Where we are in life, our environment shapes our identity by influencing our choices and defining our paths. Brierley’s novel is highly effective in exploring the concept of identity, through literary techniques such as juxtaposition, irony, visual imagery and through exploring themes of technology, family, memory, survival and identity, showing him as a lost Indian boy to an adopted Australian and as a man on a mission to reconnect with his Indian roots. Oodgeroo Noonuccal’s poem “We Are Going” is also highly successful in exploring the concept of identity, through poetry with the use of poetic techniques, language and themes like dispossession and identity as it explores the collective identity of Aboriginal people, discovering the deep impact …show more content…
Noonuccal’s repeated use of “We are going” reflects the increasing loss of the aboriginal culture due to the destruction caused by colonisation and their struggles trying to preserve it. Through visual imagery/juxtaposition. like in the second stanza “The bora ring is gone”. The corroboree is gone, he said. And we are going.” showcases the loss of the Aboriginal Australian culture, ceremonies and way of life that defined their identity as a whole as well as what will be lost in the future if Aboriginal people aren’t respected and valued. Using metaphors such as “We are the corroboree and the bora ground” and “ We are the old ceremonies, the laws of the elders,” the poet expresses the emotions of anguish and anger felt by Aboriginals for being treated as foreigners in their own land and stripped of their culture which makes up most of their identity. These two quotes also show the deep relationship between the people and their customs and culture as they identify themselves with the Corroboree, an Australian Aboriginal dance ceremony and the bora ring, the old ceremonies and the laws of the elder have been their way of life since the beginning of time that has now become something apart of their identity they are trying to
A Comparison of Civilization by Oodgeroo Noonuccal and Beds Are Burning by Peter Garrett In the Australian culture, there have been many debates about the rightful ownership of Australian land and about whether the Aborigines have the right to retain the land taken from them. Further more, indigenous writers have expressed anger and protest towards the loss of their culture to white civilization. Peter Garrett and Oodgeroo Noonuccal are two artists who seek to raise the issues of the native