Techniques in Sometimes Gladness

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Techniques from the anthology “Sometimes Gladness” by Bruce Dawe Drifters: “Drifters” - means always being on a physical journey; never staying, always moving with no fixed destination; no end in sight “One day soon” - future tense; prediction. “the brown kelpie pup will start dashing about”, “the oldest girl is close to tears”, “the youngest girl is beaming” - juxtaposition; shows difference in perspective. Older girl symbolises perspective of ones with maturity and wisdom who ache for roots and stableness while youngest girl and pup symbolises naivety and how their perspective differs from the former “green tomatoes” - symbolism of unfinished business; incomplete “bottling set she never unpacked” - high modality; shows mothers resignation; gives background; shows that this is not their first move and will not be their last. “last shrivelled fruit” - communicates the family's departure and the emotion of sadness and loss that comes with it; contrasts with the bright berries and shows that the mum's wish was not granted. “won't even ask why” - familiarity; resignation, once again. “bright berries” alliteration; conveys the hope the mother feels with the family's arrival; symbolises the mother's wish. “Make a wish, Tom, make a wish” - dialogue; longing for stability; repetition emphasises this longing. “And” - repetition; creates a list and hence creates long sentences; reinforces that it (the journey) is never ending The often use of high modality means that the journey is inevitable Visually, the layout creates a path/road; creates a sense of movement Third person POV – shows the characters' different perspective of the physical journey. Contrasts the arrival to the departure. Can go in depth to what the mother is feeling. 'Last Seen 12:10 am...': “Last Seen 12:10 am” - foreshadow; suggests something has
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