respect, Keller having respect for no one in his surroundings treated his student as he would anyone else. Paul’s first impressions of Keller are ‘Misleading, of course’ and that he is a bad teacher because of Keller’s patronisation.
Paragraph Structures for English * Romulus My Father – Belonging is a process that is both complex and transient * Paragraph 1 – Romulus is plagued by the idea of isolation as he is unable to connect to the landscape and cultural values of the new Australian society * ‘He longed for the generous and soft European foliage’ * ‘Though the landscape was one of rare beauty…my father could not become reconciled to it’ * The landscape plays a major role in the memoir acting as an extended metaphor for Romulus’ ability to belong to society * ‘The local newspaper ridiculed the new Australian for his folly…as he was unaware of the tinder dry conditions
Bledsoe says to the narrator greatly help move the plot of the novel. First, the narrator sees that Dr. Bledsoe is not who he thought he was. The narrator once looked up to Dr. Bledsoe because he thought Dr. Bledsoe got to where he is through hard work, not by manipulating and going against what he likes. The narrator lost the only idol he had, and in a sense is now all alone. He has nobody to look up to or to get advice from.
Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare shows how family can make you ashamed of where you come from. Inherit the Wind by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee shows how family can not always sympathize and relate to you, even if you have a bond of blood. Night by Elie Wiesel shows that the strongest can even become the weakest. The familial relationships in Inherit the Wind by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee is between Rachel Brown and he father Reverend Brown. While Rachel is a very kind, gentle and forgiving person, her father is harsh, mean, and unforgiving.
The figures in both families are seen engaging in conversation with eye contact and hands touching, showing us the togetherness that the families have and portraying a sense of familial belonging. The notions of familial belonging in this book are further emphasised by the technique of framing around the pictures when the families are together, suggesting a sense of safeness within the home. The familial belonging in Mirror contrasts with the lack of familial belonging which Raimond experiences with Christina in Romulus my father. This lack of familial belonging is shown with quote’s by Raimond such as “I felt awkward with her” describing their fractured mother and son relationship. Mirror shows the daily traditions and rituals of the two families.