Belonging

Belonging
Relationships are essential to finding a true sense of belonging

Discuss with reference to your prescribed text and related text/s

Due to the complex and abstract nature of the concept of belonging, a true sense of belonging
can be found in different circumstances for different people. As each individual has their own
desires, needs and values, they find their place in the world and a genuine sense of belonging in
various avenues. Many individuals find the strongest sense of belonging through relationships,
due to the fact that by nature these connections fulfill the human need for social interaction and
enrich the lives of the persons involved. Conversely, relationships which do not fit the
conventional model of this kind of connection and thus result in negative outcomes for individuals
can ultimately lead to a true sense of not belonging and its related notions of isolation and
disaffection. Instead, these individuals may attain the same sense that they truly belong outside
relationships, though their connections to other ideas such as place and culture, or within
themselves. Shakespeares As You Like It and Khyenstse Norbus Travellers and Magicians are
two texts in which an exploration of belonging and its different meanings for individuals ultimately
leads to a deeper understanding of the complexity of the concept of belonging and thus that
individuals can find a true sense of belonging in a great range of places, not limited to
relationships.

Relationships by nature embody ideas of a connection on a psychological level between two
people which can fulfill other fundamental human needs such as the need for social interaction,
and thus can result in the individuals involved attaining a true sense of belonging. When
individuals find meaning and purpose in connections with other people, as they often do in
relationships, the need to belong is fulfilled in the greatest sense as the individuals life is
enriched by the positive outcomes for their self esteem, security and stability. This idea can be
seen in the relationship between Adam and Orlando set up by Shakespeare in As You Like It.
Adam promises that he will follow thee to the last gasp with truth and loyalty when Orlando
decides to go to the forest. By changing the rhyme scheme for Adams declaration of
commitment to Orlando, Shakespeare effectively emphasizes the lack of superficiality that exists
in this relationship as opposed to other relationships he sets up in the play. In their relationship,
Orlando finds purpose and stability in his life, knowing he has another person who will always
look out for him, just as Adam finds purpose knowing he will always be in the company of
Orlando, seen where he states Fortune cannot recompense me better than to die well and not
my masters debtor. Through this, Shakespeare communicates that in relationships which are
built on trust, loyalty or other solid connections between people, individuals can find meaning,
stability, purpose and thus a true sense that they belong. In Travellers and Magicians Norbu
inquires into similar ideas which support the value of relationships in the search for a true sense
of belonging. In the relationship between Tashi and Deki, Norbu communicates the idea of their
deeper connection on all levels through quickly alternating close ups between the expressive
eyes of Deki and Tashi, which create the idea that their souls and desires are connecting as their
eyes remain fixed on one another. The couple is also often presented on equal terms embracing
each other, caring and showing affection through mid shots. Their connection leads Tashi to
exclaim If I never left this place, and died right here with you, I would not die unhappy. Norbu
thus effectively supports the idea that meaning and purpose can be found in real connections
with others, and that consequently individuals can find the strongest sense of belonging in
relationships such as these. Through this relationship, he also inquires further into the reasons
why relationships can lead to a individual feeling that they truly belong. By suggesting that the
positive outcomes which the human psyche correlates with attaining a sense of belonging, such
as understanding, stability and care manifest themselves in relationships, Norbu advocates and
supports the almost inextricable link between belonging and relationships.

Whilst there may be an almost inextricable link between belonging and relationships, not all
relationships ultimately lead to individuals finding a genuine sense of belonging which manifests
itself in positive outcomes for their lives. Some relationships can be driven by the quest to
maintain control, have power and maintain authority over others or by the decisively one sided
benefits to one of the individuals involved. In these relationships, it is more likely that individuals
find themselves not belonging, isolated and disaffected rather than finding a true sense of
belonging. This idea is expanded on by Norbu in Travellers and Magicians. The relationship
between Deki and Agay is characterized by Agays domination of his young and beautiful wife.
This is emphasized through low shots which place the vertically challenged Agay in a position of
power over Deki and his statement to Tashi that he makes her live in the isolated hut with him
because We may grow old, but our jealousy stays young. Deki is thus presented by Norbu as
isolated in her relationship; she does not feel the strong connection with Agay that conventional
notions of being in the marriage relationship would suggest. Thus through the negative
consequences for Deki of being in a relationship with Tashi, and her strong sense of isolation
and the feeling she does not truly belong, Norbu communicates the idea that relationships are
not always central for individuals trying to find a true sense of belonging. Shakespeare through
the representation of a relationship in which love is unrequited similarly challenges the
connection between relationships and a true sense of belonging. Whilst Phoebe ends up
marrying Silvius, there is a lot of ambiguity in whether she truly loves him and thus has attained a
genuine sense of belonging in this relationship. When they marry, all Phoebe comments is I will
not eat my word now thou art mine Thy faith and my fancy to thee doth combine. A rhyming
couplet draws emphasis to this section of the play, where it is not resolved whether Phoebe truly
commits her whole self into this relationship, and thus whether Silvius will experience the positive
outcomes of the relationship he has desired throughout the play. In this ambiguity, Shakespeare
supports the notion that individuals do not always find the greatest sense that they belong in
relationships, especially relationships which are unequal and result in negative outcomes for
individuals.

Individuals can find a true sense of belonging outside the confines of a relationship in
connections to ideas such as culture, place or even within themselves. As each individual is
intrinsically different, so are the ways in which they fulfill the fundamental human need to belong.
Norbu presents the ideas that individuals can find contentment and fulfill the need to belong
through connection to traditional culture and village life. In the first scene, a series of quickly
changing mid shots show the activities of daily life in their rural setting. The villagers all wear
traditional Ghos and shrieks of joy emphasized through an echo when practicing archery
suggest they are content with these repetitive activities. Essentially, they conform to the
expectations of their traditional culture and life and find a true sense of belonging and fulfillment
in this connection. Norbu thus demonstrates in this connection that a true sense of belonging and
its positive outcomes can be found outside relationships. Duke Senior in As You Like It, can
similarly be described as finding a genuine sense of belonging and contentment with his place
and environment, the Forest of Arden. He asks Amiens and the audience Are not these woods
More free from peril than the envious court? In the use of the words free from peril,
Shakespeare suggests that in this place Duke Senior feels comfortable, content and untroubled
and thus has developed a true sense of belonging with this place. The character of Jacques also
finds an inner contentment within his meaningless existence.. At the end of the play, Jacques
states I am for other than for dancing measures and retires to Duke Seniors abandoned cave.
He deliberately chooses not to belong in relationships with his comrades, instead he finds his
own sense of contentment within himself, and thus Shakespeare demonstrates that a true sense
of belonging can be found within an individual.

The complexity of the concept of belonging often means that individuals find belonging in
different places to other individuals. Whilst many individuals can attain a true sense of belonging
in relationships, due to the nature of these connections and the positive outcomes they have for
individuals, there are some relationships in which individuals experience the opposite from truly
belonging. Furthermore, there are many circumstances outside the confines of relationships in
which individuals can attain a genuine sense of belonging, including culture, place and within
themselves. Analysis of a range of texts including As You Like It and Travellers and Magicians
inquire into these ideas and foster an appreciation for the need to consider different
circumstances and individuals before making assumptions about the multifaceted concept of
belonging. Ultimately, relationships are often the connections in which individuals find the truest
sense that they belong, but the fulfillment of the fundamental need to belong is not strictly limited
to the confines of a relationship.

Make sure you follow the following steps in your responses:
Understand the concept how belonging is represented in the text
Critical Analysis how the composer shapes meaning through techniques
Personal understanding how studying the concept has broadened your view on
yourself and the world
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
There needs to be an analysis of human relationships and connections to individuals, groups, society
and environment
Consider how perceptions of belonging can be affected by people, places and communities. How do
individuals negotiate approval to belong?
Benefits: protection, support, stability, love and acceptance
Negative: how does it affect personal choice, self expression, identity and freedom?
Understand the concept of not belonging: non-acceptance, alienation, isolation, non-conformist,
ostracism, and the price of individuality.
What is Belonging?
Connections to people or places create a sense of belonging
A sense of belonging is created through connections to groups and communities
A sense of belonging to the larger world is important
Belonging can enrich our identity and relationships, and can lead to acceptance and
understanding
Individuals can challenge or enrich groups and communities
Attitudes towards belonging can change over time
Sometimes we choose not to belong
Barriers in society and groups can prevent belonging
Belonging can have negative repercussions for the individual
Synonyms:
Affiliation
Connection
Alliance
Affinity
Association
Attachment
Relationship
Rapport
Closeness
Identify
Paul Reubens 5 stage Alienation Journey:
1. Alienation - personal reflection leading to steps taken to alter the situation
2. Initiation feeling of not belonging
3. Journey such as leaving home, signifying change
4. Suffering physical or psychological suffering, serving to purge or cleanse the past.
Leads to personal reflection
5. Reconciliation Painful self examination, things are reconciled and a removal of the
feeling of not belonging. Happens with a discovery of a new place and situation OR a
return to the former place. This initiates a sense of belonging. (new perspective)

