Belonging In Peter Skryznecki's Narrative
Belonging is a perception which can emerge from friends, family, groups or communities. Belonging varies and is a complex concept as everyone has their own individual experience with it. This essay will outline and explore both belonging and not belonging in three of Peter Skryznecki’s poems: Feliks Skyrznecki, St Patricks College and Ancestors, also supported by my two related texts the film Mean Girls by Mark Waters and the song Fast Car by Tracy Chapman.
Peter Skryznecki wrote “ Immigrant Chronicle” which was a range of poems reflecting his feelings towards the disconnection to his polish heritage, detachment from his family and own personal feelings of alienation. His parents were polish migrants, the family came to Australia after World War 2 and when peter was only 5 years old. His poems convey how his perception of belonging and not …show more content…
Isolation is a reoccurring theme used in Peter Skryznecki’s poetry. Isolation is shown through the personas different aspirations and thoughts towards the school. In the poem ancestors, use of alliteration also conveys isolation and separating “ standing shoulder, to shoulder” this symbolizes the ancestors having each other to belong to.
The school st patricks college is ironic because it is described as the ideal place for a sense of belonging “ her lady watched with outstretched arms” however this is then belied “ her face overshadowed with clouds” the issue of not being able to see her face symbolizes the uncertainty at this new school. In the poem ancestors this is simalr as the persona can also not make out the faces “ bearded faceless men”.
The personas individual experience of not belonging is primarily outlined in the line “ caught the 414 bus like a foreign student” this use of hyperbole converys his alienation and not belonging as he has caught the bus for 8 years ( later revealed in the poem) and still feels like a ‘foreign
Peter Skryznecki wrote “ Immigrant Chronicle” which was a range of poems reflecting his feelings towards the disconnection to his polish heritage, detachment from his family and own personal feelings of alienation. His parents were polish migrants, the family came to Australia after World War 2 and when peter was only 5 years old. His poems convey how his perception of belonging and not …show more content…
Isolation is a reoccurring theme used in Peter Skryznecki’s poetry. Isolation is shown through the personas different aspirations and thoughts towards the school. In the poem ancestors, use of alliteration also conveys isolation and separating “ standing shoulder, to shoulder” this symbolizes the ancestors having each other to belong to.
The school st patricks college is ironic because it is described as the ideal place for a sense of belonging “ her lady watched with outstretched arms” however this is then belied “ her face overshadowed with clouds” the issue of not being able to see her face symbolizes the uncertainty at this new school. In the poem ancestors this is simalr as the persona can also not make out the faces “ bearded faceless men”.
The personas individual experience of not belonging is primarily outlined in the line “ caught the 414 bus like a foreign student” this use of hyperbole converys his alienation and not belonging as he has caught the bus for 8 years ( later revealed in the poem) and still feels like a ‘foreign