Here is an article about the recent car bombing in Northern Ireland on Monday.
N.Ireland car bomb will not derail peace: politicians
by Eamonn Mallie Eamonn Mallie
Tue Feb 23, 4:21 am ET
BELFAST (AFP) – A huge car bomb exploded outside a Northern Ireland court in an attack blamed on dissident republicans, just weeks after an agreement was finally brokered on devolving sensitive policing powers.
Police said it was a "sheer miracle" that no-one was killed or injured in the explosion in Newry, south of Belfast, which highlights the fragility of the peace in the British-ruled province.
The bomb went off at around 10:30 pm (2230 GMT) Monday as officers were evacuating the area after two coded warnings to a local hospital and business.
"It is only by sheer miracle that nobody was killed or injured," said the Police Service of Northern Ireland's area commander Sam Cordiner.
Conor Murphy, the local lawmaker for republicans Sinn Fein, also condemned in strong terms the blast, which was heard several miles away.
"The people responsible have absolutely nothing to offer the community except the prospect of a return to the past," he told reporters at the scene.
The attack came nearly three weeks after Northern Ireland's leaders sealed a hard-fought accord to transfer sensitive policing and justice powers from London to Belfast, the final major step to devolving power fully to Northern Ireland.
Responsibility for policing and justice is due to transfer from London to Belfast on April 12 and the Northern Ireland Assembly is to vote on the deal on March 9.
The negotiations between coalition government partners the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Sinn Fein on the issue were painful and drawn out.
The situation was complicated when First Minister Peter Robinson of the DUP temporarily stepped aside to fight allegations of financial impropriety linked to his wife's affair with a 19-year-old.
Robinson was cleared and is now back in office.
The BBC reported that police had been bracing themselves for some kind of dissident riposte to the deal.
Britain's Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward said the latest act of "senseless violence" was committed by "a small handful of people who refuse to accept the people's overwhelming support for the peace process".
"On March 9, Northern Ireland's politicians in the assembly can send the unanimous message in the cross-community vote: politics is the way forward and the small number of dissident criminals will never be given the opportunity to turn back the success of the peace process," he added.
No group has claimed responsibility for the Newry attack but Danny Kennedy, deputy leader of pro-British Ulster Unionist party, said dissident republicans had sent a warning about the device.
"A recognised code from dissidents accompanied a warning. It's likely there will be sizeable damage," said Kennedy.
Northern Ireland's three decades of violence known as "The Troubles", in which more than 3,500 people died, was largely ended by a 1998 peace deal which paved the way for the devolution of power from politicians in London to Belfast.
But there are still splinter groups opposed to the peace process.
Monday's incident came just days after a mortar bomb abandoned outside a police station in a nearby village failed to detonate.
A Catholic police officer was seriously injured after a car bomb attack last month and police stations have been shot at in recent weeks.
In September, army experts defused a massive roadside bomb near the border with the Irish Republic in South Armagh, averting what police said would have been a devastating explosion.
Last March, republicans shot dead two soldiers at an army barracks in County Antrim and two days later gunned down a police constable as he answered a call for help.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Wednesday English Study Group
VCE English Study Session
Need help, advice or just some time to continue your VCE English studies? Come along to the RASC and join in the VCE English Study session. Held every Wednesday 3:15 to 4:30- it’s up to you how long you stay and what aspect of English you work on. There will be at least one VCE English teacher available to support you. Y11 and Y12 students welcome.
Need help, advice or just some time to continue your VCE English studies? Come along to the RASC and join in the VCE English Study session. Held every Wednesday 3:15 to 4:30- it’s up to you how long you stay and what aspect of English you work on. There will be at least one VCE English teacher available to support you. Y11 and Y12 students welcome.
Northern Ireland Car Bombing
Please click on the following link to go to a news article about the 2009 car bombing in Northern Ireland. Obviously this has some significance when it comes to the study of Omagh, but is also a great example of conflict in our society. It would be useful to start to study to understand the background to the violence in Northern Ireland in particular the time of the 'Troubles'. When looking at this example try to see if you can highlight the factors that lead to this conflict, what occured during this, and what were the consequences.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/northernireland/6630265/400lb-car-bomb-goes-off-outside-Northern-Irelands-Policing-Board.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/northernireland/6630265/400lb-car-bomb-goes-off-outside-Northern-Irelands-Policing-Board.html
Sample Essay Response
This is a copy of an essay that I wrote in relation to a given prompt on the context of conflict. This was written in about ten minutes and needs some work. I have included it so that you are able to look at it critically. Try and think what do I like or not like about? What are its strengths and weaknesses? What would I do differently?
Practice SAC
Prompt: A conflict’s importance lies not in its causes but in its consequences.
Whilst the events during a conflict can be seen as significant, it is surely the consequences that are of the most importance. Conflicts can range from minor arguments to international clashes. The consequences can be enduring and far reaching, and can in some cases lead to further conflicts. It has to be also said that the consequences can have positive and negative outcomes.
It may be some time until we discover the consequences of any given conflict and this may be evident in events such as cultural clashes and international conflicts. Events such as the dropping of the bomb on Hiroshima had far reaching implications other that the direct effects of death and injury, the advent of cancer and deformaties in future generations had a strong impact on the people of Japan. This is also true of the clash between the Aboriginals and White Settlers in Kate Grenville’s ‘The Secret River’. The ongoing dispute over land ownership eventually led to the death of many Aboriginals and a loss of rights. The effects of this can even been seen today in the case of Aboriginal land rights and court cases such as Mabo.
The outcomes of any conflict can be viewed as positive or negative depending on the view of the parties involved. It is inevitable in these disputes that one party is going to strive to achieve its goals. This is true of William Thornhill in ‘The Secret River’, he views the fact that he has claimed some land as a victory over his life of struggle, this is of course to the detriment of the Aboriginal people. William eventually goes on to great success but does feel some remorse over the fact that he participated in the massacre at Thomas Blackwood’s place, and he has to deal with the fact that he has lost his relationship with his son Dick.
We can also view conflict as a catalyst for change and the consequences of this is that change occurs because the conflict. This was evident after the terrorist attack in New York on the 9th of September. This attack lead to major changes in how people travelled, and how security checks were carried out in major airports.