Understanding nourishes belonging . . .
a lack of understanding prevents it.
Demonstrate how your prescribed text and ONE other related text of your own choosing
represent this interpretation of belonging.
STEP ONE:
Understanding?
Nourish?
Lack?
Prevent?
Notes from the Marking Centre:
The interpretation of understanding varied, with many candidates taking it as a cue to discuss
cultural awareness and tolerance, while others interpreted it in a broader way, discussing issues of
self-awareness, understanding of societal dynamics or a more holistic sense of human connection
and our relationship with the natural world. Depending on their interpretation of the quotation,
and their texts, candidates then chose to focus on one aspect of the quotation, or both.
The better responses demonstrated the ability to engage perceptively with the comment and then
apply their knowledge to develop a sustained thesis which linked their texts to their thesis in an
insightful way. These responses sustained and built on their argument, augmenting their points
with judiciously chosen textual details and astute analysis of both texts. An ability to craft a
skilfully integrated argument also distinguished highly developed responses.
Another feature of the stronger responses was the discerning choice of one piece of related
material. Related texts that enabled candidates to enhance or strengthen their argument through
subtle comparison or stark contrast marked out these better scripts. It was evident from the
responses that some candidates found it difficult to sustain a detailed argument because they had
restricted themselves to related material that offered little scope for a discussion and analysis in
light of the comment and question.
RAIMOND GAITA, ROMULUS MY FATHER
Stronger responses engaged confidently with the quotation, skilfully connecting the experiences
of the different characters with the notion of understanding, and evaluating the extent to which
their sense of belonging had been nourished in Australia. These responses tended to start with
the central idea of belonging to, and understanding, a particular culture, but then developed their
argument as they considered the relationships between the characters, the isolation of Christine,
the connection of Raimond to the Australian landscape, or the transcendent sense of common
humanity that Romulus ultimately felt. Many also incorporated insightful discussion of the
migrant experience and its differing impact on Raimond and the other immigrant characters in the
text. These responses were discerning in their choice of textual support, demonstrating a strong
grasp of the text as a whole, its structure and philosophical tone.Weaker responses focused more
literally on the notion of characters being understood or misunderstood without meaningful
analysis of the consequences of this and with little or no discussion of the concept of
nourishment. These responses tended to be more narrow in focus and limited to just one aspect of
the text, for example Romulus and the landscape. These responses often relied on retell and
where textual features were identified they were often not explained or connected to the concept
or the comment.
STEP TWO Points to explore:
Address the notion of understanding by evaluating the extent to which the characters
sense of belonging had been nourished in Australia.
Look at belonging to, and understanding, a particular culture, then developed the
argument to consider the relationships between the characters, the isolation of Christine,
the connection of Raimond to the Australian landscape, or the transcendent sense of
common humanity that Romulus ultimately felt.
Discuss the migrant experience and its differing impact on Raimond and the other
immigrant characters in the text.
TASK:
1. Post the best Introduction in your group below
2. Include three topic sentences you will use to argue the thesis presented in the
introduction
3. Before you post anything, make sure all sentences are grammatically sound. Please
ensure you break down any convoluted sentences back to their simplest form
(simple sentences) and reconstruct appropriately.
SAMPLE INTRODUCTION:
Understanding and belonging have a curious relationship. On the one hand, understanding or
empathy for others helps you to accept them and to be inclusive. Lack of understanding is also
often necessary if one is already in a situation of belonging; knowing about what and who you
belong to can offer emotional nourishment. This latter interpretation of understanding and
belonging is in play in the biography Romulus, May Father. Developed from a eulogy for his
father, Raimond Gaita uses the process of memory to understand his past and what he belongs to.
The same search for what it means to belong can be seen in Debra Oswalds play Garys House,
which explores the importance of family and the Australian dream of owning a house. In both
texts, the writer, Raimond Gaita and the protagonist, Gary, come to an understanding of what
belonging means to them; self-awareness is the main focus in both. This self-awareness include
the knowledge of what it means not to be understood. For each, belonging is also about ideas and
beliefs. What we also see implicitly through comments made about the respective pasts of each
person is that lack of understanding can prevent belonging.
TOPIC SENTENCES:
Belonging is often deeply connected to place and for migrants venturing to a new land
there is an obvious dislocation from place. Gaita follows the pathway of his parents from
Germany to Australia in 1950.
Gary, the eponymous protagonist of GH, also finds himself in a different setting form
what he has been used to. Like Romulus, he has made the decision to move but, unlike
Romulus, he embraces his new place positively. The struggle he undergoes to achieve a
home mark him as an Aussie battler, part of the Austra;ian physche, belonging to a
cultural tradition.
For Gaitas family the struggle is just as tough but the outcome is different. Gaitas family
goes against the usual espectations applied to a make household, with the most important
impetuses for Gaita being reading and thinking.
While these texts are a celebration of belonging, they also illustrate the lack of belonging
that eventuates when there is no understanding. Romulus doesnt understand the
landscape and he never belongs there.
In his attempt to understand his roots and in particular his mother, Gaita searches through
photos, asks neighbours for their memories, and interrogates his own experiences
The same search for meaning through understanding his past is conveyed in the dialogue
of Gary, who shares the stories of his life, justifying his need for a home.
CONCLUSION
So it can be seen that the pathway to belonging is not an easy one. Belonging comes
about from the understanding of others around you as they embrace you and invite you
into their lives..
6 THOUGHTS ON - 2009 HSC QUESTION WORKSHOP
1. Jhaouchab
JUNE 24, 2013 AT 12:14 AM
3. Understanding nourishes belonginga lack of understanding prevents it.
Demonstrate how your prescribed text and one other related text represent this interpretation of
belonging
Due to the complex nature of the concept of belonging, a true sense of belonging can be found in
different circumstances for different people. Although, some people may fail to embrace a sense
or experience of truly belonging due to a lack of understanding which prevents it. This is
heavily portrayed through characters such as Christine within Raimond Gaitas memoir,
Romulus, My Father, where her illness accounts for her inability to true belong to her family.
Reply
2. Matias- I have place all 3 responses here
JUNE 24, 2013 AT 1:14 AM
2011: Explore how perceptions of belonging and not belonging can be influenced by connections
to places.
Belonging is represented as an evolved necessity; a requirement that individuals attain which
allows one to develop connections with others as well as the wider world around them. The sense
of belonging evolves from the continual ability for individuals to reconcile identity within the
bounds of their external social paradigm. Raimond Gaitas biographical memoir, Romulus, My
Father (RMF), focuses on how the lack of social identification and resulting personal conflict is
attributed to the protagonists divergent morality. In the memoir, Romulus affiliation to the
European culture and landscape directly impacts the way he is able to settle in Australia and
connect with the Australian community. Further, the film Rise of the Planet of the Apes (RPA)
by Rupert Wyatt, is a story told through the life of a chimpanzee named Caesar who proves to the
viewer that a sense of affiliation to people and places is affected through the maturity of the mind
as a direct implication of the passage of time and by those who share similar qualities and
characteristics. Ultimately, these texts portray the way in which a sense of belonging changes
with time and the way in which individuals are able to connect with people and places.
2010: An individuals interaction with others and the world around them can enrich or limit their
experience of belonging.
allows one to develop connections with others as well as the wider world around them. The limit
or enrichment of belonging evolves from the continual ability for individuals to reconcile identity
within the bounds of their external social paradigm. Raimond Gaitas biographical memoir,
Romulus, My Father (RMF), focuses on how the lack of social identification and resulting
personal conflict is attributed to the protagonists divergent morality. Further, the film Rise of
the Planet of the Apes (RPA) by Rupert Wyatt, is a story told through the life of a chimpanzee
named Caesar who proves to the viewer that a sense of affiliation to people and places is affected
through the maturity of the mind as a direct implication of the passage of time and by those who
share similar qualities and characteristics. Ultimately, these texts portray the way in which a
sense of belonging can be enriched or limited through the passage of time and the way in which
individuals are able to connect with people and places.
2009: Understanding nourishes belonging a lack of understanding prevents it.
Belonging is represented as an evolved necessity; a requirement that individuals attain through
the understanding of others which allows one to develop connections with others as well as the
wider world around them. The sense of belonging evolves from the continual ability for
individuals to reconcile identity within the bounds of their external social paradigm. Raimond
Gaitas biographical memoir, Romulus, My Father (RMF), focuses on how the protagonists
divergent morality is affected by the lack of others to empathise with his family situation and
through the strong connection between father and son as a resultant of their understanding of one
another. Further, the film Rise of the Planet of the Apes (RPA) by Rupert Wyatt, is a story told
through the life of a chimpanzee named Caesar who proves to the viewer that a sense of
affiliation to people and places is directly influenced by the ability of others to understand his
needs and by those who share similar qualities and characteristics. Ultimately, these texts portray
the way in which a sense of belonging is affected through the ability of others to understand one
another and the way in which individuals are able to connect with people and places.
Reply
3. danielb
JUNE 24, 2013 AT 11:42 AM
An understanding of people places and communities provides the framework towards creating a
sense of belonging. Varying perceptions and core beliefs create a variety of interpretations within
individual leading to differing views on belonging. In the memoir Romulus my Father (RMF)
written by Raimond Gaita, examples are presented of how differing core ideals and a lack of
understanding can isolate an individual from their own environment. Similarly in the poem
Island Man written by Grace Nichols a psychological struggle is presented within an immigrant
moving from the Caribbean to the different landscape of England.
Reply
4. Jared D
JUNE 24, 2013 AT 10:56 PM
Belonging is achieved through understanding not only ones environment, but also ones place in
the world. This knowledge facilitates the development of belonging, and cannot occur unless
individuals go out of their way to forge connections with the larger world. Failure to interpret
their position in society can emit a sense of alienation accompanied by an emotional detachment
from their surroundings. This is portrayed in the memoir Romulus, My Father (1998) written by
Raimond Gaita through the exploration of the hardships Romulus and his family experienced
from the migration into Australia. Similarly, the dramatic film My Sisters Keeper (2009)
directed by Nick Cassavetes follows the journey of Anna Fitzgerald who faces internal conflict as
her desire to exist independently contradicts her main purpose in life of keeping her sister alive.
Both texts observe the fundamental human experience of understanding, highlighting its necessity
for belonging.
Reply
5. Matias
JUNE 24, 2013 AT 11:00 PM
to places.
Reply
6. CNash
JUNE 24, 2013 AT 11:07 PM
The foundation upon which a relationship and a connection with another person is formed is
through understanding. Understanding one another allows each individual to commit to the
relationship what they know to be necessary while able to maintain a sense of their individuality
and identity. This is evident in Raimond Gaitas memoir Romulus, My Father, where a migrant
family struggles with cultural and social displacement in 20th century Australia, and in
Christopher Nolans The Dark Knight film trilogy, where an outcast toes the line between hero
and vigilante while he fights to restore his city from the depths of crime. Both texts display
various senses of belonging and how people, places and groups affect them.

