Romulus My Father Belonging

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Practice Assessment Tasks Q2 Andre Lombardo ‘An individual’s interaction with others and the world around them can enrich or limit their experience of belonging.’ Belonging transcends all cultural and physical aspects, ultimately relying on our own perception and attitudes in our interaction with others. This representation of belonging is seen in Raimond Gaita’s memoir Romulus, my Father, which focuses on exploring his father’s moral identity and their joint experiences living in Central Victoria as European immigrants arriving in the 1950’s. The main connections of belonging explored in the two texts are connections to place, in terms of landscape and community; as well as connections within relationships. These connections serve to enrich an individual’s sense of belonging to their community, environment and within their personal identity. Raimond Gaita’s memoir, Romulus My Father demonstrates how an individual’s…show more content…
In Romulus, Raimond and Romulus’ deep and affectionate relationship evinces their deep sense of belonging to each other. The nature of the book as a loving memoir to Romulus, its candour in describing Romulus’ character and action, as well as its insightful exploration of Romulus’ values all help to convey Raimond’s deep and respectful sense of affinity with his father. On Romulus’ part, he is mostly undemonstrative but shows an equally strong affection for his son when he says ‘My son is everything to me.’ This simple yet evocative statement expresses his strong sense of affinity to his son. The short story ‘We Look After our Own’ by Kath Walker highlights the cause and effect of European settlement on Indigenous Australians. The writer manipulates the reader’s response to the main ideas in the text through the language and narrative conventions of point of view, tone, atmosphere, imagery, setting, characterisation and
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