Whilst the conflict may be seen as important at the time of the event, it is the consequences that we will have to live with, in some cases for many years. These conflicts will affect the involved parties in a variety of ways and will have positive or negative outcomes.
Practice SAC
Prompt: A conflict’s importance lies not in its causes but in its consequences.
Whilst the events during a conflict can be seen as significant, it is surely the consequences that are of the most importance. Conflicts can range from minor arguments to international clashes. The consequences can be enduring and far reaching, and can in some cases lead to further conflicts. It has to be also said that the consequences can have positive and negative outcomes.
It may be some time until we discover the consequences of any given conflict and this may be evident in events such as cultural clashes and international conflicts. Events such as the dropping of the bomb on Hiroshima had far reaching implications other that the direct effects of death and injury, the advent of cancer and deformaties in future generations had a strong impact on the people of Japan. This is also true of the clash between the Aboriginals and White Settlers in Kate Grenville’s ‘The Secret River’. The ongoing dispute over land ownership eventually led to the death of many Aboriginals and a loss of rights. The effects of this can even been seen today in the case of Aboriginal land rights and court cases such as Mabo.
The outcomes of any conflict can be viewed as positive or negative depending on the view of the parties involved. It is inevitable in these disputes that one party is going to strive to achieve its goals. This is true of William Thornhill in ‘The Secret River’, he views the fact that he has claimed some land as a victory over his life of struggle, this is of course to the detriment of the Aboriginal people. William eventually goes on to great success but does feel some remorse over the fact that he participated in the massacre at Thomas Blackwood’s place, and he has to deal with the fact that he has lost his relationship with his son Dick.
We can also view conflict as a catalyst for change and the consequences of this is that change occurs because the conflict. This was evident after the terrorist attack in New York on the 9th of September. This attack lead to major changes in how people travelled, and how security checks were carried out in major airports.
Whilst the conflict may be seen as important at the time of the event, it is the consequences that we will have to live with, in some cases for many years. These conflicts will affect the involved parties in a variety of ways and will have positive or negative outcomes.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
How to construct an expository essay.
How to structure an expository piece based on the context of conflict.
Prompt
‘When conflict arises, it is impossible not to take a side. Everyone has a role.’
Task
Use the prompt as the basis for a piece of writing exploring the idea that when conflict arises, it is impossible not to take a side. Everyone has a role. Your piece is to be published in an anthology of student writing intended for circulation to the wider school community. You must draw on ideas and issues suggested by a text or texts from the list above.
Purpose: Expository
Audience: The wider school community
Form: Essay
• The language employed in the expository essay is formal throughout.
Introduction
One of the great myths of conflict is that it can always be contained. Whether it is encountered in the personal or political sphere, conflict will often spread beyond the main combatants. History demonstrates that wars escalate in world where connections between individuals and states are so complex. An argument between friends will generally force those on the perimeter to choose sides. Conflict by its very nature creates polarities. Even when conflict is internal, it rarely remains so. When a dispute begins, the world is viewed in black and white terms, with no middle ground. Attempts to reconcile differences are often misinterpreted as tacit support for one side or the other.
The introduction identifies various forms of conflict and the likelihood of polarised responses.
Paragraph Two
Topic Sentence – Conflict is defined by incompatible positions that force individuals to take sides. The topic sentence defines conflict and refers to the factionalism that is often a consequence. The topic sentence defines conflict and refers to the factionalism that is often a consequence.
You should develop the topic sentence and textual evidence into a complete paragraph.
Textual Evidence
• Secret River
Thornhill does not necessarily seek to destroy the local indigenous people, but he is drawn in to the centre of the conflict by Saggity’s death. When he finds the dying man, he wishes “like a physical need, for it to be yesterday, or even an hour ago, a time in which this thing did not have to be dealt with”.
• Omagh
It is clear that the members of the Gallagher family are in no way active participants in the dispute in Northern Ireland, yet when Aiden is killed, Michael and, initially, Patty are drawn in by the death of their son.
• Social Parallel
Consider the ways in which neighbouring countries are destabilised when a war breaks out. Similarly, think about how quickly individuals are forced to take sides when two members of a friendship group argue.
• Use of social parallels – Social parallels can be drawn from your general knowledge and wider reading.
Paragraph Three
Topic Sentence – Conflict can rarely be contained and it inevitably spreads beyond the original dispute. The topic sentence suggests that conflict, once encountered, escalates beyond the original dispute.
Textual Evidence
• Secret River
The class conflict that divides England and makes crime a matter of survival creates a situation that makes transportation necessary because of overcrowded and expensive prisons. The transportation of men like Thornhill to Australia means that conflict with the Indigenous population is inevitable. The link between Thronhill’s experiences in London and the conflict that develops on the Hawkesbury suggests that conflict often has social causes.
• Omagh
The protracted Troubles in Northern Ireland form the backdrop to the more immediate conflict of the Omagh bombing. As the group tries to find those responsible, their search creates a conflict that threatens to destabilise peace negotiations.
• Social Parallel
While the 2003 invasion of Iraq by the United States and its allies (including Australia) was initially successful and deposed the Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, it has led to further conflict between factions within the country, as well as social division in the participating countries.
Paragraph Four
Topic Sentence – The middle ground can be the most dangerous place in a conflict because both sides may regard this position with suspicion. This topic sentence identifies the danger posed to those who avoid taking sides when they encounter conflict.
Textual Evidence
• Secret River
One of Thornhill’s first encounters with the local Indigenous people begins with an offer of food but ends with an argument over a spade. Later, the old man offers Thronhill a “finger of root” to eat, which Thornhill rejects. In this way, Grenville shows how overtures of peace are regarded with suspicion.
• Omagh
A he seeks justice for the death of his son, Michael becomes a thorn in the side a various authorities in Northern Ireland, both IRA and RUC. At the same time, his relationship with his wife begins to disintegrate. The conflict that he encounters is thus both personal and political.
• Social Parallels
The experiences of UN peacekeepers in countries like Rwanda and Bosnia throughout the 1990s suggest the dangers of such a role. In both cases, the peacekeepers found themselves unable to retaliate against the aggressor and equally unable to protect the victims of the conflicts that they encountered. They were thus regarded with suspicion by both sides. The film Hotel Rwanda illustrates this process very clearly.