2011 HSC Question Workshop
Explore how perceptions of belonging and not belonging can be influenced by connections
to places.
In your response, refer to your prescribed text and at least ONE other related text of your
own choosing.
STEP ONE:
Perception?
Influenced?
Connections to place?
Candidates approaches to the question varied, with many considering the statement as an
opportunity to discuss the positive or negative impact of place on ones sense of belonging. Other
candidates offered the view that a connection to place alone was not the sole determinant of
belonging, suggesting that ideas of place are inextricably connected with notions of identity and
human relationships, among others.Stronger responses demonstrated the candidates ability to
skilfully engage with the comment and apply their knowledge to develop a strong thesis. Better
responses sustained this thesis throughout the response through a discerning selection of textual
detail and a perceptive analysis of both the prescribed text and a text or texts of their own
choosing. These candidates applied conceptual ideas to their responses and used textual details as
a means to support their level of conceptual understanding. They showed a discerning choice of
texts, using related materials that clearly demonstrated insight into the concept of belonging and
the question being examined.
RAIMOND GAITA, ROMULUS MY FATHER
In stronger responses, candidates developed an insightful discussion of how affiliations to the
natural landscape and relationships with others can provide a connection to the broader society.
Others developed their argument around the notion that a connection to place is not always
necessary in shaping ones sense of belonging, instead focussing on Romulus social integration
and connections to his community, as well as his growing understanding of a common
humanity. Furthermore, these candidates skilfully contrasted the experiences and changing
perceptions of Romulus, Christine and Raimond and the subsequent impact of these perceptions
on their sense of belonging.
Belonging or not belonging to place as a result of cultural heritage was also addressed and many
candidates incorporated an insightful discussion of the differing impacts of the migrant
experience on the central characters. This often focused on the incompatibility of Australian
culture and landscape and their Romanian heritage. This was contrasted with Raimonds strong
affinity with place resulting in a heightened sense of belonging. A judicious selection of related
material assisted candidates in the development of their argument. These responses were also
discerning in their selection of textual detail, demonstrating a holistic understanding of the text.
In weaker responses, candidates focused more literally on simplistic ideas about belonging and
not belonging being dependent on embracing or rejecting ones physical environment or
surroundings. These responses tended to be limited to just one aspect of the text, such as
Romulus belonging being restricted by an unfamiliar environment and Christines disconnection
to place as result of mental illness. These responses primarily relied on elements of retell and
where textual features were identified they were not analysed or explained within the context of
the question.
How do affiliations to the natural landscape and relationships with others provide a
connection to the broader society?
Connection to place is not always necessary in shaping ones sense of belonging; focus on
Romulus social integration and connections to his community, as well as his growing
understanding of a common humanity.
Contrast the experiences and changing perceptions of Romulus, Christine and Raimond
and the subsequent impact of these perceptions on their sense of belonging.
Look at cultural heritage: the differing impacts of the migrant experience on the central
characters. Eg: incompatibility of Australian culture and landscape and their Romanian
heritage contrasted with Raimonds strong affinity with place resulting in a heightened
sense of belonging.
TASK:
introduction
1. Jhaouchab
JUNE 24, 2013 AT 12:16 AM
2. Expore how perceptions of belonging and not belonging can be influenced by connections to
places.
Belonging is one of the fundamental human needs for companionship and security. For those who
have a place where they belong such as with a family or the community, they are able to feel safe
and content. For those who dont belong or cannot fit into their surroundings, they are faced
with problems of alienation and loneliness. These different aspects of belonging are reflected
throughout Raimond Gaitas memoir Romulus, My Father. It explores the cultural and national
belongings which are central themes that drive the characterisations of certain individuals.
Reply
2. Bryan.L
JUNE 24, 2013 AT 1:20 AM
The extent to which groups and individuals are perceived to belong within their surrounding
environments, are shaped by their connection with places they interact with. Raimond Gaitas
memoir Romulus, My Father (RMF) actively portrays a sense of belonging derived from
divergent perceptions of the Australian landscape; detailing the hardships associated with the
migrant experience.In similar light, the television sitcom, How I Met Your Mother depicts the
daily interactions of individuals within their social mediums as they progressively attain a sense
of belonging from each other and their mutual connection with the bustling cityscape. Characters
of both texts engage in a sense of belonging through their perceptions of people, places, and the
world around them.
Reply
3. danielb
JUNE 24, 2013 AT 11:41 AM
Our perception of belonging constantly evolves due to frequent interactions with an ever-
changing environment. Exposure to new and different places is able to evoke new feelings out of
individuals about what it means to have a true affiliation within a community. The memoir
Romulus my Father (RMF), written by Raimond Gaita explores the ways different personalities
are able to adapt to a new environment and feel a sense of affiliation. Similarly, the poem Island
Man by Grace Nichols outlines the psychological battle an immigrant encompasses in moving to
England from his native Caribbean. Furthermore a connection to a place is not always necessary
if a sense of community and social integration exists for the individual.
Reply
4. Jared D
JUNE 24, 2013 AT 10:58 PM
Belonging is a fundamental human need and is a desired share by all. Individuals have varying
unique perspectives on belonging and not belonging based on a number of factors. One such
factor is connection to places, including to physical places and positions in society, as these
connections have the ability to influence whether the individual has a positive or negative
perception of belonging. Romulus, My Father, a memoir written by Raimond Gaita demonstrates
how familiarity ultimately triggers a sense of belonging through the representation of the
difficulties of migration into Australia. Similarly, the dramatic film My Sisters Keeper directed
by Nick Cassavetes explores how feelings of belonging and connection to others are significantly
affected by peoples understanding of place.
Reply
5. Matias
JUNE 24, 2013 AT 10:58 PM
to places.
Reply
6. CNash
JUNE 24, 2013 AT 11:10 PM
An individuals sense of belonging or not belonging can be affected by their links to place. Such a
perception evolves and develops over time as they interact with the world. This is evident in
Raimond Gaitas memoir Romulus, My Father, where a migrant family struggles with cultural
and social displacement in 20th century Australia, and in Christopher Nolans The Dark Knight
film trilogy, where an outcast toes the line between hero and vigilante while he fights to restore
his city from the depths of crime. Both texts display various senses of belonging and how people,
places and groups affect them.
Reply
7. Kiran S
JUNE 24, 2013 AT 11:17 PM
Belonging is a universally ubiquitous concept for humanity, and due to this, it can be swayed and
moulded by ones connection to not just physical but metaphysical place. Various textual forms
envisages paths through which an individuals personal perception of belonging can be influenced
by their own view on where they stand within their own world. The migrant experience is one
notion which shows how ones experiences in different locations can play with an individuals
sense of belonging, one text that is able to explore this concept is Raimond Gaitas memoir
Romulus My Father. The Riders by Tim Winton is reflective of Irish mythology as Winton
portrays familial relationships as broken and artificial. Both authors are able to transcend the
physical world and explore concepts of how belonging can be influenced by ones connection to
place.
Reply
2012 HSC Question Workshop
An individuals perceptions of belonging evolve in response to the passage of time and
interaction with their world.
In what ways is this view of belonging represented in your prescribed text and at least ONE
other related text of your own choosing?
STEP ONE:
Perception?
Evolve?
Time?
Interaction?
Belonging itself doesnt modify over time, rather the things we belong to modify over
time. Perception is what changes through experience.
Candidates approaches to the question varied. Most accepted the central role of both time and
interaction in the evolution of a sense of belonging while others challenged the thesis, suggesting
that time and interaction with the individuals world were not the sole determinants of a sense of
belonging.
In better responses, candidates skilfully engaged with the question, and applied their knowledge
to develop a strong thesis, well supported by their analysis of a judicious selection of textual
details and features. Candidates made discerning text choices, and used related materials that
demonstrated sufficient insight into the concept of belonging to sustain a sophisticated response
to the question.
Romulus
In better responses, candidates confidently explored how perceptions of belonging and not
belonging evolve as a result of the passage of time and various interactions and connections with
the world. In these responses, candidates developed an insightful discussion of how familial
relationships and affiliations to the natural landscape and broader society can be strengthened or
challenged by the passage of time. Furthermore, in these responses, candidates skilfully
contrasted the experiences and the changing perceptions of belonging of Romulus, Christine and
Raimond in the context of their migrant experience.
In many responses, candidates explored how the influence of previous environments, such as
Romuluss powerful connection to the past, can inhibit future interactions, but how the passage of
time can result in eventual understanding and acceptance. Candidates focused on the reflections
of the adult narrator Raimond and his eventual understanding of Christines mental illness and his
strengthening relationship with Romulus. A judicious selection of related material allowed
candidates the scope to develop a cohesive and sophisticated response. In these responses,
candidates were also discerning in their selection of textual features, demonstrating a holistic
understanding of the text.
How can familial relationships and affiliations to the natural landscape and broader
society be strengthened or challenged by the passage of time?
Contrast the experiences and the changing perceptions of belonging of Romulus,
Christine and Raimond in the context of their migrant experience.
How does the influence of previous environments, such as Romuluss powerful
connection to the past, inhibit future interactions?
How does the passage of time result in eventual understanding and acceptance?
Look at the reflections of the adult narrator Raimond and his eventual understanding of
Christines mental illness and his strengthening relationship with Romulus. Look at the
idea of beauty and tragedy as inseparable for Raimond.
SAMPLE RESPONSE 1:
A sense of belonging is shaped by ones experience in a social paradigm. Connections made with
people, places and communities are actively shaped by an individuals continual interaction with
social, interpersonal and cultural settings. Significant moments in time within such settings frame
individual connections with social environments. In Raimond Gaitas biographical
memoir,Romulus, My Father (RMF), a lack of social identification and resultant personal conflict
is attributed to the protagonists divergent morality. Changing attitudes towards cultural and
physical environments frame an individuals exclusion or inclusion in the narrative. This idea
extends to Richard Linklaters A Scanner Darkly (SD) characterising the struggle to belong
amidst a technologically mediated setting. Further, T.S.Eliots The Love Song of J.Alfred
Prufrock reflects the search for social inclusion against the constraints of social expectation.
Ultimately, these texts illustrate that significant moments in time shape and individuals
understanding of belonging.
SAMPLE RESPONSE 2:
Humankind has the fundamental desire for a sense of inclusion as belonging is essential to the
metaphysical completion of the human identity. Subsequently, it is the effects of humanitys
social and physical domain which impacts on ones ability to fathom an identity and molds their
willingness to conform. Significant moments in time shape an understanding of belonging to both
place and people, and this belief is explored in the texts Romulus, My Father, a memoir by
Raimond Gaita, and Hunchback in the Park a poem by Dylan Thomas.
SAMPLE RESPONSE 3:
Belonging is a multi-layered concept that challenges the perception of ourselves and our world. It
is inextricably connected to moments in time which shape ones identity. The issues in a range of
texts diversely explore how context shapes ones attitude towards the significance of place, and
the nature of relationships. Raimond Gaitas biographical memoir Romulus, My Father is a
sophisticated insight into belonging. At its core is a reflection of the challenges of establishing
identity amidst a clash of cultural values. Tim Wintons 2005 short story Big World offers a
conflicted perspective on the understanding of belonging through its illustrations of youthful
experience and identity. Each text presents varied perspectives of belonging, yet emphasise it as
an intrinsic element of the contemporary human condition.
TASK:
introduction
1. Jhaouchab
JUNE 18, 2013 AT 2:53 AM
As individuals continue to interact with the environment around them. They become products of
their time by re shaping their known perceptions of the world and how they should continue to
communicate with it. The passage of time enables familial relationships and affiliations to the
natural landscape to be strengthened and challenged. Depicted through Raimond Gaitas memoir:
Romulus, My Father, the text accentuates no relationships are continually affected by the world
around them and its ability to create a shift in perception of belonging.
Reply
2. Leon Steve Matthew
JUNE 18, 2013 AT 2:53 AM
A sense of belonging evolves over time and is based on the perception on the individual. The
sense of acceptance can be derived from interactions with society. Similarly connections to place/
homeland and society influence the link of the persona to himself and his surroundings. The
memoir romulus my father by Raimond Gaita and [related text] explores such interaction in
depth.
Reply
3. Joseph Azar
JUNE 21, 2013 AT 12:04 AM
Belonging is represented as an evolved necessity; a requirement that individuals attain in order
for a harmonious interaction with their world, over time. The sense of belonging evolves from the
continual ability for individuals to reconcile identity within the bounds of their external social
paradigm. In Raimond Gaitas biographical memoir, Romulus My Father, the lack of social
identification and resulting personal conflict is attributed to the protagonists divergent morality.
Attitudes towards cultural and physical environments modify over time, framing a characters
inclusion and exclusion from the narrative setting. Further, T.S Eliots Poem The Love Song of J.
Alfred Prufrock reflects the protagonists search for social inclusion against the constraints of
social expectations. Ultimately, these texts present how belonging evolves over time, and how it
shapes the way that participants are able to interact with their world.
Reply
4. Printhan
JUNE 21, 2013 AT 12:07 AM
An individuals perception of belonging revolves around their contextual understanding,
experienced in response to the passage of time and interactions within their world. Its
interactions articulate the individuals world, as it establishes a sense or relation towards its
broader society. The memoir, Romulus, My Father by Raimond Gaita and John Marsdens
visual text The Rabbits, subsequently describes the vast views of belonging portrayed through
character. The texts evolve as a result of the passage of time and various interactions and
connections with heworld.This helps to form a sense of identity, as we hunger,to seek trust and
affection in a means to help build confidence within us all.
Reply
5. Leon and Steve
JUNE 21, 2013 AT 12:11 AM
Belonging, and its inverse isolation evolves over time and is based on the perception of an
individual. An individuals estrangement from society can be derived form the interaction with
society, and is an intrinsic human desire. Similarly connection to place, community and
individuals, links the persona to himself and the surrounding world. The 1998 memoir. Romulus
my Father by Raymond Gaita explores the changes in the familial and cultural life and the sense
of displacement it entails. In conjunction, the 1999 short story We look after our own by Kath
Walker explores the complex notion of acceptance of Aboriginal people in a oppressive European
society. Hence, it is in understanding both texts that a comprehension of the subjective and
transient nature of fellowship can be ascertained.
Reply
6. Bryan.L
JUNE 21, 2013 AT 12:12 AM
Individual experiences derived from interactions with the world enable them to experience a
transitory sense of belonging. Such perceptions held of belonging evolve over time, and dictate
relationships attributed to people, places, and the world. This is portrayed in Raimond Gaitas
memoir Romulus, My Father (1998) through the exploration of hardships associated with
migration in Australia; during the early 20th century. Similarly, Nick Cassavetes film My
Sisters Keeper (2009), demonstrates an intellectual introspection on the importance of familial
relationships against adversity. Both texts actively examine the transient nature of belonging,
construed from their personal interactions with surrounding environments.
Reply
7. catdog5
JUNE 21, 2013 AT 12:17 AM
The perceptions that an individual has of the world can alter their perspective of belonging. It is
through experiences and the passing of time that a person can build relationships with others, and
indeed, their surroundings. Raimond Gaita, through his memoir Romulus, My Father, explores
the nature of isolation when attempting to build a collective identity for his family . Moreover, he
explores the idea that the strength of moral and ethical values is vital amidst diversity; as to
ensure a connection with the environment. Similarly, Christopher Nolans The Dark Knight
explores Through Gaita and Nolans depiction of relationships and identity, the changing
nature of belonging throughout time is demonstrated.
Reply
8. Jerome, Kiran, Christian
JUNE 21, 2013 AT 12:19 AM
An individuals interaction with the world along with the flux of time determines their perception
of belonging. Various textual forms are able to develop an individuals sense of belonging
through dynamic interplay of time and place. The memoir Romulus, My Father(RMF) written by
Raimond Gaita presents a compeling story of belonging through an intense migrant experience.
The Riders by Tim Winton portrays a man dazed by the loss of his love which over time
deteriorates his ability to belong. Both texts exemplify how time and place are able to intensify or
diminish an individuals perception of beloning.
Jerome, Kiran, Christian
Reply
9. Jared D
JUNE 24, 2013 AT 10:19 PM
2009
Understanding nourishes belonga lack of understanding prevents it
Demonstrate how your prescribed text and ONE other related text of your own choosing
represent this interpretation of belonging.
Belonging is achieved through understanding not only ones environment, but also ones place in
the world. This knowledge facilitates the development of belonging, and cannot occur unless
individuals go out of their way to forge connections with the larger world. Failure to interpret
their position in society can emit a sense of alienation accompanied by an emotional detachment
from their surroundings. This is portrayed in the memoir Romulus, My Father (1998) written by
Raimond Gaita through the exploration of the hardships Romulus and his family experienced
from the migration into Australia. Similarly, the dramatic film My Sisters Keeper (2009)
directed by Nick Cassavetes follows the journey of Anna Fitzgerald who faces internal conflict as
her desire to exist independently contradicts her main purpose in life of keeping her sister alive.
Both texts observe the fundamental human experience of understanding, highlighting its necessity
for belonging.
2010
An individuals interaction with others and the world around them can enrich or limit their
experience of belonging.
Discuss this view with detailed reference to your prescribed text and ONE other related text of
your own choosing.
Belonging is a fundamental aspect of human nature, which can offer individuals a sense of
identity, security and connectedness. Experiences of belonging are closely related to ones
interaction with others, as positive experiences can enrich their sense of belonging, while
negative experiences can limit it. An individuals limited experience of belonging through their
inability to interact with the world around them can often incite them to reject societys values
through acts of self-alienation, rebellion and defiance. This is evident in the memoir Romulus,
My Father written by Raimond Gaita through the representation of the difficult life Romulus and
his family experienced after moving to Australia. Similarly, My Sisters Keeper, a film directed
by Nick Cassavetes explores the conflicted character Anna who faces varying situations that
challenge her ability to interact with the world around her.
2011
Explore how perceptions of belonging and not belonging can be influenced by connections to
places.
In your response, refer to your prescribed text and at least ONE other related text of your own
choosing.
Belonging is a fundamental human need and is a desired share by all. Individuals have varying
unique perspectives on belonging and not belonging based on a number of factors. One such
factor is connection to places, including to physical places and positions in society, as these
connections have the ability to influence whether the individual has a positive or negative
perception of belonging. Romulus, My Father, a memoir written by Raimond Gaita demonstrates
how familiarity ultimately triggers a sense of belonging through the representation of the
difficulties of migration into Australia. Similarly, the dramatic film My Sisters Keeper directed
by Nick Cassavetes explores how feelings of belonging and connection to others are significantly
affected by peoples understanding of place.
Reply
10. catdog5
JUNE 25, 2013 AT 12:35 AM
BELONGING ESSAY
An individuals connection to the world around them is shaped heavily by their experience within
their social context. Raimond Gaita, through his memoir Romulus, My Father, enhances the
responders perception of belonging by exploring the migrant experience and the changing nature
of relationships. Further more, (insert author and related text here) highlights It is through the
themes contended by these composers that the transient nature of belonging is articulated.
Gaita utilises the changing nature of relationships between protagonists to highlight the ability for
belonging to change over time.
It is through individuals relationships with their landscape that Gaita contends the changing
perception of belonging.
. Very rushed :(

