The Simple Gift - Notes

The Simple Gift Study Notes for Essay * First person account brings a direct understanding of the experiences and perspectives of each character and to each other. * The lyrical format brings a harmonious quality to the interactions and expressions. * The novel stands as a metaphor for life within a challenging social and family structure – and the seamless way in which children often live their lives homeless without being detected. * The novel has a swift reading style and an appeal for reluctant readers, which enhances its ability to convey meaning. * Billy’s compassion and gratitude allowed Caitlin and Old Bill see and live their own lives differently. * Billy rejects himself as a reject, a thief and a troubled character. * The frequent use of creative, strong imagery aids in presenting the idea of belonging from each character’s point of view. * Billy describes his house as a “shithole” in “nowheresville”, which displays the image of Billy lacking a real home, and does not belong in his own house. * A consequence of Billy’s unanswered need for belonging is his low self-esteem and his lack of an identity. * Billy is alienated and believes the only way of getting past this is attempting to be accepted in a different social environment. * The cause of Billy’s alienation appears to be the physical and psychological abuse of his father, the absence of a caring parent in his life (possibly his mother), and his neglected, run-down neighbourhood, which he constantly refers to as “deadbeat”, “downtrodden” and a “no-hoper”. This paints an image of a lonely, decrepit, depressing environment. * Billy is lost until he is finally accepted in Bendarat by Caitlin and Old Bill. * The novel demonstrates the importance and need of belonging to a certain social group and the negative effects of alienation. * The poem “Sport” portrays the “pain and suffering” of Billy due to the “soulless tyranny” of his father “the old