Conclusion – The conclusion sums up and restates the main ideas of the essay.
Sometimes conflict is like a bushfire: it spreads and spreads until everyone is forced to take some kind of action. It does not respect those who wish to stay out of its way, anymore than it does those who try to encounter it head-on. Arguments, disputes and battles of all sorts are an undeniable part of the fabric of human existence. The goal is always to look for a way to end the fighting and heal the wounds. It is thus crucial not to underestimate the momentum that develops so quickly when conflict arises.
Prompt
‘When conflict arises, it is impossible not to take a side. Everyone has a role.’
Task
Use the prompt as the basis for a piece of writing exploring the idea that when conflict arises, it is impossible not to take a side. Everyone has a role. Your piece is to be published in an anthology of student writing intended for circulation to the wider school community. You must draw on ideas and issues suggested by a text or texts from the list above.
Purpose: Expository
Audience: The wider school community
Form: Essay
• The language employed in the expository essay is formal throughout.
Introduction
One of the great myths of conflict is that it can always be contained. Whether it is encountered in the personal or political sphere, conflict will often spread beyond the main combatants. History demonstrates that wars escalate in world where connections between individuals and states are so complex. An argument between friends will generally force those on the perimeter to choose sides. Conflict by its very nature creates polarities. Even when conflict is internal, it rarely remains so. When a dispute begins, the world is viewed in black and white terms, with no middle ground. Attempts to reconcile differences are often misinterpreted as tacit support for one side or the other.
The introduction identifies various forms of conflict and the likelihood of polarised responses.
Paragraph Two
Topic Sentence – Conflict is defined by incompatible positions that force individuals to take sides. The topic sentence defines conflict and refers to the factionalism that is often a consequence. The topic sentence defines conflict and refers to the factionalism that is often a consequence.
You should develop the topic sentence and textual evidence into a complete paragraph.
Textual Evidence
• Secret River
Thornhill does not necessarily seek to destroy the local indigenous people, but he is drawn in to the centre of the conflict by Saggity’s death. When he finds the dying man, he wishes “like a physical need, for it to be yesterday, or even an hour ago, a time in which this thing did not have to be dealt with”.
• Omagh
It is clear that the members of the Gallagher family are in no way active participants in the dispute in Northern Ireland, yet when Aiden is killed, Michael and, initially, Patty are drawn in by the death of their son.
• Social Parallel
Consider the ways in which neighbouring countries are destabilised when a war breaks out. Similarly, think about how quickly individuals are forced to take sides when two members of a friendship group argue.
• Use of social parallels – Social parallels can be drawn from your general knowledge and wider reading.
Paragraph Three
Topic Sentence – Conflict can rarely be contained and it inevitably spreads beyond the original dispute. The topic sentence suggests that conflict, once encountered, escalates beyond the original dispute.
Textual Evidence
• Secret River
The class conflict that divides England and makes crime a matter of survival creates a situation that makes transportation necessary because of overcrowded and expensive prisons. The transportation of men like Thornhill to Australia means that conflict with the Indigenous population is inevitable. The link between Thronhill’s experiences in London and the conflict that develops on the Hawkesbury suggests that conflict often has social causes.
• Omagh
The protracted Troubles in Northern Ireland form the backdrop to the more immediate conflict of the Omagh bombing. As the group tries to find those responsible, their search creates a conflict that threatens to destabilise peace negotiations.
• Social Parallel
While the 2003 invasion of Iraq by the United States and its allies (including Australia) was initially successful and deposed the Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, it has led to further conflict between factions within the country, as well as social division in the participating countries.
Paragraph Four
Topic Sentence – The middle ground can be the most dangerous place in a conflict because both sides may regard this position with suspicion. This topic sentence identifies the danger posed to those who avoid taking sides when they encounter conflict.
Textual Evidence
• Secret River
One of Thornhill’s first encounters with the local Indigenous people begins with an offer of food but ends with an argument over a spade. Later, the old man offers Thronhill a “finger of root” to eat, which Thornhill rejects. In this way, Grenville shows how overtures of peace are regarded with suspicion.
• Omagh
A he seeks justice for the death of his son, Michael becomes a thorn in the side a various authorities in Northern Ireland, both IRA and RUC. At the same time, his relationship with his wife begins to disintegrate. The conflict that he encounters is thus both personal and political.
• Social Parallels
The experiences of UN peacekeepers in countries like Rwanda and Bosnia throughout the 1990s suggest the dangers of such a role. In both cases, the peacekeepers found themselves unable to retaliate against the aggressor and equally unable to protect the victims of the conflicts that they encountered. They were thus regarded with suspicion by both sides. The film Hotel Rwanda illustrates this process very clearly.
Conclusion – The conclusion sums up and restates the main ideas of the essay.
Sometimes conflict is like a bushfire: it spreads and spreads until everyone is forced to take some kind of action. It does not respect those who wish to stay out of its way, anymore than it does those who try to encounter it head-on. Arguments, disputes and battles of all sorts are an undeniable part of the fabric of human existence. The goal is always to look for a way to end the fighting and heal the wounds. It is thus crucial not to underestimate the momentum that develops so quickly when conflict arises.
Examples of conflict from The Secret River Part Two
On page 13-14 William and his father have to collect dog poo for the tanners to help in the leather making process. This is an examples of a personal or moral conflict in so much that William would prefer not to do this, and it is such a repulsive thing to do. However William has no choice as he says ‘the ache in his belly was even worse than the stink of the shit’. So we have once again an understanding that William will do whatever it takes to survive, even the most menial and degrading task in order to survive.
On page 17 we get to see something of Sal’s character as she has a go at a man whipping a little dog. Sal is obviously quite sensitive and William already feels the need to protect her from the world and from herself. This will become more important later in the novel as we get to see the different reactions to the Aboriginal’s from Sal and William.