There are positive and negative aspects of belonging, your thesis will need to be able to explore
both:
Benefits of Belonging
Communal membership empowers us, there is a security and reassurance of being part of
a group.
When we belong, we feel like we matter to others and share a faith.
Connectedness to each other or group or place helps nurture self-esteem and confidence
The home becomes the place of comfort, security, care and commitment it is the place an
individual develops the concept of self.
Belonging helps you be at piece with yourself, and have a sense of your identity.
Negatives of Belonging
SOCI AL REJ ECTI ON
Levels of acceptance or non-acceptance is transitory, at different stages in our lives we
may feel like we do not belong. This creates insecurity and a desire to re-integrate into
the dominant group.
Social rejection causes stigmatism or labelling. This can have serious effects on the self-
esteem.
Sometimes people can be perceived as different or other and can be made to feel
shunned or scorned.
Social outcasts suffer psychologically and emotionally, they no longer feel valued. This
can cause outbursts because of their feelings of persecution.
NON-COMPLI ANCE
Those who feel disaffected often move away from the normal codes of social behaviour,
rules and laws they find oppressive. Once separated from these constraints, they feel free
to develop their own identity.
Alienation
Some people are marginalised and deemed outsiders, and find themselves as outcasts
existing on the fringes of society. They are treated as social misfits.
Try to find some quotes that may assist your understanding of the concept: HSC Online Quotes
TASK:
What is belonging to you? Write your own understanding of definition of the concept so far.
How do you belong? (What do you belong to?)

To what degree has studying the concept of belonging augmented your
understanding of yourself, of others, and of the world? In your answer, refer to
your prescribed text and ONE text of your choosing
In order to belong, we must know who we are and where we come from. Discuss
with reference to your prescribed text and TWO related texts
Despite an individuals desire to belong to a group or community, this is not
always possible. How do the texts you have studied represent the processes and
results of belonging and/or not belonging.
You have been invited to speak at the book launch of a new collection of texts
entitled Belonging in our Society In your speech, explain and assess the ways in
which belonging is represented in the texts in the collection
Belonging to a community or group has a significant impact on an individuals
sense of self.Discuss this statement, focusing on how the composers of the texts you
have studied represent the concept of belonging
Belonging to a group or community can provide opportunities and
disappointments To what extent do the texts you have studied support this idea?
More than anything else, belonging is about finding a sense of place in the
world. Discuss with reference to your prescribed text and TWO related texts
You have been invited to write an article for a teenage magazine called Youth
and Belonging. In your article, analyse the ways in which belonging is represented in
your prescribed text and ONE other text.
To belong is as much about being a part of something, as it is about being
excluded. To what extent do you agree? In your answer refer to your prescribed text
and 2 related texts of your own choosing
Belonging is about the desire of acceptance that may or may not bring personal
satisfaction.How does your study of the Prescribed text and 2 varied texts of your
own choosing support or reject this idea?
Acceptance can lead to a sense of fulfilment but at a cost. Do you agree? In
your answer refer to your prescribed texts and 2 related texts of your own choosing
To belong is innate and fundamentally human. What challenges or barriers
complicate this? In your answer refer to your prescribed texts and 2 related texts of
your own choosing

Experiencing exclusion helps individuals come to a greater sense of acceptance
of others.What assumptions underpin the Area of Study and can they be
validated? In your answer refer to your prescribed texts and 2 related texts of your
own choosing

Acceptance leads to contentment and self-realisation Is this an accurate account
of your Area of Study? In your answer refer to your prescribed texts and 2 related
texts of your own choosing.

Perceptions and ideas about belonging vary.Is this your opinion? How is this
reflected in your study of your prescribed text and 2 related texts of your own choice?

You have been asked to present a persuasive argument on the issue of Belonging
at a community meeting. What ideas do you present and you are they addressed in
your study. You must also refer to 2 related texts of your own choosing.

A radio programme is presenting a debate on issues and assumptions associated
with belonging. Present two sides of the debate with reference to your prescribed
study and 2 related texts of your own choosing.

You have been asked to write a feature article for a School Special section for
Sydney Morning Herald. The article must reflect complications of belonging and
how this is reflected in a range of texts including your prescribed text.

Imagine you have been asked to give a speech on the topic of belonging to a local
high school. In your speech you are to reflect on the nature of belonging and not
belonging and give your opinion. Refer closely to the prescribed text and 2 related
texts of your own choosing.

You are being interviewed on how your perception of belonging has influenced
your understanding of the world around you. Write the transcript of this interview.
In your answer refer to your prescribed text and 2 related texts of your own choosing.

