Name: ______________________________
SENIOR LITERACY
Theme study
This resource supports your study and records of the chosen theme for the year and is where you will store
your notes for Achievement Standards 2.7: Analyse significant connections across texts, supported by
evidence (internal, 4 credits)
1
Achievement Standard English 91104: Analyse significant connections across texts,
supported by evidence (2.7)
Assessment Criteria
Achievement
Analyse significant connections
across texts, supported by evidence.

Achievement with Merit
Analyse significant connections
across texts convincingly, supported
by evidence.
Achievement with Excellence
Analyse significant connections
across texts perceptively, supported
by evidence.
You will be required to read at least four texts. The texts can be any combination of written, visual,
and/or oral and short and/or extended.

You will study three of the texts in class. You will study one text on your own. It is important that you check
with your teacher first to see if the text is at the appropriate level of the curriculum.

You will explore the theme of ‘identity’ and analyse the significant connections between the texts.

Your preparatory work can be done at home but the final written report must be written in class.

You teacher will guide you but all work must be done independently, you must make your own connections
between the texts and draw your own conclusions.
The task is as follows:
A) You will develop at least three questions related to the theme of identity.
B) You will analyse each text to find the answer to each of these questions.
C) You will complete an information grid to show how your thematic questions are answered in each
of your texts.
D) You will complete an information grid to record the significant connections between each of your
texts. You will identify at least two significant connections between the texts. You will make
reasoned points that interpret the links that you have identified between the texts. You will
support your ideas with evidence.
E) You will present your findings in an oral presentation. Your script will be assessed for (2.4) and your
oral presentation will be assessed for (2.5).
This year you need to select four texts from a variety of genres, which have connections between them
that you can analyse. The connecting aspect will be the theme of for identity.
2
What does identity mean?
Personal identity is the way we see ourselves. The things that make us who we are. The
things that make us understand our role in this world and our meaning in life. There are
many factors which affect our identity. Some of these are:

culture

nationality

education

finances

language

family

religion

beliefs

work or career

values

friends
You may choose to analyse one or more of these factors. You may choose to address issues
such as:

What factors define a character’s identity

How and why one or more of these factors define a character

How and why a character’s sense of identity changes over time

A character’s understanding (or lack of understanding) of their own identity

The factors which create difficulties for them finding their identity

How their sense of identity is defined by external or internal factors
You may choose to analyse one or more of these factors. You may choose to address issues such as:





What factors define a character’s identity
How and why one or more of these factors define a character
How and why a character’s sense of identity changes over time
A character’s understanding (or lack of understanding) of their own identity
The factors which create difficulties for them finding their identity
3
HOW is a THEME shown in a text?
When trying to identify a theme, examine the relations among the parts of the story and the relations of
the parts to the whole:
Characters: What kind of people does the text deal with? What defines them? What difficulties do they
have? What makes them feel they belong?
Plot: What do the characters do? Are they in control of their lives, or are they controlled by fate?
Motivation: Why characters behave the way they do, and what motives dominate them?
Style: How does the author present reality? Does he use short or long sentences (in a novel/short
story/play/film)? What kind of paragraphs / stanzas (in poetry) are there? Are they short and
conversational or are they long and involved? What is the rhythm of the poem (in poetry)? Is the work
divided up? If so, how and where?
Tone: What is the author’s attitude towards his subject?
Values: Does it seem like the author is making a value judgement? What are the values of the
characters/speaker in the story/poem? What values does the author seem to promote?
REMEMBER that theme, plot, and structure are inseparable, all helping to inform and reflect back on each
other. Also be aware that a theme we determine from a story never completely explains the story. It is
simply ONE OF THE ELEMENTS THAT MAKE UP THE WHOLE. The theme allows the author to control or
give order to his perceptions about life.
4
Suggested texts which may help you explore the theme of identity.
Novels
Snow Falling on Cedars
David Guterson
Small Island
Andrea Levy
White Teeth
Zadie Smith
The Color Purple
Alice Walker
My Beautiful Launderette
Hanif Kureishi
The Buddha of Suburbia
Hanif Kureishi
Things Fall Apart
Chinua Achebe
The Kite Runner
Khaled Hosseini
A Thousand Splendid Suns
Khaled Hosseini
The Van
Roddy Doyle
Wild Swans
Jung Chang
The Unbearable Lightness of Being
Milan Kundera
The Cellist of Sarajevo
Steven Galloway
Mao’s last dancer
Cunxin, Li
The Ties that Bind, Ties that Break
Lensey Namioka
The Good Women of China
Xinran
What the Chinese don’t Eat
Xinran
Memoires of a Geisha
Arthur Golden
The Road Home
Rose Tremain
Brick Lane
Monica Ali
The White Tiger
Aravind Adiga
Never Let Me Go
Kazuo Ishiguro
The Secret Lives of Bees
Gina Prince-Bythewood
Films
Into the Wild
Sean Penn
Pushing Hands
Ang Lee
Eat Drink Man Woman
Ang Lee
The Colour Purple
Steven Spielberg
The Namesake
Mira Mair
Thelma and Louise
Ridley Scott
Oranges and Sunshine
Jim Loach
Good Will Hunting
Gus Van Sant
The Secret Lives of Bees
Gina Prince-Bythewood
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IDENTITY ANALYSIS
TEXT 1
Text:
Author / director / poet / playwright:
Genre:
QUESTION ONE:
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________.
Explain how this question was answered by the text. Consider the characters, the plot, the style (language),
the setting, the tone, and symbols.
Provide quotations and details in your answer.
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QUESTION TWO:
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________.
Explain how this question was answered by the text. Consider the characters, the plot, the style (language),
the setting, the tone, and symbols.
Provide quotations and details in your answer.
7
QUESTION THREE:
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________.
Explain how this question was answered by the text. Consider the characters, the plot, the style (language),
the setting, the tone, and symbols.
Provide quotations and details in your answer.
8
In what way does the text comment on society?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________.
In what way(s) does this text lead the reader to reconsider his/her values and/or beliefs?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________.
In what ways has this text helped you to understand a situation unfamiliar to you?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________.
In what ways has this text helped you to understand a situation that is familiar to you?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________.
How is this text similar or different from something else you have read or viewed this year? Give details
and quotations in your answer.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________.
Evaluate the effectiveness of the text you have studied at presenting the theme.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________.
Copy and memorize key quotes which relate to the main theme of the text. Beneath each quote write a
sentence or two about it. E.g. identify its location in the text, characters involved, outline the incident and
explain why the text is significant.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________.
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TEXT 2
Text:
Author / director / poet / playwright:
Genre:
QUESTION ONE:
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________.
Explain how this question was answered by the text. Consider the characters, the plot, the style (language),
the setting, the tone, and symbols.
Provide quotations and details in your answer.
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QUESTION TWO:
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________.
Explain how this question was answered by the text. Consider the characters, the plot, the style (language),
the setting, the tone, and symbols.
Provide quotations and details in your answer.
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QUESTION THREE:
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________.
Explain how this question was answered by the text. Consider the characters, the plot, the style (language),
the setting, the tone, and symbols.
Provide quotations and details in your answer.
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In what way does the text comment on society?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________.
In what way(s) does this text lead the reader to reconsider his/her values and/or beliefs?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________.
In what ways has this text helped you to understand a situation unfamiliar to you?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________.
In what ways has this text helped you to understand a situation that is familiar to you?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________.
How is this text similar or different from something else you have read or viewed this year? Give details
and quotations in your answer.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________.
Evaluate the effectiveness of the text you have studied at presenting the theme.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
14
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________.
Copy and memorize key quotes which relate to the main theme of the text. Beneath each quote write a
sentence or two about it. E.g. identify its location in the text, characters involved, outline the incident and
explain why the text is significant.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________.
15
TEXT 3
Text:
Author / director / poet / playwright:
Genre:
QUESTION ONE:
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________.
Explain how this question was answered by the text. Consider the characters, the plot, the style (language),
the setting, the tone, and symbols.
Provide quotations and details in your answer.
16
QUESTION TWO:
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________.
Explain how this question was answered by the text. Consider the characters, the plot, the style (language),
the setting, the tone, and symbols.
Provide quotations and details in your answer.
17
QUESTION THREE:
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________.
Explain how this question was answered by the text. Consider the characters, the plot, the style (language),
the setting, the tone, and symbols.
Provide quotations and details in your answer.
18
In what way does the text comment on society?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________.