On page 22 we start to see William becoming involved in more serious crimes as he is tempted to steal sugar from a barrel that some men have broken open. He is quite happy to lie about the situation to save himself and tells gangsman Mr Crocker ‘There was a man there bid me take it’. This however does not work and William is whipped for the crime. Rather than learning not to steal, William takes it as it is better not to be caught. He sees no wrong in stealing for the a ‘good cause’ that is providing for his family. He eventually learns tricks on how to steal without getting caught and has all the tools of the trade to help him with his theft.
On page 25 we see a change in fortune that Sals father takes William on as an apprentice waterman. Mr Middleton warns William however that ‘Any thieving and you are out on your ear’. Whilst this is a good opportunity for William, there is also the danger that he now has something that he can lose.
On page 26 William we see Williams understanding of social status as he witnesses Mr Middleton being talked down to by the apprenticeship guild. William explains ‘He had a sudden dizzying understanding of the way men were ranged on top of each other, all the way from the Thornhills at the bottom up to the King, or God at the top, each man higher than one, lower that another. We clearly see were William sees himself in the grand order of society.
On page 30-32 we see the clash between the gentleman on the boat and William Thornhill, and we begin to witness William’s frustration at his social position and he seems to believe that given different circumstances he would be the one who was successful. He says on page 32 ‘In any race for survival with this Henry, Thornhill knew he would have been victor....Thornhill was at the mercy of such mincing pansies, who looked at him as if he were of no more account than a bollard.’ This reflects his earlier statement that ‘William Thornhills will fill up the whole world.’ Page 11.
On page 58 when William has been caught stealing the timber he is about to be caught by Yates, William pleads with him and tells Yates that if he is captured he will hang. Yates is torn between helping a friend or doing his job. This is another example of some of the moral conflicts that are scattered throughout the novel.
SYDNEY
On page 77 we see a change in roles as Sal has taken charge of William in Australia. Sal does try to argue that she is not in charge of him, but is told ‘He might be your husband but you are the master now, dearie, he said.’ This is very much a reversal particularly in the patriarchal society of the time.
On page 79 we start to see the beginnings of the conflict between the white settlers and the Aboriginals as a drunken man warns them ‘Look out for the poxy savages, matey, ....They’s partial to a tasty bit of victuals like your boy there.’ Grenville seems to suggest here that a lot of the conflict is caused by misinformation and a developing sense of fear and possibly a sense of naivety. Thornill does not really have any experience of the Aboriginals, but is now given cause to fear them as he is told they are dangerous. The fact that Thornhill is given this information by a drunken man, can also seem that the whites are only interested in getting drunk, compared to the Aboriginals. The white settlers in this case seem to be portrayed in a poor light.
On page 80 we start to see the clash between Thornhill and indeed all the white settlers and the environment. Most of the times in the novel we are given the impression that the Aboriginals are one with the environment whereas the white settlers tend to struggle against it. ‘Having never seen anywhere else, Thornhill had imagined that all the world was the same as London.....This place was like nothing he had ever seen.’
During this chapter we also see the potential for conflict between Sal and William, as Sal and William promise that they will stay for five years and then return to London. However as William starts to become successful he starts to consider staying longer, he does not tell Sal this. Once again this is an idea that Grenville believes that conflict is caused by lack of communication, and sometimes it is the things that are not said that can cause conflict as well. It is in fact almost inevitable.
On page 91 we see a comparison between the Aboriginals and the white settlers. Grenville uses this device to compare the Aboriginals and the white settlers. ‘Scabby Bill’ is described as having scars on his chest but they are described as ‘The scars on Scabby Bill’s chest were different. It seemed that the point was not so much the pain as the scars themselves. Unlike the net of crisscross scars on Daniel Ellison’s back, they were carefully drawn. Each scar lined up neat next to its neighbour, a language of skin’. This suggests that the Aboriginal scars are a badge of honour, whereas the convicts scars are a constant reminder of their wrongdoings.
In this chapter we also see the different ways that Sal and William try to work with the Aboriginals. Sal tries the easy route of giving them stuff in the hope that they will take the stuff and leave with no problems. We also start to witness the Aboriginals becoming ‘corrupted’ by the white settlers, in particular Scabby Bill on page 91 ‘.. what he preferred was a sup of rum. Liqour seemed to act on him with astonishing power’ The Aboriginals are almost treated as a novelty as they get drunk so quickly, and Scabby Bill is provided with rum in return for him dancing for the whites.
On page 92 we also start to see that the white settlers in their claims on land are slowly encroaching on the Aboriginal land, as well as seeing that there is a marked difference between how the Aboriginals and the white settlers view possession of land. Page 93 ‘There were no signs that the blacks felt the place belonged to them. They had no fences that said this is mine. No house that said, this is our home. There were no fields or flocks that said, we have put the labour of our hands into this place’ Once again we can see the possibility of conflict between the two ideologies of land ownership, and also have the understanding that eventually there will be more settlers coming to Australia and that conflict with the Aboriginals is inevitable as they claim more and more land.
Page 93 – There is shown the difference between the Aboriginals concept of ownership of land compared to that of the White settlers.
Page 102 – Conflict with the environment ‘he could make out a crooked hut, but tiny in this massive place, and around it a clearing like something flayed’. The whites trying to show their ownership over the land.
Page 103 – The clash between Blackwood and Smasher, Smasher treats the Aboriginals badly compared to how Blackwood treats them. The conflict between white settlers.
Page 107 – Blackwood defines his relationship with the land which echoes the same relathionship with the Aboriginals, ‘give a little, take a little, that’s the only way.’
Page 110 – The clash between William and Sal about whether to return home, William wants to expand his business, and Sal is quite clear about what she wants ‘I ain’t coming at it, Will and that’s flat.’
A Clearing in the forest
Page 134 – ‘Now there was a place where a man had laid his mark over the face of the land. It was astonishing how little it took to own a piece of the earth’ Shows the whites understanding of land ownership, they have no regard to the fact that other people may in fact need that land as well.
Page 140 – 141 The incident with the Aboriginals where they have dug up the daisies for food. Willie describes the Aboriginals as savages, shows that they have no understanding of the Aboriginal culture.
Page 142-148 The ‘slapping’ incident this is the first real clash between William and the Aboriginals, and shows William trying to show that he is superior to the Aboriginals, but also shows the fear that the Thornhill’s have of the Aboriginals. We also see the different ways that Sal and William deal with the Aboriginals, William resorts to violence, whereas Sal tries to placate them with food and gifts.