You have been invited to chair a panel of experts who specialise in the areas of
personal, cultural, historical and the social contexts of belonging. You are
permitted to ask a range of questions to any members of the panel in order to
present a range of attitudes on belonging. Refer to your prescribed text and 2
related texts of your own choosing.

Belonging can challenge a community or group. Use the quotation as one line in
your speech to students. In your speech reflect on how exploring this issue can
broaden and deepen their understanding of themselves. Refer closely to the
prescribed text and 2 related texts of their own choosing.

Write a speech about the most important things students should know about
belonging for a year 12 study retreat which is to be held before the trial exams.
In your speech refer to your prescribed text and at least TWO related texts of your
own choosing.

Its the night before the half-yearly examination and your friend has called you
to talk about paper one. Write the transcript of your conversation, in which you both
share your ideas about belonging.

Relationships are important in finding a sense of belonging. Discuss this
statement in relation to your prescribed text and TWO other texts you have
encountered in your study of belonging.

Belonging creates dilemmas Discuss this statement in relation to your prescribed
text and TWO other texts you have encountered in your study of belonging.

The human spirit craves a sense of belonging. To what extend do your prescribed
text and ONE other text you have studied support this idea?

Belonging is dependent on the perspective of the individual. Discuss this
statement with particular focus on how the composers of your prescribed text and
TWO other texts represent perceptions of belonging.

Our lives are shaped by our sense of belongingDiscuss the extent to which
belonging shapes our lives with reference to your prescribed text and ONE other text
of your choosing.

Not belonging is a far more difficult road to travel than that of belonging.How
does your prescribed texts and TWO other texts of your own choosing explore ideas
of belonging and not belonging?

This table will help you to formulate your ideas watch how it builds a paragraph:
CONCEPT of
Belonging
Clarification
(this may be
specific to your
text or go into
more
depth/detail on
the concept)
How it is
represented in
your TEXT
(Core/Related)
through characters
or a specific event
Quote + Technique +
Effect
Belonging can be
a sensation or
experience that
; the desire to
belong can
dictate a
This is evident in
MillersThe
Crucible, Mary
Miller uses .(add
technique) . in the line
(add Quote) ..
is
simultaneously
positive and
negative
suppression of
core values.
knows that Abigail
is lying about
Elizabeth, but her
desire to belong
overcomes her
feelings of shame at
supporting Abigails
fabricated story.
She allows the
pressure of
belonging to the
group to subvert her
values; her selfish
desires dictate her
final decision. We
see Mary as a weak
character, lacking
the strength to stand
with conviction
against the injustice
that is occurring.
Her simultaneous
feelings of
acceptance and yet
shame at
compromising
herself reveals the
complex nature of
belonging.
to highlight her

(discuss effect on meaning)
Words webs

Suggests
symbolise..
implies..
indicate
representdenote
signify
Belongto be
part ofto
interact
relate commune
to be at one
with to feel a
sense of
community
Wanting
yearn desire
hunger
Find your own connectives
that will help you link your
analysis the effect of a
technique on meaning

NOW COMBINE TO BUILD YOUR PARAGRAPH:
Here is an Example:
Belonging can be a sensation or experience that is simultaneously positive and negative; the
desire to belong can dictate a suppression of core values. This is evident in Millers The
Crucible, Mary knows that Abigail is lying about Elizabeth, but her desire to belong overcomes
her feelings of shame at supporting Abigails fabricated story. She allows the pressure of
belonging to the group to subvert her values; her selfish desires dictate her final decision. We see
Mary as a weak character, lacking the strength to stand with conviction against the injustice that
is occurring. Her simultaneous feelings of acceptance and yet shame at compromising herself
reveals the complex nature of belonging. Miller uses .(add technique) . in the line (add
Quote) .. to highlight her (discuss effect on meaning)

Your related text must be linked to the ideas about belonging presenting in your thesis.
Some tips:
In incorporating a paragraph on your related material you should follow the following steps:
1. Start with a topic sentence that links to the concept of belonging that is seen in the text
2. Discuss the overall purpose of the text in exploring its aspects of belonging
3. Choose 1 or 2 bite size sections to analyse here discuss evidence/technique/effect on
meaning
4. Link the text to your prescribed text either by its similarities or differences.

If you want to include a film, you need to discuss the overall purpose of the film in
relation to shaping meaning on belonging, then choose one or two scenes you can
analyse in depth, this way you may discuss the film techniques that aid in shaping
meaning. It also needs to link to your prescribed text, either by highlighting similarities
or differences.Look at my example: (quite rushed but you get the idea)
Social rejection causes people to be labelled and this leads to a perception of them as different or
other. The film The Blind Side explores this idea as it tells the story of a young African American
boy, Michael Oher, who comes from a broken home which leads him to be homeless and struggling
to find his way in a white dominated society. Michael questions his identity because he feels isolated
from everything. In the beginning of the film, there is a key scene where Michael is judged by his
teachers for his differences. In this scene the teachers are grouped together around a table, the
director uses a long shot to establish this circle of belonging amongst which Michael is being
stigmatized. This symbolic gesture isolates Michael as they talk about him I dont
think.this language reveals they already perceive him as an outcast. The sarcastic tone in
the lines he writes his name .. barely shows they have already rejected him. Ironically this
perception will prevent Michael from ever being able to access their expectations of belonging,
therefore aiding his alienation.
This frame is contrasted with one teacher sitting outside of this circle, she is presented through a mid
shot, this automatically creates a more intimate feel. She is in an armchair with a lamp in the
background. This setting conveys a more relaxed mood. Her understanding nature is juxtaposed with
the initial lack of understanding towards Michaels situation presented by the other teachers. The
separation of this teacher shows she does not agree with their alienation of Michael. The
understanding tone of her voice contrasts with their sarcasm as she reads the letter I look and see
white every where, white walls , white floors and a lot of white people. the repetition of the word
white epitomises his feelings of isolation. By reading the letter the director explores the idea that
we need to listen to those who dont feel a if they belong in order to help initiate them into
belonging. The letter becomes his voice which has been suppressed this scene explores the idea that
social rejection effects people emotionally. They suffer in silence, and those who judge them place up
the barrier that is to daunting for them to over come. This relates closely to the Simple Gift, as
Billy has to negotiate his own sense of belonging in a new world. He is a social outcast, and
looses his connectness to his family. His journey to reconciliation and belonging is similar to
Michaels in that both meet new people who produce new experiences of belonging.

If it is a picture book, you need to discuss the overall purpose of the book and then choose
one or two pictures to analyse in depth much like the film example above. Look at my
example: (again only short, you could take another picture to enhance your discussion)
The Red Tree deals with the similar ideas on feelings of alienation and the slow difficult journey
towards belonging. The story is about a nameless young girl who appears in every picture, she passes
helplessly through many dark moments, searching for her place in this world. She struggles with
discovering who she is because she feels different and has no sense of connectedness. In the story
she eventually finds something hopeful at the end of her journey, a reconciliation essential in her
development as an individual.
The picture with the words darkness overcomes you explores her feelings of alienation in a world
that she feels she doesnt belong to. The representational meanings of the image show other
participants as well as the girl, however no relationship is created between them. They are not
connected in anyway through vectors, everyone is alone turning their backs on those around them.
The little girls posture is stooped showing her lack of confidence, a direct result of her social
isolation. The fish that hovers above her is the most salient feature as it symbolizes the inner
emotions of the girls despair and loneliness, this emptiness is enhanced by its gaping mouth. The
image reveals the girls social rejection prevents her from developing a sense of her own identity, she
perceives herself as different. The composer shows the suffering of this isolated girl, wandering
through a world she does not belong to. She has no security and cannot empower herself.
The concept of belonging is explored thoroughly in this picture book, the motif of the red maple
leaf that follows the girl through each image reveals the path to reconciliation, the same path
taken by Billy as he transitions to a sense of belonging.
__________________________________________________________
YOUR TURN RELATED TEXT:
Poem Island Man by Grace Nichols / Nothings Changed by Tatamkhulu Afrika
Poems are good in that they are short, and you can easily find techniques to analyse. The
purpose is often clear and can be discussed well in a few paragraphs.
In pairs choose one of these poems and answer the following questions:
1. Contextual background on the poet?
2. The purpose of this poem?
3. How does it link to your understanding of belonging?
4. What quotes can you use as evidence?
5. How does it link to your prescribed text?
THEN Write up a paragraph similar to the above examples of how you would incorporate
this as a related text in your extended response.

Its not good enough to just state a technique is used eg: The image uses vectors you
must link it to its purpose; The image uses vectors to draw our eyes towards . in
order to emphasise the importance of.these are created by the (describe where the
vectors are in the image)

Develop a strong thesis that explores all aspects of Belonging:
Your thesis is essentially a ONE sentence (it may be more than this) answer to the question,
that encompasses all aspects of belonging you will be exploring through your topic
sentences.

Just like the image it is the main statement you base all your points on. Always provided in your
introduction, and always a response to the question.
Here is a Sample STANDARD Introduction

1st REWORD QUESTION.
Then I ntroduce your thesis on belonging
Belonging to something benefits us as individuals, we feel a connectedness to each other or a place
and this helps nurture our self esteem and confidence. Part of belonging is our need to develop a
concept of self, this becomes our identity helping us be at peace with ourselves. However, at
different stages in our lives we feel like we do not belong, this can create an insecurity and have
negative consequences for our development as an individual. Often not belonging comes from social
rejection, this has serious effects on the self esteem leading us to be perceived as different; being
outcast in this manner causes emotional suffering and feelings of being no longer valued.
2nd I ntroduction I ntroduce texts and link to concept of belonging
The texts The Simple Gift, a verse novel by Steven Herrick , The Red Tree, a picture book by Shaun
Tan and The Blind Side a film by all reveal these aspects of belonging. Each text uses
specific techniques to portray this concept in their own unique way. However one common factor is
each text explores the process of an individual from feelings of alienation to reconciliation. This
journey is essential in belonging, as the individual suffers initial feelings of isolation prompting them
to reflect on their place in society, leading them to a final discovery of who they are.
How can we rework this to enhance the argument?

