skryznecki poems Essay example

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Immigrant chronicles poems http://hsc.csu.edu.au/english/esl/belonging/3692/Peter%20Skrzynecki/skrzynecki.htm#paragraphs http://www.nebo-lit.com/poetry/skrzynecki/Skrzynecki -Feliks-Belonging.html
Feliks skrzynecki: An Analysis
Details








Type- poem
Composer- Peter skynecki
Audience- young readers
Source- From an poetry book published in 1975
Context- Felix skryznecki was not Peters biological father, but It is not known who his real father was. Felix was the one that was always in his life. He worked as a labourer for the water board, whi le growing his own vegetable garden. Felix always retained his polish background.
Purpose- To inform and educate

Summary
Explores the relationship between the poet and his father, and their contrasting experiences of belonging in a new land.

What ideas about belonging are presented?

The poem explores cultural belonging.
 Felix culturally belongs to Poland; it has shaped him immensely, through his memories, language and his friendships. He is at peace with and content in his garden in his new country.
 Migrant’s offspring often have more connection with the adoptive world and less connectedness with the “homeland” of their parents which is in fact the experience of the poet.
 The poet highlights the tension between different generations because of the differences in their feelings. The boy accepts the Australian culture and surrenders his Polish once.
 It is clear that he has deep affection and respect for his father and there is a strong idea of belonging as a family

Techniques
Technique
Hyperbole

Imagery

Examples
 “ten times around the world”
(paragraph 1)
 “why his arms didn’t fall off” (paragraph
2)





“Hands darkened/ from cement, fingers with cracks/like the sods he broke.
(paragraph 2)
“Bordered by golden cypress/lawnsgeraniums younger” (paragraph 6)

Personal pronoun




“my gentle father” (paragraph 1)
“I often wondered how he existed”
(paragraph 2)

Exclusive pronoun



“His polish friends” (paragraph 3)

Effects
 The hyperbole creates the sense that Felix spent a lot of time in the garden.
 This hyperbole creates a sense of his belonging in his setting, as he chooses to stay within these boundaries.
 Connotes the feeling that Peter skynecki admired his father for his enduring nature and determination.  Creates a sense of how hard he worked in the garden as well as at work.
 Emphasizes that his work is a labour of love, it conveys how he had a sense of contentment at this place.
 Reinforces that the poet loves and admires his father and has never been content.
 It connotes the feeling that Peter owned his father and felt that he related to his father.
 Shows the boys admiration for a man content with the simple things in life.
 Allows the poets own feelings of admiration and awe come through for his father.
 The change of pronoun emphasizes there was




Contrast




Metaphor

Simile







“Him complain of work” (paragraph 4)
“His dog, smoking” (paragraph 6)



“Watching stars and street lights come on” (paragraph 6)
“Happy as I have never been”
(paragraph 6)



“pegging my tents” (paragraph 7)
“who asked me in dancing bear grunts”
(paragraph 5)



“loved his garden like an only child”
(paragraph 1)
“Fingers with cracks /like the sods he broke” (paragraph 2)








Allusion



“Furthur and furthur south of hadrian’s wall” 




a distance between them and that it was growing more and more far apart.
The poet feels unease and detachment , due to ignorance of his father’s Polish culture. The division between the father’s culture and the boy’s world is opening up highlighting Peter’s disconnection with his father.
Allows the reader to picture the 2 different images side by side to make an judgment on how Felix Skynecki was satisfied and content with life,