Page 150 We get to see that there is this unspoken tension between William and Sal about returning to England
Page 154 The fish symbol that is carved into the rock, William starts to understand the relationship that the Aboriginals have with the land, and also how long they have been around.
Page 157 Smasher Sullivan tells stories of what the Aboriginals are doing to white settlers, showing once again that fear can be a great source of conflict.
Page 160 We get to see that William struggles to tame the land ‘Chopping, clearing, building, he was discovering anew William Thornhill, though: a man who could labour against wilderness until it yielded up a dwelling.’
Page 163 We get to see that Sagitty Birtles claims that he is constantly robbed by the blacks, so to justify the actions he takes against them.
Page 166 We get to see Mrs Herring who has learnt to live with the Aboriginals ‘I give them when they ask...They help themselves now and then, I turn a blind eye.’
Page 168 Blackwood explains about the daisy yams that William dug up, explaining that they were good eating, and the fact that once they were dug up they didn’t seem to grow back again, thus denying the Aboriginals one of their food sources.
Page 175 We see Thornhill asserting his authority over his convict servants reminding them that he should be called Mr Thornhill. Once again we see the clash between status.
A Hundred Acres
On page 17 we get to see something of Sal’s character as she has a go at a man whipping a little dog. Sal is obviously quite sensitive and William already feels the need to protect her from the world and from herself. This will become more important later in the novel as we get to see the different reactions to the Aboriginal’s from Sal and William.
On page 22 we start to see William becoming involved in more serious crimes as he is tempted to steal sugar from a barrel that some men have broken open. He is quite happy to lie about the situation to save himself and tells gangsman Mr Crocker ‘There was a man there bid me take it’. This however does not work and William is whipped for the crime. Rather than learning not to steal, William takes it as it is better not to be caught. He sees no wrong in stealing for the a ‘good cause’ that is providing for his family. He eventually learns tricks on how to steal without getting caught and has all the tools of the trade to help him with his theft.
On page 25 we see a change in fortune that Sals father takes William on as an apprentice waterman. Mr Middleton warns William however that ‘Any thieving and you are out on your ear’. Whilst this is a good opportunity for William, there is also the danger that he now has something that he can lose.
On page 26 William we see Williams understanding of social status as he witnesses Mr Middleton being talked down to by the apprenticeship guild. William explains ‘He had a sudden dizzying understanding of the way men were ranged on top of each other, all the way from the Thornhills at the bottom up to the King, or God at the top, each man higher than one, lower that another. We clearly see were William sees himself in the grand order of society.
On page 30-32 we see the clash between the gentleman on the boat and William Thornhill, and we begin to witness William’s frustration at his social position and he seems to believe that given different circumstances he would be the one who was successful. He says on page 32 ‘In any race for survival with this Henry, Thornhill knew he would have been victor....Thornhill was at the mercy of such mincing pansies, who looked at him as if he were of no more account than a bollard.’ This reflects his earlier statement that ‘William Thornhills will fill up the whole world.’ Page 11.
On page 58 when William has been caught stealing the timber he is about to be caught by Yates, William pleads with him and tells Yates that if he is captured he will hang. Yates is torn between helping a friend or doing his job. This is another example of some of the moral conflicts that are scattered throughout the novel.
SYDNEY
On page 77 we see a change in roles as Sal has taken charge of William in Australia. Sal does try to argue that she is not in charge of him, but is told ‘He might be your husband but you are the master now, dearie, he said.’ This is very much a reversal particularly in the patriarchal society of the time.
On page 79 we start to see the beginnings of the conflict between the white settlers and the Aboriginals as a drunken man warns them ‘Look out for the poxy savages, matey, ....They’s partial to a tasty bit of victuals like your boy there.’ Grenville seems to suggest here that a lot of the conflict is caused by misinformation and a developing sense of fear and possibly a sense of naivety. Thornill does not really have any experience of the Aboriginals, but is now given cause to fear them as he is told they are dangerous. The fact that Thornhill is given this information by a drunken man, can also seem that the whites are only interested in getting drunk, compared to the Aboriginals. The white settlers in this case seem to be portrayed in a poor light.
On page 80 we start to see the clash between Thornhill and indeed all the white settlers and the environment. Most of the times in the novel we are given the impression that the Aboriginals are one with the environment whereas the white settlers tend to struggle against it. ‘Having never seen anywhere else, Thornhill had imagined that all the world was the same as London.....This place was like nothing he had ever seen.’
During this chapter we also see the potential for conflict between Sal and William, as Sal and William promise that they will stay for five years and then return to London. However as William starts to become successful he starts to consider staying longer, he does not tell Sal this. Once again this is an idea that Grenville believes that conflict is caused by lack of communication, and sometimes it is the things that are not said that can cause conflict as well. It is in fact almost inevitable.
On page 91 we see a comparison between the Aboriginals and the white settlers. Grenville uses this device to compare the Aboriginals and the white settlers. ‘Scabby Bill’ is described as having scars on his chest but they are described as ‘The scars on Scabby Bill’s chest were different. It seemed that the point was not so much the pain as the scars themselves. Unlike the net of crisscross scars on Daniel Ellison’s back, they were carefully drawn. Each scar lined up neat next to its neighbour, a language of skin’. This suggests that the Aboriginal scars are a badge of honour, whereas the convicts scars are a constant reminder of their wrongdoings.
In this chapter we also see the different ways that Sal and William try to work with the Aboriginals. Sal tries the easy route of giving them stuff in the hope that they will take the stuff and leave with no problems. We also start to witness the Aboriginals becoming ‘corrupted’ by the white settlers, in particular Scabby Bill on page 91 ‘.. what he preferred was a sup of rum. Liqour seemed to act on him with astonishing power’ The Aboriginals are almost treated as a novelty as they get drunk so quickly, and Scabby Bill is provided with rum in return for him dancing for the whites.