How = techniques
How is one word, which can be expanded to read explain what language techniques the composer
uses to represent belonging in the text. How does not, in any way, translate to just copy out
something from the included text/s as your response to each section.
Quotations can and should be used to support a response by considering how, for example:
a metaphor insert quotation from text is used to represent an aspect of belonging
the body language of the person/character/animal in the visual text insert name of text
explains how they didnt feel they belonged
alliteration is used insert quotation to reinforce the importance of belonging
The language technique must be identified in the response in relation to the terminology of the
question; describe, explain and analyse the relationship between language, text and context. The
text in the section and the context is belonging. To continue the responses above for example:
a metaphor insert quotation from text is used to represent the importance of belonging
to a family even though that family may be seperated by thousands of miles.
The texts included in Paper 1 are generic to belonging. To describe, explain and analyse it further
supports your understanding of the included texts if the form the belonging or not belonging can
also be identified.
The term way is also closely linked to the how and requires direct reference to the language forms
and features (techniques) of the texts. Quoting from the text to support the how is essential. To
successfully address the question of the way belonging is represented in any text there is an
expectation of higher order thinking and this requires some form of synthesis between the how as
technique, the appropriate quote from the text and the question as a whole. A direct quotation from
the text does not prove or determine the way unless it is supported.
Use connecting words such as:
by comparison
by contrast
a parallel can be drawn with
a similar technique/idea is used in
another way of portraying beloning is shown in

Planning Essay Structure
To avoid getting caught out with a prepared essay you need to remember the key points
you will discuss, without locking yourself into an easy that will not answer the question
Follow these steps:
1. Have an idea about your topic this you will discuss in an introduction
2. Know some key topic sentences that can be adjusted depending on hte question
3. Link a quote, technique and effect to each topic sentence
4. Include you related material
5. Lay this out into a table try to keep it to one A4 page so it is easy to study and
quotes are easily memorised.
EXAMPLE:
INTRO: Understanding the scope of the topic
Paul Reubens 5 stage Alienation Journey.
Alienation personal reflection leading to steps taken to alter the situation
Initiation feeling of not belonging
Journey such as leaving home, signifying change
Suffering physical or psychological suffering, serving to purge or cleanse the past.
Leads to personal reflection
Reconciliation Painful self examination, things are reconciled and a removal of the
feeling of not belonging. Happens with a discovery of a new place and situation OR a
return to the former place. This initiates a sense of belonging. (new perspective)
THESIS POINT QUOTE + TECHNIQUE EFFECT
Connectedness to each other
or group or place helps
nurture self-esteem and
confidence
I love this place, I love the
flow of cold clear water over
the rocks Repetition of I
Love and the emotive,
positive diction used to
describe the Creek.
I learnt all I need to know in
books on the banks of
Westfield Creek Metaphor,
this is his classroom
This is one place where Billy
feels he can be at one with
himself. This is where he
escapes from the world he
feels he does not belong
Westfield Creek is the
contrasted to Billys home
and school. He establishes his
new identity in this
environment.
Belonging helps you be at
peace with yourself, and
have a sense of your identity.
My Motel Bendarat Use
ofpersonal pronoun - shows
ownership and that he is
proud. It was like a little cave,
A warm safe little cave for
children to hide in when
theyre scared and
lonelyBillys
cave repetitive
language reinforces the
warmth and security felt by
this place.. The Simile reveals
it is his refuge.
Reveals Billy feels a sense of
belonging towards the
carriage by giving it a name
and labelling it as his
own.Billy further
demonstrates a sense of
belonging by giving Cailtin a
business card with this as his
address. We see his sense of
identity growing
strongerSafety and security
enables him feel safe and
secure from his past, enabling
him to develop as a new
person away from his old
haunts.
Social outcasts suffer
psychologically and
emotionally, they no longer
feel valued. This can cause
outbursts because of their
feelings of persecution
He walked back inside and
slammed the door on my
sporting childhood, that
disappeared into the bushes
with my soccer ball emotive
language slammed reveals
aggressiveness of his father
and how it affected Billys
sense of belonging
This epitomises one of the
main reasons Billy starts to
feel like he doesnt belong in
this home. Being young,
Billy is vulnerable to being
hurt psychologically, and
moments like these play on
his mind. He feels persecuted
for just being himself.
Those who feel disaffected
often move away from the
normal codes of social
behaviour, rules and laws
they find oppressive. Once
separated from these
constraints, they feel free to
develop their own identity
Leave the only town Ive ever
wanted to call home and
Caitlin hyperbole is used
to suggest this is too painful to
contemplate, because he has
made his identity and life here.
Billy leaves Nowheresville
a place he felt he never
belonged, his father took his
childhood from him, and he
feels the town is a shithole.
He was the social misfit, it is
only when he re-establishes
himself in Bendarat that he is
free to develop his own sense
of belonging and identity
with this place.
Some people are marginalised
and deemed outsiders, and
find themselves as outcasts
existing on the fringes of
society. They are treated as
social misfits.

Romulus, My Father
Overview:
Memoir explores the difficulties his father encountered in trying to establish himself amid
the conservation and narrow attitudes of 1950s Australian Society.
It examines the difficulties confronting Gaitas father as a newcomer to Australia. It also
explores the frailties of his mother Christine who felt her own alienation and isolation,
which eventually resulted in her suicide when Raimond was thirteen.
It is a moving portrayal of a family in crisis and a raw exposure of the fragility and
vulnerability of the human psyche. It describes the Australian landscape with detail and
insight so that it becomes a powerful metaphor for many of the elements of belonging,
identity and alienation.
Many Australians did not agree with wanting these migrants and they were not
unanimously welcomed. for many migrants it was a great personal struggle to become
part of Australia and to feel like they belonged to this land.
The textual form (memoir) enables Gaita to look back on his life form the perspective of a
mature observer.
Gaita explores their early life as migrants, the deterioration of their family unit and the
help of friends, the suicide of his mother, his fathers illness and death and its effect on
Gaita himself.
Other features of Gaitas narrative enhance its textual richness: he gives us great detail on
specific events or people in his life, allowing him the opportunity to reflect on human
behaviour and elements of morality. He also provides us with touching humour as well as
insightful comments. He explores questions about human morality and compassion.
The muted almost washed-out colours of the dry Australian landscape are very much a
feature of the novel, highlighting this is not a sentimentalised, pretty view of Australia.
Belonging:
The first two chapters inform us about the historical context that saw so many families
like Gaitas migrate to Australia. We see a Europe in disintegration, and a family
dislocated form its home and culture to feel a type of exile in rural Victoria. They are
physically and mentally imprisoned in this foreign land and the Australian vastness
challenges their European sensibility.
Gaita introduces the ideas of resilience and survival and exposes us to the dislocation that
migrants endured and how they looked with optimism and hope at coming to Australia.
Landscape & Sensibilty
The influence of the Landscape on the Writing of Romulus, My Father
Gaitas sense of the landscape in Central Victoria affects the entire mood and tone of the
memoir, even perhaps the rhythm of its sentences.
When I was a boy of eleven on that hill, wonderstruck by natures beauty, my eyes turned
repeatedly away from the hill across the, then expansive, waters of cairn Curran to the
Moolort planes where I lived. It was here I awakened to the beauty of nature.
I realised in my heart as well as in my head, that central Victoria is made up of at least
three wonderful and different landscapes: the plains, the small rocky hills, relatively bare
of trees, and the larger, wooded rocky hills of which the Rock of Ages and Mount
Tarrengower are locally the most loved examples.
The landscapes that I have described, different though they are from one another,
constitute an aesthetic and spiritual unity that determines their sense of central Victoria.
Living there, we understood only to well the profound contentment to be derived from
caring for the land, from restoring to it vegetation, and eventually, we hope, bird life,
as though they were children that had been lost to it.
Some of those values honesty; loyalty, courage, charity (taken as a preparedness to help
those in need) and a capacity for hard work- are universal, but here, in Central Victoria,
they are lived in the colors and spoken in the accent of the landscape as that nourished
and marked indelibly the souls of many who have loved it. The matter is complicated in
my case, in a way that I will try to explain later, by the fact that I saw the landscape
through the eyes of my fathers European fatalism.
There is a connection between landscape and sensibility, between landscape and the
locally inflected character of the people who live in it, an interaction between the human
spirit and the landscape, then the radical transformation of this central Victorian
landscape will change the people of the region.
The love of the land is mediated by a response to its beauty. That is why caring for it
restoring natural grasses, controlling weeds, planting trees, for example engenders a
quiet joy that could never be captured adequately just by talk about the visual
consequences of all this. But from this second perspective, the lover of the land, like the
true lover of a natural language, will occasionally welcome and absorb foreigners.
My parents were hostile to the landscape and were ill at ease in it. This is how I describe
the landscape and a characteristic European response to it early in the book.Although the
landscape is one of rare beauty, to a European or English eye it seems desolate, and
even after more than forty years my father could not become reconciled to it. He longed
for the generous and soft European foliage, but the eucalyptus of Baringhup, scraggy
except for the noble Redgums on the riverbank, seemed symbols of deprivation and
barrenness. In this he was typical of many of the immigrants whose eyes looked directly
to the foliage and always turned away offended. Even the wonderful summer smell of
eucalyptus attracted them only because it promised useful oil.
My mother disliked the landscape even more than my father did and she was never at ease
in it. It was alien to her and she seemed alien to it. A troubled, intense, passionate and
cultured city girl from Central Europe, she showed form the beginning signs of a
psychological illness that would prove tragic. It was foolish for my father and me to hope
that she could settle in a derelict farmhouse in a harsh landscape that aggravated her
torment. She tried a number of times to kill herself before she succeeded. I describe her
return from hospital after one suicide attempt at Frogmore.The road from Baringhup to
Moolort was 500 metres from Frogmore, connected to the house by a rough track. The
taxi that brought my mother from Maldon left her at the junction of the road and the
track, probably at her request. I first saw her when she was 200 metres or so from the
house, alone, small, frail, walking with an uncertain gait and distracted air. In that vast
landscape with only crude wire fences and a rough track to mark a human impression on
it she appeared forsaken. She looked to me as though she had returned from the dead,
unsure about the value of the achievement.
Like most children, I think, I had little sense of the aesthetic character of my
surroundings. That changed dramatically when I was eleven.
I liked living in the country and especially liked farm animals, but not in the way farm
boys did. Conscious of this and of the fact that I was the only boy in the area who did not
kill rabbits even though they were a terrible pest, I took the Bantam motorbike and my
fathers rifle and went to a hill on the far side of Cairn Curran to shoot rabbits for our
dinner and for the dog
I reached the hill in the mid-afternoon. For the first time in my life I was really alive to
beauty, receiving a kind of shock from it. I had absorbed my fathers attitude to the
countryside, especially to its scraggy trees, because he talked so often of the beautiful
trees of Europe. But now, for me, the key to the beauty of the native trees lay in the light
that so sharply delineated them against a dark blue sky. Possessed of that key, my
perception of the landscape changed radically as when one sees the second image in an
ambiguous drawing. The scraggy shapes and sparse foliage actually become the foci for
my sense of its beauty and everything else fell into place the primitive hills, the
unsealed roads with their surfaces ranging from white through yellow to brown, looking
as though they had been especially dusted to match the high, summer-colored grasses. It
seemed to have a special beauty, disguised until I was ready for it; not a low and
primitive form for which I had to make allowances, but subtle and refined. It was as
though God had taken me to the back of his workshop and shown me something really
special. It was inconceivable to me that I should now shoot a rabbit. The experience
transformed my sense of life and the countryside, adding to both a sense of
transcendence.
My feel for the beauty of the countryside was, I suspect, intensified by the freedom I
enjoyed in it.
Riding the motorbike that summer, through the hot yellow grasslands of central Victoria
and around the expansive waters of Cairn Curran, wearing only shorts and sandals,
crystallized in me a sense of freedom that I possessed earlier, but never so fully, and
which I always associate with that time in the country. I felt I could do anything provided
I was respectful of others. The law and other kinds of regulations seemed only rules of
thumb, regulative ideals, to be interpreted by individuals according to circumstances and
constrained by goodwill and commonsense. From my father and from Hora I had
already acquired a sense that only morality was absolute because some of its demands
were non-negotiable. But I was too young to be troubled by that. I was eleven years old,
riding my fathers motorbike to collect the mail and visit friends, yet no one was troubled
by this breach of the law. It left me with a sad, haunting image of a freedom, impossible
now to realize, and which even then the world could barely afford.
As New Australians they were sometimes the victims of humiliating condescension.
Their manifest awkwardness in their environment that made them so visibly outsiders
probably encouraged it.
Not until I wrote Romulus, My Father, however, did I again see beauty in the countryside
of Central Victoria. To write the first draft of the book I rented a cottage in the grounds
of Palm House in Maldon, owned at the time, much to my benefit, by Albert and Anne
Borg. A couple of days into my stay I visited the remains of Frogmore where I sat for
some hours, remembering and thinking of what I would write. As I was driving back to
Maldon, around four oclock on a late February afternoon, unexpectedly and suddenly, I
fell in love again with the countryside of my boyhood. I remember the point exactly.
Roughly half way between Baringhup and where Frogmore stood there is an old
windmill on a property owed now by John and Sally Bryant. Just above it, there is a
small gentle hill, one of the most beautiful I have ever seen. On the Moolort side, it is
almost bare. A plantation grows on the side of it that faces Cairn Curran. That year, the
grass on it grew high and golden and was especially beautiful that afternoon as the wind
joined with the sun to transform the hill and the paddocks below it into waves of moving
grass, golden and tipped with silver. Quite suddenly the landscape seemed to me to be
exquisitely beautiful just as it had when I went to shoot rabbits on the hill overlooking
Cairn Curran.
It was a joyful experience and it taught me how profoundly the landscape had affected
my sensibility. I dont mean just my aesthetic sensibility. Perhaps I can convey what I do
mean if I quote a passage from the book in which I describe my response to seeing my
father for the first time after he had admitted himself as patient in the Ballarat Psychiatric
Hospital. I was fifteen years old and Hora was with me. I hope that you will excuse me
for quoting at length.
The hospital represented a foreign world to me; one whose beliefs were shaped by ideas
I instinctively felt to be in conflict with those that had enabled me to understand the
events of my childhood. I could no longer see my fathers illness just from the perspective
of our life at Frogmore. Strange though it may sound, my sense of that life, of the ideas
that informed it, was given intensity and colour by the light and landscape of the area.
The hills looked as old as the earth, because they were rounded by millennia and also
because the grey and equally rounded granite boulders that stood amongst the long
yellow grasses, sharply delineated at all times of day by the summer sun, made them look
pre-historic. More than anything, however, the glorious, tall, burnt-yellow grasses (as a
boy they came to my chest and sometimes over my head) moving irregularly against a
deep blue sky, dominated the images of my childhood and gave colour to my freedom and
also to my understanding of suffering. In the morning they inspired cheerful energy of the
kind that made you whistle; at midday in partnership with an unforgiving sun and alive
with insects and other creatures, they intimidated; but in the late afternoon, towards
dusk, everything was softened by a light that graced the area in a melancholy beauty that
could pierce ones soul . . ..
Life at Frogmore, in that landscape and under that light, nourished the sense, given to me
by my father and Hora, of the contrast between the malleable laws and conventions made
by human beings to reconcile and suit their many interests, and the uncompromising
authority of morality, always the judge, never merely the servant of our interests. For
that reason tragedy, with its calm pity for the affliction it depicts, was the genre that first
attracted my passionate allegiance. I recognized in it the concepts that had illuminated
the events of my childhood. They enabled me to see Mitru, my mother, my father and
Vacek living amongst his boulders, as the victims of misfortune, in their different ways
broken by it, but never thereby diminished.

