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Belonging: Indigenous Australians and Sense Essay

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You are to write a speechto present at a conference titled "Perceptions of Belonging." Your speech should discuss HOW Peter Skrzynecki and another composer explore the following statement: "To feel a sense of belonging, you need to accept yourself and be accepted by others." Refer to TWO Skrzynecki poems and ONE of the related texts from your portfolio. What is the meaning to belong? One’s perception of belonging may vary throughout their lifetime. Though generally, to belong is to be accepted and to develop a sense of satisfaction, security and stability through a variety of ways within one’s life. In contrast to not belong is to be experiencing a sense of rejection, alienation and isolation. A sense of belonging usually emerges from …show more content…

Skrzynecki effectively portrays the doubt within his mind through the symbolism of “Our Lady watched with outstretched arms, her face overshadowed by clouds”, with the clouds symbolic of the doubt that filled him as well as being ironic imagery. This also questions the ability of concrete statues to provide comfort and warmth let alone protection. “Luceat Lux Vestra, I thought was a brand of soap”, is symbolic of his immaturity and naivety, having no idea between the true meaning and feeling unaccepted. The repetition of “For eight years”, shows how he continually did the same things for eight years just to be accepted, although he really didn’t feel accepted at all. An example, “Caught the 414 bus, like a foreign tourist”, conveying his feeling of isolation and rejection through the use of a simile. He continues to depict how he is physically present and a part of the school, but is emotionally detached and disconnected and chooses not to embrace and become a part of the school community. Again through the repetition of “For Eight Years” and the symbolism of, “I carried the blue, black and gold”, Peter directly emphasised again that he belonged to a school but persisted in not wanting to belong and not accepting himself and in turn not being accepted by those around him. Finally Peter had an optimistic view through the use of juxtaposition right at the end of the

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