On page 92 we also start to see that the white settlers in their claims on land are slowly encroaching on the Aboriginal land, as well as seeing that there is a marked difference between how the Aboriginals and the white settlers view possession of land. Page 93 ‘There were no signs that the blacks felt the place belonged to them. They had no fences that said this is mine. No house that said, this is our home. There were no fields or flocks that said, we have put the labour of our hands into this place’ Once again we can see the possibility of conflict between the two ideologies of land ownership, and also have the understanding that eventually there will be more settlers coming to Australia and that conflict with the Aboriginals is inevitable as they claim more and more land.
Page 93 – There is shown the difference between the Aboriginals concept of ownership of land compared to that of the White settlers.
Page 102 – Conflict with the environment ‘he could make out a crooked hut, but tiny in this massive place, and around it a clearing like something flayed’. The whites trying to show their ownership over the land.
Page 103 – The clash between Blackwood and Smasher, Smasher treats the Aboriginals badly compared to how Blackwood treats them. The conflict between white settlers.
Page 107 – Blackwood defines his relationship with the land which echoes the same relathionship with the Aboriginals, ‘give a little, take a little, that’s the only way.’
Page 110 – The clash between William and Sal about whether to return home, William wants to expand his business, and Sal is quite clear about what she wants ‘I ain’t coming at it, Will and that’s flat.’
A Clearing in the forest
Page 134 – ‘Now there was a place where a man had laid his mark over the face of the land. It was astonishing how little it took to own a piece of the earth’ Shows the whites understanding of land ownership, they have no regard to the fact that other people may in fact need that land as well.
Page 140 – 141 The incident with the Aboriginals where they have dug up the daisies for food. Willie describes the Aboriginals as savages, shows that they have no understanding of the Aboriginal culture.
Page 142-148 The ‘slapping’ incident this is the first real clash between William and the Aboriginals, and shows William trying to show that he is superior to the Aboriginals, but also shows the fear that the Thornhill’s have of the Aboriginals. We also see the different ways that Sal and William deal with the Aboriginals, William resorts to violence, whereas Sal tries to placate them with food and gifts.
Page 150 We get to see that there is this unspoken tension between William and Sal about returning to England
Page 154 The fish symbol that is carved into the rock, William starts to understand the relationship that the Aboriginals have with the land, and also how long they have been around.
Page 157 Smasher Sullivan tells stories of what the Aboriginals are doing to white settlers, showing once again that fear can be a great source of conflict.
Page 160 We get to see that William struggles to tame the land ‘Chopping, clearing, building, he was discovering anew William Thornhill, though: a man who could labour against wilderness until it yielded up a dwelling.’
Page 163 We get to see that Sagitty Birtles claims that he is constantly robbed by the blacks, so to justify the actions he takes against them.
Page 166 We get to see Mrs Herring who has learnt to live with the Aboriginals ‘I give them when they ask...They help themselves now and then, I turn a blind eye.’
Page 168 Blackwood explains about the daisy yams that William dug up, explaining that they were good eating, and the fact that once they were dug up they didn’t seem to grow back again, thus denying the Aboriginals one of their food sources.
Page 175 We see Thornhill asserting his authority over his convict servants reminding them that he should be called Mr Thornhill. Once again we see the clash between status.
A Hundred Acres
Lesson Notes Tuesday 16th February
Lesson Notes Tuesday 16th February 2010
In the back of your books create a glossary words that you are not sure of. I will also be adding words to this glossary to help expand your vocabulary. As you read your text pick out any words that you don’t understand, find a definition for them and add these to your glossary.
Below are the words we went through today.
Definitions
Facetious (adj).
Playfully jocular; humorous
Esoteric (adj).
1.
a. Intended for or understood by only a particular group: an esoteric cult. See Synonyms at mysterious.
b. Of or relating to that which is known by a restricted number of people.
2.
a. Confined to a small group: esoteric interests.
b. Not publicly disclosed; confidential.
Eclectic (adj).
1. Selecting or employing individual elements from a variety of sources, systems, or styles: an eclectic taste in music; an eclectic approach to managing the economy.
2. Made up of or combining elements from a variety of sources: "a popular bar patronized by an eclectic collection of artists, writers, secretaries and aging soldiers on reserve duty" (Curtis Wilkie).
Obstreperous (adj).
1. Noisily and stubbornly defiant.
2. Aggressively boisterous.
Asinine (adj).
1. Utterly stupid or silly: asinine behavior.
2. Of, relating to, or resembling an ass.
In the second part of the lesson we reviewed a section of ‘The Secret River’ Page 139-141 which is where William Thornhill and his kids discover that someone has been digging on his land. Read through this section and answer the following questions.
1. Is there a point in this passage where the possibility of conflict emerges? What circumstances would be likely to produce such conflict?
2. What is Thornhill’s immediate reaction to the discovery he makes?
3. What do you think Thornhill means when he says, ‘just wild hogs or such. Moles. Something like that?’ What is suggested by Willie’s remark, ‘Moles you reckon moles’ Why do you think Willie is reluctant to contradict his father at this moment?
4. What later conflict in the story does this passage point to?
5. What is suggested in this passage about the role justice and injustice will play in the story that unfolds?
You should also now be reading up to the chapter ‘A Hundred Acres’, and still highlighting the sections where you find conflict. Remember to keep adding these to your tables in your folders.
If you have not handed in a written piece on a personal conflict you should hand these in as soon as possible, as well as completing the practice SAC as detailed below.
Year 12 English Encountering Conflict Practice SAC.
In a sustained piece of writing please respond to the following prompt.
Prompt – ‘When conflict arises, it is impossible not to take a side. Everyone has a role.’
Task: Use the prompt as a basis for a piece of writing exploring the idea that when conflict arises, it is impossible not to take a side. Everyone has a role.’
This should be written in an expository format.
Due Date Tuesday 16th February 2010
Word Count 400-500 words.
In the back of your books create a glossary words that you are not sure of. I will also be adding words to this glossary to help expand your vocabulary. As you read your text pick out any words that you don’t understand, find a definition for them and add these to your glossary.
Below are the words we went through today.
Definitions
Facetious (adj).
Playfully jocular; humorous
Esoteric (adj).
1.
a. Intended for or understood by only a particular group: an esoteric cult. See Synonyms at mysterious.
b. Of or relating to that which is known by a restricted number of people.