If the landscape had not been so important to me, if I did not love it as I do still, I could
not have written the book that I did. Its not just that I could not have written the
passages describing the landscape with the same feeling. The entire tone and mood of the
book would have been different.
My father disliked the landscape. I loved it. But the way I loved it was determined by
how he saw the world. Because I accepted and made my own his distinctively European
fatalism, the light and the colours of Central Victoria became for me the light and colours
of tragedy.
I hoped that the story I told would be one whose events and characters would be bathed in
the light and colours of that landscape.

Gogol, is American, but his Russian name, his Bengali family and their culture mark him as
different to many in his community. His home life is different to the average neighbourhood child
and he finds himself like many children of immigrants and third culture kids, living between two
worlds. Like Lahiris short stories, which portray composites of life for immigrants of first or
second generations from India, this book highlights one familys experience,
the dilemmas that each generation face which will mould their characters. We follow Gogols
journey, try to understand it, imaging ourselves in the shoes of another, witness to the culture
clash within this one family. But for children growing up among worlds and between cultures the
awareness comes much earlier. The very nature of identity, coupled with that cross-current of
cultures, is what she captures so wonderfully in The Namesake
All her stories portray an incredible observational poignancy, so many differnt lives, different ways of
coping, intergenerational impacts, rich in diversity and wonderful
On the surface the American life style appears more relaxed, free and less rigid,
however Nikhil eventually sees through the facade and realises how false, hollow
and indulgent it can be. It may be very seductive and comfortable, but their lives
are pointless; they lack purpose, direction or usefulness. Using Chaucerian irony
Lahiri appears to be celebrating American generosity, openness and tolerance
but there is a hint of this being undercut by subtle satire.
Not only does Gogol Ganguli have a pet name turned good name, but also a last name
turned first name. And so it occurs to him that no one he knows in the world, in Russia or India or
America or anywhere, shares his name. Not even the source of his namesake. (4.26)

Through the use of powerful and vivid imagery, the poet conveys Nikhil as a man who is
comfortable, content, and secure in hiw own identit, a man who has found or created his own
sense of belonging.

the immigrant experience, the clash of cultures, the conflicts of assimilation, and, most poignantly, the
tangled ties between generations. Here again Lahiri displays her deft touch for the perfect detailthe
fleeting moment, the turn of phrasethat opens whole worlds of emotion.

The Namesake takes the Ganguli family from their tradition-bound life in Calcutta through their fraught
transformation into Americans. On the heels of their arranged marriage, Ashoke and Ashima Ganguli
settle together in Cambridge, Massachusetts. An engineer by training, Ashoke adapts far less warily than
his wife, who resists all things American and pines for her family. When their son is born, the task of
naming him betrays the vexed results of bringing old ways to the new world.

Named for a Russian writer by his Indian parents in memory of a catastrophe years before, Gogol
Ganguli knows only that he suffers the burden of his heritage as well as his odd, antic name. Lahiri
brings great empathy to Gogol as he stumbles along a first-generation path strewn with conflicting
loyalties, comic detours, and wrenching love affairs. With penetrating insight, she reveals not only the
defining power of the names and expectations bestowed upon us by our parents, but also the means by
which we slowly, sometimes painfully, come to define ourselves.
The Namesake portrays both the immigrant experience in America, and the
complexity of family loyalties that underlies all human experience. Ashoke and
Ashima Ganguli, after an arranged marriage in India, emigrate to America where
Ashoke achieves his dream of an engineering degree and a tenured position in a
New England college. Their son Gogol, named for the Russian writer, rejects both
his unique name and his Bengali heritage.
In a scene central to the novels theme, Ashoke gives his son a volume of Nikolai
Gogols short stories for his fourteenth birthday, hoping to explain the books
significance in his own life. Gogol, a thoroughly Americanized teenager, is indifferent,
preoccupied with his favorite Beatles recording. Such quietly revealing moments give
the narrative its emotional power. The loneliness of lives lived in exile is most
poignantly revealed in the late night family telephone calls from India, always an
announcement of illness or death.
Gogol earns his degree in architecture, but happiness in love eludes him. An intense
love affair with Maxine draws him into a wealthy American family, revealing the
extreme contrasts between American and Indian family values. Gogols marriage to
Moushumi, who shares his Indian heritage, ends in divorce.
Jhumpa Lahiris conclusion achieves a fine balance. Ashima, now a widow, sells the
family home and will divide her time between America and Calcutta. Gogol, at thirty-
two, discovers in his fathers gift of Gogols short stories a temporary reconciliation
with his name and the heritage he has rejected.
The Namesake takes the Ganguli family from their tradition-bound life in Calcutta through their
fraught transformation into Americans. On the heels of their arranged wedding, Ashoke and
Ashima Ganguli settle together in Cambridge, Massachusetts. An engineer by training, Ashoke
adapts far less warily than his wife, who resists all things American and pines for her family.
When their son is born, the task of naming him betrays the vexed results of bringing old ways to
the new world. Named for a Russian writer by his Indian parents in memory of a catastrophe
years before, Gogol Ganguli knows only that he suffers the burden of his heritage as well as his
odd, antic name.

Lahiri brings great empathy to Gogol as he stumbles along the first-generation path, strewn with
conflicting loyalties, comic detours, and wrenching love affairs. With penetrating insight, she
reveals not only the defining power of the names and expectations bestowed upon us by our
parents, but also the means by which we slowly, sometimes painfully, come to define ourselves.
The New York Times has praised Lahiri as "a writer of uncommon elegance and poise." The
Namesake is a fine-tuned, intimate, and deeply felt novel of identity.

