Practise Activities

Forest Winter

('Old.' He looked at the cylinder...A-hum-a-hum-a-hum!)

1. The Nilsam's live a long way from the nearest town in a place with lots of trees and wild animals. That as well as the darkness of night falling gives the scene a sinister feeling.-"The sun was well down but the tops of the karris were still visible in sillouhette and he could still make out the skeleton of the old water tower."

The main character, Jerra, is shown to have classic masculine values in needing to protect his family and in needing to do it himself.-"For a moment he considered going to the boss for help; it was only a moment."

He is also shown be greatly panicked though.-"He was afraid that breaking of things had let that old helpless panic get back into him."

The preoccupations of this passage are struggles of working class australians and Masculinity.

 

2. It is apparent that Jerra is feeling scared and desperate to save his wife by the dark foreboding and negative language and the insight into his panicked inner dialogue.

 

3. The language is in 3rd person and partially omnisient (to Jerra). The language also has a lot of negative connotations.-"how long had it been since they were happy?"

 

4. This passage shows the point in which Jerra realises his wife really could die. Innitially he held out the hope that he would be able to save her with the ventolin he found. but that was dashed when he found out it was expired.-"Months too old; it was likely useless, perhaps dangerous- he didn't know. 'Oh. God.'"

 

5. One of the signinficant images in this passage is the childs song. Usually this would be used to calm a distressed child and although the baby is distressed Jerra is mostly singing to try and calm himself.

 

6. The tone of this passage is dark and filled with tension and despair. this is created through language such as "The child screaming", "pendulous, tearing respiration", "A scream rose in him, like the night the baby was dragged hollow-chested from her."

 

 

The Strong One

(When she got back, she heard little sqeals of glee...It's time to go Jerra.')

1.  The main character in this story is Rachel. She is trying to make a new start for her family and is clearly shown as the stronger of the two parents, trying to find anyway to get her family in comfort.

The scene is a caravan park with the implication that it is mach like many they have stayed in previously.

the preoccupations are the need to look out for ones family and the trappings of the past.

 

2. It is clear that Rachel is determined to make a new start for her family. this is shown in her exploration and acceptance of any way to get more money and make her families life more comfortable.

 

3. The language of this piece is serious but also contains hope and determination.-"but i'm better now"

 

4.  The end of this passage shows a change in Rachel. She has made a decision and she is going to stick by it.

 

5.  One of the images in this passage is Jerra's family, they are a symbol od a past he would rather forget.

 

6. The tone of this passage is of determination and hope and new begginings. This is created partly by the context of the passage and partly by language such as "It's time to go, Jerra." , "I really want this" and "I applied. Sent it just now."

 

7. In the first passage Rachel was shown as broken, weak and ill. in this passage however it shows her regaining her strength and confidence, and her determination.

 

8. In the first passage Jerra was leading the family and taking care of them but in the second it is Rachel who is making the decisions and trying to earn money. Also before they had become contented with being on the dole but now they want more.

 

9. These developments show that the family is becoming stronger and more determined to make their way in the world