In what way(s) does this text lead the reader to reconsider his/her values and/or beliefs?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________.
In what ways has this text helped you to understand a situation unfamiliar to you?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________.
In what ways has this text helped you to understand a situation that is familiar to you?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________.
How is this text similar or different from something else you have read or viewed this year? Give details
and quotations in your answer.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________.
Evaluate the effectiveness of the text you have studied at presenting the theme.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
19
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________.
Copy and memorize key quotes which relate to the main theme of the text. Beneath each quote write a
sentence or two about it. E.g. identify its location in the text, characters involved, outline the incident and
explain why the text is significant.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________.
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TEXT 4
Text:
Author / director / poet / playwright:
Genre:
QUESTION ONE:
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________.
Explain how this question was answered by the text. Consider the characters, the plot, the style (language),
the setting, the tone, and symbols.
Provide quotations and details in your answer.
21
QUESTION TWO:
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________.
Explain how this question was answered by the text. Consider the characters, the plot, the style (language),
the setting, the tone, and symbols.
Provide quotations and details in your answer.
22
QUESTION THREE:
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________.
Explain how this question was answered by the text. Consider the characters, the plot, the style (language),
the setting, the tone, and symbols.
Provide quotations and details in your answer.
23
In what way does the text comment on society?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________.
In what way(s) does this text lead the reader to reconsider his/her values and/or beliefs?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________.
In what ways has this text helped you to understand a situation unfamiliar to you?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________.
In what ways has this text helped you to understand a situation that is familiar to you?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________.
How is this text similar or different from something else you have read or viewed this year? Give details
and quotations in your answer.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________.
Evaluate the effectiveness of the text you have studied at presenting the theme.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
24
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________.
Copy and memorize key quotes which relate to the main theme of the text. Beneath each quote write a
sentence or two about it. E.g. identify its location in the text, characters involved, outline the incident and
explain why the text is significant.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________.
25
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Name: _________________________________
2.7 analyse significant connections across texts, supported by evidence
The time has come to summarise your reading, to make your connections between the texts.
Firstly, you are going to summarise the connections you select on the A3 sheets provided. These will
form the basis of the planning needed for your final report.
Some important points to note:
-
-
-
You need to make MORE THAN ONE connection between the texts – this could be two, but our
recommendation is three or four. The significant connections may relate to:
 Purposes and audiences
 Ideas (themes)
 Language features
 Structures
You do NOT need to mention every text in every connection. The idea is to make comparisons,
and these could be differences or similarities.
You DO have to treat each text fairly evenly across the entire report – so use each text to make
at least one connection and use examples from each text. Evidence means use of specific and
relevant details from the text to support analysis.
One text must have been selected by you – you cannot achieve without at least four texts, one
of which was not studied in class.
Texts chosen should be appropriate to Level 7 of the curriculum.
Attach this sheet to your final report.
Achievement Criteria: AS 91104 Analyse significant connections across texts, supported
by evidence.
4 credits (Reading)
Achievement
Analyse significant connections
across texts, supported by evidence.
Achievement with Merit
Analyse significant connections
across texts convincingly, supported
by evidence.
Achievement with Excellence
Analyse significant connections
across texts perceptively, supported
by evidence.
Not Achieved
Resubmission needed
27
IDENTIFYING THE CONNECTIONS
Note that any connection that you find does not need to be evident in every text you have selected.
You can identify and record significant connections between texts in any way you wish. For example, you may wish to use a chart so that as you read, you
can note significant connections.
Text
Question 1
Question 2
Question 3
Evidence
28
Text
Question 1
Question 2
Question 3
Evidence
29
Text
Question 1
Question 2
Question 3
Evidence
30
31
Text
Question 1
Question 2
Question 3
Evidence
32
UNDERSTANDING ANALYSIS
The first word in each of the levels of the Achievement criteria is ANALYSE. It is vital to know what is meant
by the word in this context. The essay topic, which is more commonly an instruction than a question, will
name specifically the aspect of text that you are going to write about ( in this case it is going to be a
theme). The extra things that you are required to do are to comment on the details you have chosen and
relate them to the topic. You will write a formal essay of the following structure: S.X.E. (Statement,
eXample, Explanation).
The grade you get will depend on how much analysis you give and how clever that analysis is. Essays that
get the higher grades tend to be longer and have more supportive evidence, but the main reason for the
higher grade is that there is more, and more perceptive analysis.
Simple analysis includes explanations like these:
 What does it mean? E.g. Fire is a symbol of power, it can be used destructively or constructively.
 Why did the character(s) do or say this? This explains setting, plot, character – things within the
text.
 What difference did this make? This explains the importance of the details you have described and
how the theme is conveyed.
Perceptive analysis includes explanations like these:
 How does this fit in with things in the text? E.g. Is it part of the climax/contrast/parallel (main plot
– subplot) structure?
 How does this work? (Does it continue or complete a developing idea or mood? Or is it a change or
contradiction?)
 How does this make me feel? (How is the author/poet/director manipulating my feelings? Why?)
 What does this make me think? (How does this fit into the themes of the text?)
 How can this be linked to the world ‘beyond the text’? ( What cross-overs are there between the
author and his/her life or us and our lives on the one hand and the world inside the text on the
other?)
 How well does this work? (How appropriate, powerful, perceptive, clear or moving is the use of this
technique here?)
WRITING YOUR ORAL PRESENTATION
Your teacher will guide you through this process and you will have two weeks to draft an edit your script.
33
Assessment schedule: English 91104
Evidence/Judgements for Achievement
Evidence/Judgements for Achievement with Merit
Evidence/Judgements for Achievement with
Excellence
The student analyses significant connections across
texts with supporting evidence.
This means that the student:
 selects at least four texts
 self-selects at least one text
 uses any combination of written, visual, and/or oral
texts
 recognises and interprets significant connections
across texts, focused on any of:

knowledge, experience, and ideas

purposes and audiences

language features

structures
 may interpret connections other than thematic ones
 demonstrates an interpretation of the connections,
for example, by explaining how these common
aspects communicate ideas about such contexts as
human experience, society, and the wider world
 supports their findings with specific evidence from
the texts
 presents their findings in an appropriate form.
The student convincingly analyses significant
connections across texts with supporting evidence.
This means that the student:
 selects at least four texts
 self-selects at least one text
 uses any combination of written, visual, and/or oral
texts
 recognises and interprets significant connections
across texts, focused on any of:

knowledge, experience, and ideas

purposes and audiences

language features

structures
 may interpret connections other than thematic ones
 develops a reasoned and clear interpretation of the
connections, for example, explaining how these
common aspects communicate ideas about such
contexts as human experience, society, and the
wider world
 supports their findings with specific evidence from
the texts
 presents their findings in an appropriate form.
The student perceptively analyses significant
connections across texts with supporting evidence.
This means that the student:
 selects at least four texts
 self-selects at least one text
 uses any combination of written, visual, and/or oral
texts
 recognises and interprets significant connections
across texts, focused on any of:

knowledge, experience, and ideas

purposes and audiences

language features

structures
 may interpret connections other than thematic ones
 develops insightful and or original interpretations of
the connections, for example, explaining how these
common aspects communicate ideas about such
contexts as human experience, society and the
wider world
 supports their findings with specific evidence from
the texts
 presents their findings in an appropriate form.
34
35
REPORT EXEMPLARS
Grade Boundary: Low Merit
3.
The student refers to four texts and develops
generally reasoned and clear interpretations
of connections across 3 texts about:
alienation through stereotyping, racism and
characters that are perceived as being
different from the ‘norm’ supported by
evidence:
• ‘This is seen throughout society between
the young and old and we as humans often
stereotype about other cultures. This shows
that we often do not judge people individually
but instead as representatives of their
culture. This means that people can become
outsiders just because of their culture or
religion.’
The student develops a reasoned and clear
interpretation of alienation through cultural
stereotyping.
• ‘But using the analogy that I brought up
before we can see the old woman would be
representing the older generation of
Germany and it is their perception that has
given them this racist view of Negros.
Because of the changing world the older
generation feel insecure about their
surroundings and they take this out on
outsiders. There also can be a lot of
patriotism associated with ones’ country and
the older generation feel although these
outsiders who have a different skin colour
are not part of their country and do not
belong here.’ The student develops a
reasoned and clear interpretation of the old
lady’s actions.
• ‘If we look back to the 16th Century then it
was common for not just the older generation
but the whole population to have racist
views… there was a lack of knowledge about
evolution and science so religion played a
much bigger part of people’s lives than it
does today. The Jews were forced to wear a
red hat to make them identifiable in public
and this is an important point because it
implies that we should judge people based
on their religion.’ The student develops a
reasoned and clear interpretation of 16th
century views towards Shylock.
• ‘This quote shows that because Sergeant
Williams does not develop a well- structured
plan to protect himself and his team then
Colonel Read thinks that Sergeant Williams
does not value his life enough. Because of
this Sergeant Williams becomes an outsider
because his behavioral patterns are not
considered normal.’
36
The student develops a reasoned and clear
interpretation of alienation through
difference.
Student 3 page 1: Low Merit
The theme I’ve selected is alienation or outsiders. The texts I have selected are the play script the
Merchant of Venice written by William Shakespeare the poem Sad Joke on a Marae written by Apirana
Taylor, the short film Schwarzfahrer directed by Pepe Danquart and the Motion Picture The Hurt Locker
directed by Kathryn Bigelow. In this report I will discuss why people are made outsiders, how people treat
outsiders, what their treatment can result in and what this says about society overall.
In the feature length film ‘The Hurt Locker’ directed by Kathryn Bigelow there are two characters that could
be considered outsiders or aliens. These are Beckham who is a young Iraqi DVD salesmen and Sergeant
First Class William James who is the leader of an American Explosive Ordnance Disposal squad (EOD).
These people are considered outsiders because they do not behave like everyone else around them.
Beckham is considered over confident by the other soldiers especially considering his age and the situation