H.M. Tomlinson once said, "The right good book is always a book of travel; it is about a life's
journey." This quote is especially true for the novel, The Namesake, by Jhumpa Lahiri. In this
work of literature, the focus is on an immigrant family from Calcutta, India that has recently
settled in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Their story begins with the birth of Ashima and Ashoke's
first child, and continues to follow the newborn's life and the experiences of his mother, father,
and sister as they are forced to adjust to American culture. At the onset of Lahiri's novel the
reader instantly becomes aware of the obstacles facing the Ganguli family. Ultimately, they will
have to assimilate and adjust to their new way of life, while still maintaining the Indian customs
and traditions that they hold so dear.
The difficulties Ashima and Ashoke face in America are best articulated by Ashima herself when
she says, "For being a foreigner, Ashima is beginning to realize, is sort of lifelong pregnancy-a
perpetual wait, a constant burden, a continuous feeling out of sorts" (49). This sentiment is
expressed early on in the work and makes the reader aware that life in America will be a constant
struggle. However unlike immigrants during the early 1900's, the problems the Ganguli's face
will be less physical and material (the prospect of finding work and housing), and more
psychological. Ashima, who is with-child at the beginning of the story, is already extremely fragile
and naturally feels more vulnerable in her pregnant state. Her insights during this tumultuous
time in her life are extremely important if one is to understand the significance of her journey
and the emotional stress it has on her. As Ashima waits to give birth she yearns for her life back
in Calcutta. She remarks that in India a mother giving birth would be surrounded by family and
friends. The atmosphere in India then, is much more intimate than in Cambridge, where
everything feels less personal and "colder" than back home. With only Ashoke at her side,
Ashima's feeling of isolation is obvious as she wonders whether she might be the only Indian
woman in the hospital giving birth that day.
Once the baby is born, the parents are faced with the prospect of naming their newborn son. Here
again, the clash between Indian and American culture is demonstrated. In India, a child would be
called by a "pet name", an informal name used by family and friends. Meanwhile, the name listed
on official documents is called the child's "good name". In India, this name wouldn't be
important right away, and parents would sometimes take years before deciding on a child's good
name. Ashima and Ashoke give Ashima's grandmother the honor of officially naming their son,
but the letter from India is lost in the mail. The Ganguli's want to wait for the letter to arrive (it
never does), but before they leave they have to provide a name on a birth certificate. Finally, they
decide on the name, "Gogol", representing a Russian author whose name played a large part in
Ashoke's history before coming to the United States. The struggle the parents have here with the
naming of their child is obvious, but it also symbolizes the disconnect and distance Ashima and
Ashoke feel with the rest of the world. They feel close to neither their new home nor the one they
left behind.
In the end, the isolation Ashima and Ashoke feel sums up their immigrant experience.
Additionally, the death of relatives in India exacerbates this feeling. In the end, the emotions that
accompany loss and the steps necessary to recover from it mirror the process of adjusting to a
new life in America. At first, the couple attempts to cling onto their Indian culture, while
shunning their new one. It's clear that in America there is a void that can't be filled. A country,
like a person, can have a great personality, be part of many meaningful memories, and play a
large role in one's life. Ashima and Ashoke are in denial at first, but gradually begin to accept
their new culture. They put up a tree on Christmas, celebrate Thanksgiving, and settle into a new
life in America. Meanwhile, they still incorporate Indian food, traditions, and people into their
daily lives. In the end, the part of the book that chronicles the story of Ashima and Ashoke is an
illustration of their life's journey. Not only is their "travel" physical, but they also make a
psychological transition that is both meaningful and necessary for the Ganguli's to thrive in their
new environment.
Although Ashima and Ashoke's experience in America is of vital importance, the novel would not
be complete if it didn't follow their son Gogol's life's journey. In the end, the narrator is able to
make a judgment about Gogol and how he lived that is very telling. "He had spent years
maintaining distance from his origins; his parent, in bridging that distance as best they could.
And yet, for all his aloofness toward his family in the past...he has never been more than a four-
hour train ride away"(281). This quote is important because it represents the approach Gogol had
to his heritage throughout the novel. Unlike his parents, Gogol goes out of his way to avoid his
Indian culture. For example, Gogol's personal life he dates white American women, while
befriending mostly Caucasian males. These choices disturb Gogol's parents, especially Ashima
who wishes he would settle down with another Indian woman. Paying no attention to her wishes,
Gogol maintains distance from his parents throughout his adult life, even if he is always close by.
He often waits days to return their phone calls, misses important events to go to his girlfriends'
summer homes, and does his best to never embrace the culture that his parents cherish.
These habits are important, but pale in comparison to an action that was a blatant attempt to
escape his Indian heritage. When Gogol was in his twenty's he changed his name to a more
Americanized Indian name: Nikhil. As extreme as this was, it is more important to note that
Nikhil never truly lost the "Gogol" inside of him. In the end, Nikhil realizes that running away
from his roots is futile and not gratifying. "Without people in the world to call him Gogol, no
matter how long he himself lives, Gogol Ganguli will, once and for all, vanish from the lips of
loved ones, and so, cease to exit. Yet the thought of this eventual demise provides no sense of
victory, no solace. It provides no solace at all" (289). This quote represents one of the main ideas
of the book: Gogol, as hard as he tried to run away from his family and Indian culture, was bound
by an invisible thread to India and its customs. Despite the influence of pop culture, white
girlfriends, and a name change, Gogol couldn't escape. In fact, by the end he realizes that he
doesn't want to leave his heritage behind. "Things that should never have happened, that seemed
out of place and wrong, these were what prevailed, what endured, in the end" (287). Gogol
realizes that everything that has happened to him, from the botched naming attempt at his birth,
to his father's death, was meaningful. In the end, the very thing that Gogol was running away
from becomes the cornerstone of his life. In fact, even if Gogol never knew it, it always was.
Author Jhumpa Lahiri accomplished something that every writer strives for. She created an
engaging piece of literature that has meaning and can speak to everyone. In the end, she fulfilled
H.M. Tomlinson's belief that "every right good book is always a book of travel". Following the
lives of an immigrant family from Calcutta, The Namesake accurately characterizes the struggles
and successes of the Ganguli's as they adjust to life in America. For Ashima and Ashoke, their
journey meant learning to balance their newfound American culture with all-important Indian
traditions. For Gogol however, it was realizing the significance of his heritage, of his "namesake",
that characterized his journey. Lahiri never lead the reader to believe any of these adjustments
were easy, which is why the novel is able to deliver its message so powerfully. The challenges
facing the Ganguli family were never sugar coated, or presented as if they were as simple as
putting up a tree around Christmas time. Instead, the journey is raw and realistic, making the
final destination that much more meaningful.

The namesake is a cross-cultural story of a Hindu-Bengali family which moves to the US and
describes their journey of self-acceptance in Boston .
The story starts with Ashok Ganguli, an engineer by profession who marries Ashima and moves
to the US from their tradition-bound family in Kolkata. As the book unfolds, it shows that the
lady succeeds in adjusting efficiently in the new environment better than her husband.
Sometime later the couple is blessed with a baby boy and the parents now have to perform the
task of naming him in their new world. Inspired by a Russian writer, the parents name him Gogol
Ganguli. As time flies, they realize how their son suffers the burden of his heritage as well as his
odd, antic name.
Jhumpa Lahiri in her book describes the journey of the boy in the next half part of her book
including his wrenching love affairs, comic encounters and the controversies he faces due to his
name.
Overall, the book reveals the power of names and expectations bestowed upon us by our parents
which sometime turn into a painful reality and leaves one shattered in discovering his lost
identity.
Thus to sum up, it is a book of clashing lifestyles, tangles ties between generations, experience,
love, solitude and emotional upheavals beautifully crafted with every detail and description
relating to real life!!

Gogol/Nikhil's name: what it symbolizes and how that symbolism helps Lahiri
establish a theme in The Namesake.
Gogol and his other identity, Nikhil, help to personify Lahiri's theme in The Namesake that we
cannot begin to know others until we know ourselves. From the beginning, at Gogol's rice
ceremony, he is uncertain of which path to take and his birth name reveals nothing of the two
cultures his life attempts to straddle. Nikhil, meaning "he who is entire, encompassing all" is
what Gogol turns to in order to essentially bury his past. The idea of a name represents family
legacy and by Gogol recovering his old name he unknowingly renounces the memory of his
father's tragic night of the train crash. Furthermore, the ironic meaning behind Nikhil shows the
audience that while Gogol is trying to bring his cultures together and "encompass all," he is, in
reality encompassing nothing. Nikhil gives him a "Mr. Hyde" sort of personality that ultimately
makes him lose sight of who he is or what his true culture is, which ends up in a series of broken
relationships.
There are a few different communion scenes in The Namesake. What is significant
about Gogol and Moushumi's first anniversary dinner? What does it reveal on a
more figurative level? How do you know?
The thing about the first anniversary dinner is that it foreshadows Mouse's eventual affair with
Dimitri and divorce from Nikhil. While most communion meals between relatively new couples
would be bright, cheery, and well communicated, there is definitely a darker tone throughout,
without the harmony of a healthy couple. Instead of doubt about the restaurant's location Gogol
asks, "Are you sure you wrote the address right?" (Lahiri 250) and her statement "We shouldn't
have come here," (Lahiri 252) completely throws Gogol off. In this cave-like basement restaurant
there is neither jubilant background music to lighten their evening nor is there literally any
warmth whatsoever. Instead of glamorous the meals and atmosphere appear gratuitous to
Mouse.
Even more distressing is the loss of the couple's ability to be on the same page. Moushumi wolfs
down her food while Gogol takes his time. Gogol has no idea what kind of feelings Moushumi has
and ironically he buys her a shawl with fibers startlingly similar to "cat hair" (Lahiri 253). The
foreshadowing of Moushumi's eventual affair is also foretold in her boredom of the place and her
need of "standing up, leaving" like she had "a few weeks ago" (Lahiri 252). Everything
disappoints her and while Gogol is content with his regular quail, she "is neither very drunk nor
full" (Lahiri 252). The part about the end of the scene with Moushumi wanting pizza shows her
need to fill the empty space of her life with anything. In this case the pizza can be Dimitri, as they
are both figuratively junk food.
Find a passage in The Namesake that you think reveals a theme and write a
paragraph explaining how Lahiri develops this theme through that passage.
The passage I chose is on page 8 and deals with Ashima stepping into her future husband's
loafers while listening to her parents in the other room.
The above passage reflects a constant theme in The Namesake: to know someone you must first
walk in their shoes. When Ashima steps into the shoes, "lingering sweat" mingles with hers and
it's the closest she's gotten to the "touch of a man." Here Ashima is already beginning to bond
with her future husband Ashoke and when she sees that one of the laces misses a hole it creates a
definite familiarity between them'"that everyone sweats and everyone makes mistakes. Ashima
and Ashoke's marriage is the only strong relationship for most of the novel, providing an example
to Gogol that it is possible to have a successful one. In conclusion, Lahiri's use of the use with
Ashima walking in Ashoke's shoes seems to develop a universal theme that will be carried on
throughout the book.

Jhumpa Lahiri's novel 'The Namesake' is the story of the central character's personal journey
towards self-discovery. The protagonist learns to balance his views of American identity with
those of his parents' tendencies towards tradition. With this in mind, Lahiri centers the novel on
Gogol Ganguli, chronicling the character's life from childhood to middle age. He is considered a
second-generation immigrant and struggles to uphold his parents' expectations while living in
America. Lahiri begins the novel by introducing Gogol's birth, following this up with references
to his childhood. Conflict enters the novel when his parents change his name; his reluctance to
adopt it and respond to it is evidenced in the narrative. Lahiri ends 'The Namesake' with Gogol
entering and finishing college and moving later into middle age where he endures his wife's
infidelity. Lahiri ends with a character who is at peace with himself. Themes of the novel include
identity, adoption, and death.
Identity conflict
Familial belonging tradition nound

Observer to his fathers world, but unable to completely to belong to it.

Feelings of exclusion from the world of his father, barriers

Cultural and generational belonging
Language and cultural belonging
Gogls experience of alienation from both his
Indian heritage and mainstream American society.
Narcism
Struggles to reconcile becoming an individual by differentiating himself from his parents
pegging tents and the collective identity that comes from belonging to the cultural world of his
parents; characterised by inherited remnants of a language and Polish friends who always
shook his hand too violently.

Belonging

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Belonging

Relationships are essential to finding a true sense of belonging

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