2.
a. Confined to a small group: esoteric interests.
b. Not publicly disclosed; confidential.
Eclectic (adj).
1. Selecting or employing individual elements from a variety of sources, systems, or styles: an eclectic taste in music; an eclectic approach to managing the economy.
2. Made up of or combining elements from a variety of sources: "a popular bar patronized by an eclectic collection of artists, writers, secretaries and aging soldiers on reserve duty" (Curtis Wilkie).
Obstreperous (adj).
1. Noisily and stubbornly defiant.
2. Aggressively boisterous.
Asinine (adj).
1. Utterly stupid or silly: asinine behavior.
2. Of, relating to, or resembling an ass.
In the second part of the lesson we reviewed a section of ‘The Secret River’ Page 139-141 which is where William Thornhill and his kids discover that someone has been digging on his land. Read through this section and answer the following questions.
1. Is there a point in this passage where the possibility of conflict emerges? What circumstances would be likely to produce such conflict?
2. What is Thornhill’s immediate reaction to the discovery he makes?
3. What do you think Thornhill means when he says, ‘just wild hogs or such. Moles. Something like that?’ What is suggested by Willie’s remark, ‘Moles you reckon moles’ Why do you think Willie is reluctant to contradict his father at this moment?
4. What later conflict in the story does this passage point to?
5. What is suggested in this passage about the role justice and injustice will play in the story that unfolds?
You should also now be reading up to the chapter ‘A Hundred Acres’, and still highlighting the sections where you find conflict. Remember to keep adding these to your tables in your folders.
If you have not handed in a written piece on a personal conflict you should hand these in as soon as possible, as well as completing the practice SAC as detailed below.
Year 12 English Encountering Conflict Practice SAC.
In a sustained piece of writing please respond to the following prompt.
Prompt – ‘When conflict arises, it is impossible not to take a side. Everyone has a role.’
Task: Use the prompt as a basis for a piece of writing exploring the idea that when conflict arises, it is impossible not to take a side. Everyone has a role.’
This should be written in an expository format.
Due Date Tuesday 16th February 2010
Word Count 400-500 words.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Devices that Kate Grenville uses to express conflict
Devices that Kate Grenville uses to express conflict
Language
This is an interesting device that Kate Grenville uses to express how conflict can be represented.
Consider the fact that throughout the novel the Aboriginals do not have any dialogue as such, the only reports that we have of them talking is described by the white settlers as something unintelligible and alien. Whilst with the white settlers we get to hear their conversations, thoughts and inner monologues which allow us to understand how they interpret their environment. We also get to see their views on the Aboriginals and can see that conflict appears to be inevitable.
Conversely we do not get to understand what the Aboriginals are thinking and only have their interactions with the white settlers to see how they behave and react.
I can be suggested that the lack of dialogue is representative of the actual lack of voice of the Aboriginals, perhaps this is Grenville making a statement that Aboriginals have no voice in Australian society. This also represents a lack of power, and perhaps suggests that Kate Grenville believes that conflict does tend to occur between the powerful and the powerless.
As you progress through the novel try and find examples where Grenville uses language to represent the conflict.
Names
It is also worth considering Grenville’s use of names in ‘The Secret River’, in so much that most of the white settlers have full names. This is as opposed to the Aboriginals who are only described by their appearance rather than their own names. For example, ‘Scabby Bill’, ‘Long Jack’ etc. This would suggest once again that these are names imposed on them by the white settlers and really does not give any credit to them. It is almost as if the white settlers have summed up the Aboriginals in a few words and have no interest in knowing any more about them than being able to describe them and use the names as a point of reference.
Once again it would be advantageous for you to start thinking what Kate Grenville is trying to say about the nature of conflict by doing this, is it that she is once again saying that it is this struggle between the powerful and the powerless as well as being a cultural conflict, this is something that you will have to think about throughout the novel.
Language
This is an interesting device that Kate Grenville uses to express how conflict can be represented.
Consider the fact that throughout the novel the Aboriginals do not have any dialogue as such, the only reports that we have of them talking is described by the white settlers as something unintelligible and alien. Whilst with the white settlers we get to hear their conversations, thoughts and inner monologues which allow us to understand how they interpret their environment. We also get to see their views on the Aboriginals and can see that conflict appears to be inevitable.
Conversely we do not get to understand what the Aboriginals are thinking and only have their interactions with the white settlers to see how they behave and react.
I can be suggested that the lack of dialogue is representative of the actual lack of voice of the Aboriginals, perhaps this is Grenville making a statement that Aboriginals have no voice in Australian society. This also represents a lack of power, and perhaps suggests that Kate Grenville believes that conflict does tend to occur between the powerful and the powerless.
As you progress through the novel try and find examples where Grenville uses language to represent the conflict.
Names
It is also worth considering Grenville’s use of names in ‘The Secret River’, in so much that most of the white settlers have full names. This is as opposed to the Aboriginals who are only described by their appearance rather than their own names. For example, ‘Scabby Bill’, ‘Long Jack’ etc. This would suggest once again that these are names imposed on them by the white settlers and really does not give any credit to them. It is almost as if the white settlers have summed up the Aboriginals in a few words and have no interest in knowing any more about them than being able to describe them and use the names as a point of reference.
Once again it would be advantageous for you to start thinking what Kate Grenville is trying to say about the nature of conflict by doing this, is it that she is once again saying that it is this struggle between the powerful and the powerless as well as being a cultural conflict, this is something that you will have to think about throughout the novel.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Examples of conflict in 'The Secret River'
The Secret River Examples of Conflict
What is listed below are some examples of the conflicts that occur within the novel ‘The Secret River’. These are not the only examples but they are a guide to help you as you progress through the novel. Try and find your own examples and add these to the table that we have created in class, whether they are personal conflicts, social conflicts or national conflicts all conflicts should be able to fit under one of these. Remember also that it is worth colour coding your book either with highlighters or coloured tabs so that you have one colour for personal conflict, one colour for social conflict and one colour for national conflict, so that as you go through you use a colour for each example this will mean that when revising it will be easy to locate particular examples within the novel.