he is in. Sergeant Williams is considered too much a ‘wild man’ and others believe that he does not value
his life enough. This is shown in the quote ‘What’s the best way to... go about disarming one of these
things? —Colonel Read. ‘The way you don’t die, sir. ‘-Sergeant Williams ‘That’s a good one. That’s spoken
like a wild man. That’s good. ‘-Colonel Read. This quote shows that because Sergeant Williams does not
develop a well- structured plan to protect himself and his team then Colonel Read thinks that Sergeant
Williams does not value his life enough. Because of this Sergeant Williams becomes an outsider because
his behavioral patterns are not considered normal. This is also seen in the short film Schwarzfahrer
directed by Pepe Danquart when the old woman is obscenely racist to a Black Man on board a tram car.
The old woman would be considered an outsider because she is not following the ‘norm’ and behaving like
everyone else. She calls the Black Man a ‘nigger’, ‘cad’ and a ‘Hottentots’ and because this racism is not
tolerated in a modern society then she is considered an outsider. It is clear that the other passengers see
the old women as an outsider when they are glad to see her escorted off the train by the ticket officer
despite the fact the Black Man did eat her ticket. In the play The Merchant ofVenice written by William
Shakespeare the outsider of the play is Shylock. Not only is this because of his choice of religion (Judaism)
but this is also because of his Usury. Because this is forbidden by the Christians in the bible (Ps. 15:5;
Prov. 28:8; Jer. 15:10) and that Christianity was the dominate religion in the 16th Century then Shylock is
considered an outsider. When the Christian would lend money to each other then they would not charge
interest to each other and because Shylock is not lending money ‘gratis’ then he is considered not to be
following the trend and to be an outsider. Because Antonio deliberately deals money ‘gratis’ in an attempt
to sabotage Shylocks business then it shows that not only does Antonio consider Shylock an outsider but
he dislikes him for it. Over three different texts each written at different time periods we have seen that not
behaving like everybody else and going against the norm will make you an ‘outsider.’ This is clear evidence
that in society we must follow the trend or we will be considered ‘Aliens’. The problem is that everyone has
their own definitions of normal and this makes it difficult to avoid becoming an outsider in our society. In a
way we could all be considered outsiders in some way or another because every individual is unique and
that is what makes us who we are.
37
In the poem Sad Joke On a Marae by Apirana Taylor the speaker is challenged to speak Maori by the
Maori gods despite the fact that he does not know how and feels disconnected from his culture and does
not know how to speak Maori because he was never taught it at school. This is shown in the quote ‘Tihei
Mauriora I cried’ because the speaker is crying because even he knows that he is being disrespectful. He
feels helpless and say ‘Tihei Mauriora/ For that’s all I knew.’ This shows that when people attack or
challenge an outsider they are probably not aware of the circumstances that the person may be in. The
same lack of regard for feeling is also shown in the Short Film, Schwarzfahrer. In the text
In the motion picture The Hurt Locker the character Sergeant First Class James Williams James is often left
to himself and because of this he begins to smoke and starts gathering one ‘souvenir’ from each bomb
deposed of. This becomes a habit and very quickly Sergeant William has become mildly psychotic. He
counts every single bomb defused up and above eight hundred and seventy-three. This shows that when
people are treated like outsiders and are out casted that it impacts their life in a negative way. This very
same thing is seen in the play, The Merchant of Venice. In the play The Merchant ofVenice the character
Shylock reacts very violently to his treatment and his labeling of a ‘Jew’. He devises a murderous plan to kill
Antonio by cutting a pound of flesh from Antonio. At one point Shylock sits in the court room desperate for
blood while sharpening his knife on his shoe in front of Antonio. It is clear that it is Antonio’s treatment of
Shylock (which included spitting on him) which has driven Shylock to this point of self- despair and has
caused his psychopathic plan to become clear. This extreme reaction can contrast to the much smaller
outcomes that occurred in the short film Schwarzfahrer. In Schwarzfahrer the outcome of the treatment of
the outsiders has relatively small consequences. We felt although justice had been served because the old
woman had herself arrested by the ticket officer we still saw a very angered black man. While we do not
see the long term consequences in this text we do see the amount of anger that just a small amount of
alienation can cause (This was when the Black Man snatched the Old Woman ticket and ate it). This I
believe is foreshadowing what long term alienation cause and I believe that the director Danquart is using
this tram ride as an analogy for racism and outsiders. These two texts clearly demonstrate that the
