Bruce Dawe Lifecycle

I believe Bruce Dawes poem Life Cycle is both of satirical nature and a celebration of the game of Australian Rules football in Victoria. This is shown in the use of many poetic techniques such as religious connotations; tone of the writing and by dedication to Big Jim Phelan.

Throughout the poem Dawe uses several religious references such as, “like the voice of god” which is showing the reader that in Victoria the game of Australian Rules Football is similar to god and taken as it’s a religion, this quote is explaining the voice of the typical supporter screaming their encouragement to their team this also shows the dedication to a fan has to the game, and to their team, therefore this shows both a satirical attitude and a celebrationary tone. Dawes references and baseing of the poem to a life cycle is using satire to show the Victorian people’s devotion to the game by showing they see AFL as a huge part of their life cycle. He talks throughout the poem about the different stages of life and their relating stage to their support of the AFL and their club. These references indicate that the poem is of a satire tone

One of the key parts of the poem is the dedication at the start to Dawes friends father Big Jim Phelan a former AFL player and board member and an overall fan of the game, this dedication shows that it is also a celebration of the game due to Phelans love for it

To conclude Bruce Dawes poem shows both satirical and celebration natures.