The river that wasn't ours by Ashley Reynold (short story) What ideas about belonging does the text convey?Human society is an interwoven tapestry, where the desire to belong is a fundamental human need. It is a sense of enlightenment felt when an individual gains an understanding of themselves in relation to others and the wider world. As the perceptions of belonging vary between individuals, it is subjective to the experience and previous interactions of a person influenced by the passage of time which persistently challenges once-held notions of belonging. This process of upheaval and change in perceptions is explored within Ashley's short story "The River that wasn't ours". The short story, "The river that wasn't ours" present ideas and motives which make it an engaging story to read, which many of its readers can relate to the themes of misconceptions and belonging, as well as loss and tragedy. The short story shows that the connection that you once had with a place and a person can be destroyed in an instant by a tragedy or loss. Sometimes the only reason you have a connection with a place is because of the memories that were once made there. This concept is explored through Ashley's "struggle" in the article to "deny any connections" she once had with the river, because it had currently surged and flooded the community in which she belongs to. In society, when people have lost a sense of connection, they further isolate or alienate themselves. Generally people tend to run away from their problems rather than facing them, in this case the protagonist has done the same thus she feels the need to "find a new place" rather than overcoming her obstacle.Humans dont really like to accept change, we like to stick to what is familiar to us in order to feel like we belong. What techniques does the composer use to represent their view of belonging?Ashley's use of powerful imagery for the "ruined landscape" and "crumbled banks" "mirrored" her emotions enabling to "deny any connections" she once had with the river. The destruction of the landscape reflects her inability to affiliate with the river to the point where she is unable to "forget" any memories associated with the river.The short and direct sentence at the end of the poem "come on, we can find a new place" is particularly effective and emotive as it allows the reader to question the connection the persona once had with the river and where it went wrong. The use of two full stops within such a short sentence reveals unwillingness to belong somewhere else, like they almost want to give the river another chance, and as the story reaches the end the new place they were hoping to belong to still doesnt feel right. It reinforces the idea that humans dont really like to accept change, we like to stick to what is familiar to us, for the environment to suit us instead of the other way round.The use of short descriptive sentences used to describe the mood and setting in which the individuals are a part of. It was a part of us conveys the idea that the group of individuals belong to the specific place and that they have a personal connection to it and its surroundings, this sentence therefore extracts the notion of belonging within the text, suggest to readers that the memories of their youth and the time spent at the river would be cherished. The use of descriptive language pungent smell of the water was caked in our hair suggests a personal connection between the individuals and the river making them feel like they belong. The use of metaphor grey water moved at a frightening speed, churning like an animal alive which builds on the readers sensory imagery creating a connection between them and the text. However as the story progresses and an unfortunate sequence of events unfold the idea of not belonging and betrayal is exposed due to Dylans death. This here influences the individual to speak badly about the river that The Rivers beauty only concealed its danger. The idea that the river has become a foreign body due to the betrayal of trust creates a barrier between the individual and the river, only leaving her with the memories prior to Dylans death but also forcing her to move on to find a new place.

How is your related text different or similar to the prescribed text, 'Immigrant Chronicles' by Peter Skrzynecki? (e.g. techniques used, perceptions of belonging, the composer's attitudes towards belonging, etc)

I am Thomas by Libby Gleeson and Armin Greder (picture book) What ideas about belonging does the text convey?The picture book I am Thomas shows us the world through a youth undergoing his adolescent journey. Unlike many others Thomas is one person in particular who suffers the discrimination due to his lack of conformity towards the society he lives in. Through the use of stark black and white drawings to reinforce the concept of not belonging, it contrasts to the illustrations in colour that shows Thomass true feelings. This book enables us to understand Thomass judgement on the world that revolves around him and the idea that an individual may choose not to belong to a certain group of people for the benefit of their own lives and values.Through the use of direct speech, high modality and quotations, we hear the voices and prejudice that constantly interfere with Thomas mental serenity. Through Thomas point of view he sees the world in which we readers belong to as cold, sterile and heartless. This book also shows us our sense of belonging can blind us to the deceptive facades of the community that we join. What techniques does the composer use to represent their view of belonging?Through the use of illustrations Armin Greder used bright colours to highlight the objects and things Thomas approves of in his life. The social leaders and people in Thomass life are very dark and grotesque, even sinister. Everyone seems to disapprove of Thomass inferiority and lack of contribution towards society, through the use of contrast between colourful objects in Thomass life and the cold sterile society and which Thomas lives in, readers can see that due to differing perceptions Thomas has self-consciously chosen to not belonging to the society in which he lives in. The use of first person narration and truncated sentences at the start of the picture book, I am Thomas, I am not the child I once was, I am not the student they all are is particularly effect and emotive as readers are able to differentiate Thomass individuality as he speak of his differences in oppose to the people he knows in his life such as his brother. How is your related text different or similar to the prescribed text, 'Immigrant Chronicles' by Peter Skrzynecki? (e.g. techniques used, perceptions of belonging, the composer's attitudes towards belonging, etc)