treatment of outsiders has a negative impact on society overall. Alienation is the reason that bullying exists
and can lead to very destructive things in later life. However I do not believe that we can stop this treatment
of outsiders because every one of us is unique so there will always be something different about every one
of us and this will make everybody an outsider in some way or another.
Student 3 page 2: Low Merit
In the short film Schwarzfahrer there is blatant racism from the old woman towards the Black Man. But
using the analogy that I brought up before we can see the old woman would be representing the older
generation of Germany and it is their perception that has given them this racist view of Negros. Because of
the changing world the older generation feel insecure about their surroundings and they take this out on
outsiders. There also can be a lot of patriotism associated with ones’ country and the older generation feel
although these outsiders who have a different skin colour are not part of their country and do not belong
Schwarzfahrerthe character ‘the black man’ is abused and attacked verbally by the old Woman. The old
Woman says ‘They multiply like rabbits, everybody with each other. No surprise they all have AIDS.’directed at the black man and this shows she has no concern for his circumstances and manages to come
to this conclusion despite the fact that the Black Man has not said one word onboard the tram. The use of
Racism is also seen in the play, The Merchant of Venice. In the Play the Merchant ofVenice the character
Shylock is not liked because of his religion. In the courtroom scene the Duke and Antonio both refer to
Shylock not by his name but by his religion. This is shown when Antonio says; ‘I pray you, think you
question with the Jew.’ This shows that they are not treating Shylock as an individual and not taking his
feelings into account. This could not be clearer when the Duke says ‘Go one, and call the Jew into the
court.’ From these two texts we can see that people do not take circumstances into account when judging
someone or making accusations about them. This is seen throughout society between the young and old
and we as humans often stereotype about other cultures. This shows that we often do not judge people
individually but instead as representatives of their culture. This means that people can become outsiders
just because of their culture or religion.
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here. It is these reasons that were demonstrated throughout Schwarzfahrer that cause people (in particular
the older generation) to perceive people from other countries as outsiders and to have prejudice’s against
them. If we look back to the 16th Century then it was common for not just the older generation but the
whole population to have racist views, In the play
In this report much has been covered. We have seen that all over the world there will be outsiders and this will
be brought on by people not behaving ‘normally’. We have also seen that over the years we have developed
much as a species but our urge to be with people of our own race will always remain strong. Another
interesting point is that the long term effects of alienation can be devastating and it is the outsiders who are
more likely to commit the more violent crimes. We have also seen that people would often like judge others
with a clear lack of that persons feelings or their background. Overall I believe that if we take more
consideration and confront racism when it happens then our society could benefit immensely. The Merchant of
Venice we can see that most of the population had racist views. These views were not caused by insecurities
but instead because there was a lack of knowledge about evolution and science so religion played a much
bigger part of people’s lives than it does today. The Jews were forced to wear a red hat to make them
identifiable in public and this is an important point because it implies that we should judge people based on
their religion. This is still relevant in a modern society as we see religious garments such as the Burqa being
banned in France. This is a huge contrast from the play because we are attempting to stop us stereotyping and
putting ‘labels’ on people and cultures. This would show that as a society we have developed much from the
16th century and we have now begun to stop the racism and stereotyping that was such a big part of life in
Venice. If we look at the motion picture The Hurt Locker we can still see examples of racism and it would
appear although racism and conflict go hand in hand. In the motion picture The Hurt Locker we can see small
examples of racism but overall it is reduced in our modern society. In the film we see United States Soldiers and
Iraq police and war officials working towards a common goal; safety and peace for civilians. While we do see
the two groups working together when the day ends the two groups go their separate ways. The US soldiers
return to their base, a huge heavily protected barracks. This shows that while we can work together in
harmony, we still prefer to be separated and this shows that deep down we will always have a tendency to stay
with people of our own race. I believe that this is simply human nature and is something that we will never
overcome.
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