CONFLICT IN THE SECRET RIVER

To begin your blogging journey for the Creating and Presenting Area of Study I want to you to write a post that discusses what you think is one of the predominant types of conflict presented in The Secret River. In your post, use an example from the text to demonstrate where you see this conflict being encountered in the novel. Some types of conflict you might like to choose from are:

- Class conflict
- Social conflict
- Cultural conflict
- Physical conflict
- Internal conflict
- Interpersonal conflict
- Avoiding conflict

Once you have identified the conflict occurring in the text, present some general thoughts you hold about that type of conflict. Explain why you think the way you do. Use a hyperlink to showcase an example of media that also addresses this type of conflict in some way, e.g.,

Racism has been an endemic part of social conflict over the centuries. In The Secret River racist attitudes some settlers held towards the native Aboriginal people are often highlighted. Tensions between these groups are described brutally in the text, 'The burden hanging there was ... the body of a black man. Puffy flesh bulged around the rope under his armpits, the head lolled. The face was unregognisable as a face, the only thing clear the yellow ear of corn stuck between the pink sponge that had been lips'.

Such a scene is reminiscent of the history of the American south where the Klu Klux Klan have perpetrated horrendous treatment towards people of other races. An interesting segment appeared on the Sunrise morning show this morning with links to this topic. Mel and Koshie interviewed the Klu Klux Klan's biggest enemy, a reformed member who now preaches tolerance to others. View the interview by clicking on the picture below.

When you have finished composing your post spend some time viewing and adding comments to others' perspectives.

Diigo Instructions: (Version 1)

Diigo Instructions 2

2010 - Here we go!

CONFLICT CONCERNS
CLASS OF 2010
LET'S BEGIN

Reading and knowing your set texts well is vitally important to doing the best you can in SACs and the exam.

Encountering Conflict in The Secret River - Inspiration brainstorm ideas

internal conflict
battling with oneself
Thornhill
Thornhill was torn between following his fellow 'white men' or doing the morally right thing and leaving the blacks alone.


external conflict
people fighting with each other
Sal and Thornhill arguing whether they should stay in Australia or go back to England


class conflict
when Thornihill steals for survival and faces death as punishment (fairly/unfairly)

environmental conflict
The use and ownership of land
When the blacks get angry/annoyed at the Thornhills for digging/destroying their land.

human vs nature
conflict between environnment and Thornhill/boat

Miscellaneous Thoughts:

Encountering conflict in the World
-Prejudice
chk chk boom
was calling people wogs racist
old versus new perspectives
real issue - lying/celebritits?

-Homophobia
teachers say no to homosexuals at school ball
conflict between k-rudd and middle class rural students looking to go to uni

-War!
War in Iraq/Afghanistan
extra refugees coming to Australia. Taking our jobs/enhancing our society?

-racial conflict
Rising tensions in North Korea

-Human versus nature
Bushfires
Stories of courage and bravery. People making new beginnings

The Line - S/N activity

When you study The Line by Arch and Martin Flanagan you will need to make connections that go beyond the set text, just as you did with The Secret River. The connections you make are about exploring the set context, Encountering Conflict, and building a pool of ideas to inspire writing pieces that are underpinned by themes, ideas and literary devices used in the set text.

To begin this process you are going to source four texts (a picture, a written text, a song and a film) that you can see are about Encountering Conflict and can be linked to The Line in some way. In these explanations make clear:
- the conflict/s you can see
- the links with the set text
- the ideas for possible writing pieces

An area for improvement from our The Secret River blog posts:

Enhance your digital writing by including links to information on sites that supports your commentary. Also, where possible, incorporate a relevant visual with your post. For example, if you are writing about a novel in the Text Tremors section of the blog, import a picture of the novel’s cover.

Prompt Response Task

Writing Samples for The Secret River
Take some time to type up and post some of your writing for The Secret River in the 'Prompt Response' section of the blog. Include the prompt you responded to for pieces you upload. You can use these pieces for exam prep later in the semester. Having your work typed up will allow you to tackle some exam prep tasks more easily.

Don't forget about your S/N task

Hope the study break is going well for all of you. Remember, I will be checking to see if you have made your 4 'The Secret River' posts asap after the break. Alert notices will go home if the task is not completed. You need to complete a post for the Picture Panic, Text Tremors, Film Flogging and Music Matters areas of the blog.

The posts will discuss articles of your choice. Your discussion should consider the article in relation to the context of Encountering Conflict and highlight any connections between The Secret River and the article. Also, include an idea for a piece of writing you think the material would inspire noting the form and audience for the piece.

So, have a go. Don't panic about doing it right or wrong, in this case it's about the discussion we can generate and the ideas that will put us in a strong position from which to tackle the exam. If you see something put up by someone else that gets you thinking leave them a comment. If you come across something that inspires you in regards to The Line put a post up about that too. Good Luck.