Thursday, June 4, 2009
Metaphore used by Kate Grenville in The Secret River
When Kate Grenville writes, she uses the metaphor “This is a town of scares … by a shameless black man”, to describe how the ‘black man’ had endured a lot of pain. The metaphor makes the sentence sound more interesting, Grenville could have written, “There were a lot of scars on the black man”, or “The black man carried a lot of scars on his body”, but those to sentences don’t make the sentence sound as interesting.
Nouns at work in The Secret River
What effect is created by naming the characters in this way?
I think Grenville has named the black characters this way to describe the characters looks, which could give the reader a prejudice view towards them.
What connotations do names like ‘old greybeard’ have?
Names like this give negative connotations. It may have the reader feel as if the ‘old greybeard’ dude is old and useless.
How is the relationship between the two Aboriginal men shown?
The aboriginal men have a tight bond between each other. They are comfortable in their own group habits and environment.
How do these ways of naming support the author’s purpose in writing about conflict?
By using descriptive names, it applies that conflict can arise because of peoples differences in their culture and the way they live.
I think Grenville has named the black characters this way to describe the characters looks, which could give the reader a prejudice view towards them.
What connotations do names like ‘old greybeard’ have?
Names like this give negative connotations. It may have the reader feel as if the ‘old greybeard’ dude is old and useless.
How is the relationship between the two Aboriginal men shown?
The aboriginal men have a tight bond between each other. They are comfortable in their own group habits and environment.
How do these ways of naming support the author’s purpose in writing about conflict?
By using descriptive names, it applies that conflict can arise because of peoples differences in their culture and the way they live.
a) By naming the white characters and leaving the black characters nameless it gives a sense of an us against them mentality which makes reader feel it’s the black men taking away the white man’s stuff when really it’s the other way round.
b) Names like old-greybeard carry the negative connotation of a brittle old man who is well past his prime and struggles to do day to day activities.
c) The relationship between the two-men is very respectful. They are both very confident in themselves and who they are and the younger one shows vast amounts of respect for his elder.
d) The naming of these characters by Greenville enforces the idea that conflict usually arises because of people’s differences in culture and ethnicity and is close to unresolvable when no common form of communication can be used.
b) Names like old-greybeard carry the negative connotation of a brittle old man who is well past his prime and struggles to do day to day activities.
c) The relationship between the two-men is very respectful. They are both very confident in themselves and who they are and the younger one shows vast amounts of respect for his elder.
d) The naming of these characters by Greenville enforces the idea that conflict usually arises because of people’s differences in culture and ethnicity and is close to unresolvable when no common form of communication can be used.
Naming of characters: Make a list of the nouns and noun phrases (e.g. old greybeard) (including proper nouns, e.g. Thornhill) used to name the central characters in the slapping scene, page 142.
Willie
Thornhill
Dick
Hope
Sal
Bub
Will
Johnny
Old man
Two black men
Mate
Younger man
Thieving Cunny
What effect is created by naming the characters in this way?
By giving the whites names and not giving the blacks any names, it creates an ‘us versus them’ mentality
What connotations do names like ‘old greybeard’ have?
These kinds of names give negatives connotations, eg ‘old greybeard’ implies that he is past his prime and is of no more use
How is the relationship between the two Aboriginal men shown?
The younger man shows respect to the older man, as if he is the authority, though they cover each others back.
How do these ways of naming support the author’s purpose in writing about conflict?
This strengthens the author’s view that conflict can arise through misunderstandings and little communication
Willie
Thornhill
Dick
Hope
Sal
Bub
Will
Johnny
Old man
Two black men
Mate
Younger man
Thieving Cunny
What effect is created by naming the characters in this way?
By giving the whites names and not giving the blacks any names, it creates an ‘us versus them’ mentality
What connotations do names like ‘old greybeard’ have?
These kinds of names give negatives connotations, eg ‘old greybeard’ implies that he is past his prime and is of no more use
How is the relationship between the two Aboriginal men shown?
The younger man shows respect to the older man, as if he is the authority, though they cover each others back.
How do these ways of naming support the author’s purpose in writing about conflict?
This strengthens the author’s view that conflict can arise through misunderstandings and little communication
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Exploring text features in The Secret River
Kate Greenville is saying that conflict can arise over the smallest of things like the land or simply the colour of your skin and that a situation can escalate very easily and very quickly
Exploring text features of the Secret River
What is the author saying about conflict in describing ‘slapping’ incident? (pg 141-148)
Through this incident the author illustrates how cultural conflict is be a result of cultural differences and how language barriers can result in lack of understanding and misinterpretations.
By Kate and Sarah
Through this incident the author illustrates how cultural conflict is be a result of cultural differences and how language barriers can result in lack of understanding and misinterpretations.
By Kate and Sarah
Exploring the text features of The Secret River
What is Grenville saying about conflict in the slapping incident?
Fear, miscommunication and misunderstanding were – maybe – the instigators of the argument. Grenville writes about the lack of communication and how it can lead to violence. She writes to inform readers of how arguments between the ‘whites’ and the ‘blacks’ could have arisen, so that history does not repeat itself.
By Maddie and Caitlyn
What is Grenville saying about conflict in the slapping incident?
Fear, miscommunication and misunderstanding were – maybe – the instigators of the argument. Grenville writes about the lack of communication and how it can lead to violence. She writes to inform readers of how arguments between the ‘whites’ and the ‘blacks’ could have arisen, so that history does not repeat itself.
By Maddie and Caitlyn
Exploring text features of The Secret River
Exploring text features of The Secret River
What is Grenville saying about conflict in describing the slapping incident?
The slapping could have been a result of fear, miscommunication, and misunderstanding which expanded into more conflict. The author tries to have the reader understand the past and how conflict can arise and lead to violence. We are able to relate to the topic and think of ways that could have prevented conflict.
By Matt and Alex
What is Grenville saying about conflict in describing the slapping incident?
The slapping could have been a result of fear, miscommunication, and misunderstanding which expanded into more conflict. The author tries to have the reader understand the past and how conflict can arise and lead to violence. We are able to relate to the topic and think of ways that could have prevented conflict.
By Matt and Alex