Australian Identity Essay
To what extent has your study of Australian poetry challenged your understanding of Australian identity?
My understanding of Australian identity is that we are a collection of migrants on a global scale who came together to form one nation, and that the people of Australian origin, meaning the aboriginals, have lost complete control of their nation due to this factor. I have lived in Australia for a year, through this time period, I have perceived it as a welcoming place, and a civilized country that acquires a well-balanced society. But after studying a range of Australian poems, I broadened my knowledge of how Australia is viewed by different types of people, by decoding their thoughts and opinions through their works of poetry.
The …show more content…
Peter Porter was a British based Australian poet, who grew up in Australia then migrated to England in 1951. The poem “Sydney Cove, 1788” is mainly about the culture of Australia, presented through poetic techniques such as personification and imagery. Porter portrays Australia as a seemingly well-established country, involving aspects of religious devotion, working environment, and a civilized mindset within the society. Evidence of Religion is found in the poem where Port utilizes imagery such as “hymns it with a unison of feet” symbolize a religious devotion regarding the process of getting to know a foreign land. Evidence of Australia’s over developed working environment is shown when Porter states that even “Genocide or Jesus can’t work on this land” and “A convict selling a baby for a jug of rum”. This shows that Australia was a developed country and is currently on the decline, having working environments with and overload of tasks and has started to corrupt the minds of its members of society. This poem indicates the ideal mindset that the government wants from it’s citizens. This is shown where Porter Personifies the country
My understanding of Australian identity is that we are a collection of migrants on a global scale who came together to form one nation, and that the people of Australian origin, meaning the aboriginals, have lost complete control of their nation due to this factor. I have lived in Australia for a year, through this time period, I have perceived it as a welcoming place, and a civilized country that acquires a well-balanced society. But after studying a range of Australian poems, I broadened my knowledge of how Australia is viewed by different types of people, by decoding their thoughts and opinions through their works of poetry.
The …show more content…
Peter Porter was a British based Australian poet, who grew up in Australia then migrated to England in 1951. The poem “Sydney Cove, 1788” is mainly about the culture of Australia, presented through poetic techniques such as personification and imagery. Porter portrays Australia as a seemingly well-established country, involving aspects of religious devotion, working environment, and a civilized mindset within the society. Evidence of Religion is found in the poem where Port utilizes imagery such as “hymns it with a unison of feet” symbolize a religious devotion regarding the process of getting to know a foreign land. Evidence of Australia’s over developed working environment is shown when Porter states that even “Genocide or Jesus can’t work on this land” and “A convict selling a baby for a jug of rum”. This shows that Australia was a developed country and is currently on the decline, having working environments with and overload of tasks and has started to corrupt the minds of its members of society. This poem indicates the ideal mindset that the government wants from it’s citizens. This is shown where Porter Personifies the country