peter skzynecki
How is belonging represented in “migrant hostel”? - Amanda Weekes
Belonging is a sense of enlightenment felt when an individual gains an understanding of themselves in relation to others and the wider world. The poem “migrant hostel”, written by Peter Shkrzynecki looks at the way in which someone is able to belong to the people in a place without feeling a connection to the place itself. This poem explores both belonging and barriers to belonging through the use of language techniques. These techniques explore an individual’s relation to people and places.
Feeling a sense of belonging to the people around you is explored in the poem “migrant hostel”. This is seen by incorporation inclusive language through the use of pronouns as well as the use of high modality statements. The pronouns “we”, “us” and “our” are used throughout the poem as inclusive language to explain his relationship with the people surrounding him. In effect, these connections show the prevalence of belonging experienced by the individual whilst living in the hostel. Another example of where belonging to people is explored in the poem is through the second stanza “Nationalities sought each other out instinctively”. This high modality statement tells us that people living in the hostel tended to gather unconsciously into groups of people with similar backgrounds or experiences. The effect of this on the audience is the sense of everyone in the hostel having their own group in which they belonged, generally divide into groups of likeminded people, creating the feel of belonging.
Although belonging is clearly explored in the poem, there are also barriers of belonging prevalent within “Migrant Hostel”. These barriers to belonging are conveyed using simile’s and high modality statements. These languages techniques explore barriers to belonging through the theme of belonging to a place. In this case, the place in which they don’t feel a sense of belonging to is the hostel. “For over 2 years we
Belonging is a sense of enlightenment felt when an individual gains an understanding of themselves in relation to others and the wider world. The poem “migrant hostel”, written by Peter Shkrzynecki looks at the way in which someone is able to belong to the people in a place without feeling a connection to the place itself. This poem explores both belonging and barriers to belonging through the use of language techniques. These techniques explore an individual’s relation to people and places.
Feeling a sense of belonging to the people around you is explored in the poem “migrant hostel”. This is seen by incorporation inclusive language through the use of pronouns as well as the use of high modality statements. The pronouns “we”, “us” and “our” are used throughout the poem as inclusive language to explain his relationship with the people surrounding him. In effect, these connections show the prevalence of belonging experienced by the individual whilst living in the hostel. Another example of where belonging to people is explored in the poem is through the second stanza “Nationalities sought each other out instinctively”. This high modality statement tells us that people living in the hostel tended to gather unconsciously into groups of people with similar backgrounds or experiences. The effect of this on the audience is the sense of everyone in the hostel having their own group in which they belonged, generally divide into groups of likeminded people, creating the feel of belonging.
Although belonging is clearly explored in the poem, there are also barriers of belonging prevalent within “Migrant Hostel”. These barriers to belonging are conveyed using simile’s and high modality statements. These languages techniques explore barriers to belonging through the theme of belonging to a place. In this case, the place in which they don’t feel a sense of belonging to is the hostel. “For over 2 years we