Strangers
Page 5-6 William Thornhill’s first encounter with an Aboriginal. In this example we see that the conflict with the Aboriginal seems to arise out of a sense of fear. The Aboriginal carries a spear and William seems to obsess about this, even imagining what it would feel like to be speared. He also fears for the safety of his family and describes them as ‘soft parcels of flesh: his wife and children’ as if to over exaggerate their vulnerability. This conflict also arises from a lack of understanding, some underlying prejudices and a lack of communication. William tells the Aboriginal to ‘be off’ which the Aboriginal begins to mimic, not really understanding what William wants. There is also William’s underlying assumption or prejudice that the Aboriginal is violent and only wants to cause harm to him and his family. This conflict could also be part of a power struggle as William tries to assert his authority over the Aboriginals, as he feel himself superior to them.
London
On page 9 we are introduced to the life of the Thornhill’s and already see the possibility of conflict arising particularly as it is mentioned that ‘The Thornhills all stole Turnips from time to time, running the risk of dogs getting them...’ This example shows that there is a conflict between the family and society as they need to steal to survive. As the term conflict means many things the constant struggle to survive is also part of this conflict. The family have the moral issue of whether to steal, but the parents also have the added burden of helping the family to survive. William is brought up with the mentality of doing whatever it takes to survive, which does eventually lead him to further conflict.
On page 11 we also see the conflict amongst the Thornhills themselves which falls under the category of interpersonal conflict. Mary tells William ‘Your name is common as dirt, William Thornhill, she said, and the anger rose up in him’. The idea that they would also fight amongst themselves shows that they are not always unified by a common goal of survival. William goes on to say ‘William Thornhills will fill up the whole world’. I believe that this suggests that it is the type of person that William is that will fill up the whole world rather than William populating the world himself. He seems to be defiant here and saying that one day it is people like him who will run the world and take over from the people that have kept him down for so long. We see this defiant streak in William that does inevitably lead him to further clashes throughout the novel.
Also on page 11 we get to understand one of the factors that drives William, ‘He was always hungry. That was a fact of life: the gnawing feeling in his belly, the flat taste in his mouth, the rage that there was never enough.’ It is this idea that William always wants more, the fact that he has been deprived for so long means that he feels that the world owes him something and he will do whatever it takes to achieve this, whether this is through violence, criminal activity or sheer will power. When he becomes a man and father and husband he wants the best for his family and wants to provide everything that he didn’t have. There are also examples in this section of William stealing food from his brothers mouth, just in order to have a little more food. The fact that he would take something off his brother in order to survive suggests how desperate their situation was.
What is listed below are some examples of the conflicts that occur within the novel ‘The Secret River’. These are not the only examples but they are a guide to help you as you progress through the novel. Try and find your own examples and add these to the table that we have created in class, whether they are personal conflicts, social conflicts or national conflicts all conflicts should be able to fit under one of these. Remember also that it is worth colour coding your book either with highlighters or coloured tabs so that you have one colour for personal conflict, one colour for social conflict and one colour for national conflict, so that as you go through you use a colour for each example this will mean that when revising it will be easy to locate particular examples within the novel.
Strangers
Page 5-6 William Thornhill’s first encounter with an Aboriginal. In this example we see that the conflict with the Aboriginal seems to arise out of a sense of fear. The Aboriginal carries a spear and William seems to obsess about this, even imagining what it would feel like to be speared. He also fears for the safety of his family and describes them as ‘soft parcels of flesh: his wife and children’ as if to over exaggerate their vulnerability. This conflict also arises from a lack of understanding, some underlying prejudices and a lack of communication. William tells the Aboriginal to ‘be off’ which the Aboriginal begins to mimic, not really understanding what William wants. There is also William’s underlying assumption or prejudice that the Aboriginal is violent and only wants to cause harm to him and his family. This conflict could also be part of a power struggle as William tries to assert his authority over the Aboriginals, as he feel himself superior to them.
London
On page 9 we are introduced to the life of the Thornhill’s and already see the possibility of conflict arising particularly as it is mentioned that ‘The Thornhills all stole Turnips from time to time, running the risk of dogs getting them...’ This example shows that there is a conflict between the family and society as they need to steal to survive. As the term conflict means many things the constant struggle to survive is also part of this conflict. The family have the moral issue of whether to steal, but the parents also have the added burden of helping the family to survive. William is brought up with the mentality of doing whatever it takes to survive, which does eventually lead him to further conflict.
On page 11 we also see the conflict amongst the Thornhills themselves which falls under the category of interpersonal conflict. Mary tells William ‘Your name is common as dirt, William Thornhill, she said, and the anger rose up in him’. The idea that they would also fight amongst themselves shows that they are not always unified by a common goal of survival. William goes on to say ‘William Thornhills will fill up the whole world’. I believe that this suggests that it is the type of person that William is that will fill up the whole world rather than William populating the world himself. He seems to be defiant here and saying that one day it is people like him who will run the world and take over from the people that have kept him down for so long. We see this defiant streak in William that does inevitably lead him to further clashes throughout the novel.
Also on page 11 we get to understand one of the factors that drives William, ‘He was always hungry. That was a fact of life: the gnawing feeling in his belly, the flat taste in his mouth, the rage that there was never enough.’ It is this idea that William always wants more, the fact that he has been deprived for so long means that he feels that the world owes him something and he will do whatever it takes to achieve this, whether this is through violence, criminal activity or sheer will power. When he becomes a man and father and husband he wants the best for his family and wants to provide everything that he didn’t have. There are also examples in this section of William stealing food from his brothers mouth, just in order to have a little more food. The fact that he would take something off his brother in order to survive suggests how desperate their situation was.
Welcome to Year 12 English at MSC 2010
Hi and welcome to the class blog for Year 12 English at Melton Secondary College for 2010. This year will be the culmination of all that you have learned in the previous years and is the opportunity to really show what you are capable of. This blog is designed to be a resource for you throughout the year, it will contain summaries, class notes and extra study materials. You will be able to post comments and contribute to the blog. As I teach two classes for English both classes will use the same blog and hopefully this means that you will from your peers as well as your teacher. It will be updated on a regular basis and will cover all aspects of the subject.
Good luck with your studies throughout the year.
Mr Hill
Good luck with your studies throughout the year.
Mr Hill
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)