10 Mary Street

Skrzyneckis 10 Mary Street explores the power of a home to develop a

sense of familiarity and connectedness that contribute to an overall sense
of belonging.
Skrzynecki suggests that a sense of belonging develops between the
family and their home over the course of time through routine. This is
emphasised in For nineteen years we departed each morning, shut the
houseto school and work.
The inclusion of the collective pronoun we, Skrzynecki suggests that his
perceptions of belonging were shared by his family.
The use of simile in like a well-oiled lock implies to the responder that
this routine was functional, fluid and smooth which is also reflected
throughout the poem with the use of enjambment in the poem to imitate
the fluidity of their routine.
Additionally, the simile in my parents watered plantstendedlike
adopted children symbolises the attachment the parents have for their
property. When juxtaposed with the simile in Id ravage the backyard
garden like a hungry bird, Skrzynecki highlights that in return, the home
nourishes its occupants hence emphasising the symbiotic relationship
between family and home.
Furthermore, the personification of the house in the house stands in its
china-blue coat suggests that the family asserts pride and importance
upon their home, almost considering it to be another member of the
family. Through exploring the interdependent relationship between a home
and its occupants, Skrzynecki highlights to the responder how a sense of
belonging can be developed between an individual and place.

Additionally, Skrzynecki establishes the concept that a home allows individuals to

express their cultural heritage and identity. Through the use of visual, aural and
tactile sensory imagery in For nineteen yearsKept pre-war Europe alive with
photographs and latters, heated discussions and embracing gestures and
cultural illusions of Kielbasa, salt herringscherry brandy, Skrzynecki illustrates
how a home facilitated cultural expression in an era where migrants were forced
to supress their own culture in favour of assimilating into Australian culture.

St Patricks

The poem St Patricks College by Peter Skrzynecki explores the concept of

emotional alienation and the composers inability to develop a sense of
belonging towards his school, challenging the notion that a school fosters a
sense of belonging to a community.
Skrzynecki introduces the concept of alienation into the text through the
image of Our Lady watched with outstretched arms, her face overshadowed
by clouds, suggesting that in the school lacks vision and is indifferent to his
needs despite presenting a faade of welcoming and acceptance.
The association of the school motto Luceat Lux Vestra as a brand of soap
highlights Skrzynecki consciously disassociates himself from the school and its
values.
As a result, Skrzynecki never develops a sense of familiarity and
connectedness with the school, as exemplified in the simile Caught the 414
Bus like a foreign tourist, uncertain of my destination every time I got off.
Skrzyneckis disdain and emotional detachment towards the school is
emphasised further through the use of sarcasm in For eight years I carried
the blue, black and gold Id been privileged to wear.
Furthermore, the final metaphor That the darkness around me wasnt for the
best before I let my light shine highlights how Skrzyneckis lack of
connection with St Patricks prevented him from ever excelling.
Through highlighting the alienation and detachment between himself and his
school, Peter Skrzynecki suggests to the responder that a school lacks the
ability to develop a sense of belonging in a group and community.

Felix Skrzynecki

The poem Feliks Skrzynecki by Peter Skrzynecki explores the concept of

belonging to a culture, and its antithesis, cultural alienation.
Skrzyneckis father is depicted as having a strong sense of connection and
belonging to his homeland.
o The garden serves as a symbol for Skrzyneckis fathers homeland and
one of the remaining elements of his former life.
o Through the use of the simile loved like an only child, Skrzynecki
highlights the almost familial bond he shares with his former lifestyle
and culture.
o Furthermore, the use of hyperbole in Spent years walking its
perimeterswept its paths ten times round the world illustrates how
Skrzyneckis father would strive to ensure that he retained his Polish
heritage.
Despite the fact that Felix strong attachment to his own culture leaves him
alienated from Australian society as culture,
o Highlighted with the use of condescending tone in Did your father
ever attempt to learn English?.
o The use of bestial imagery to describe the speaker as a dancing bear
grunt suggests that such criticisms and opinions do not faze Feliks,
further highlighting to the responder the strong connection and sense
of belonging between Feliks and his Polish culture and heritage.
However, Skrzynecki also explores the concept of cultural alienation.
o Skrzynecki, as a result of migrating at a young age, is disconnected
from Polish identity and finds its cultural behaviours bizarre as
emphasised with the use of high modality in His Polish friends always
shook hands too violently, and also through the ellipses and italics in
Felix Skrzynecki, that formal address Id never gotten used to,.
o The growing rift between Skrzynecki and his cultural roots is
epitomised in the metaphor pegging my tents further and further
south of Hadrians Wall, symbolising that as he integrates and
assimilates into Australian culture, he will drift further and eventually
all but lose his connection with his Polish heritage.

Migrant Hostel

Through the composition of Migrant Hostel Peter Skrzynecki reveals the

struggles faced by migrants as they strived to find a sense of belonging and
connectedness in an alien environment.
o The opening lines No one kept count of the comings and goings
arrivalsbusloads highlight that the incarcerated migrants were
neglected and constantly moved in and out of the hostel.
o When combined with the lack of characterisation and objectification of
the migrants as sudden departures, Skrzynecki highlights how the
constantly changing nature of the camp prevented the development of
connections and relationships, leaving migrants disconnected and
alienated.
o Furthermore, through the image of the barrier in A barriersealed off
the highway from our footstep, and the simile as it rose and like a
finger; pointed in reprimand or shame, reinforces the notion that the
migrants were branded like criminals and not accepted as part of the
wider Australian Community
An emphasis also lays on the importance of belonging to a community.
o Through the incorporation of the simile Nationalities sought each
other instinctively like a homing pigeon, Skrzynecki highlights the
natural tendency of humans to seek out and create relationships with
those of similar backgrounds and how it served as a means of
reassuring personal and social identity in an alien environment.
o Also, the repetition of collective possessive pronouns such as us, our
and we creates a sense of inclusiveness between the migrants and
Skrzyneckis family, highlighting how the challenges and tribulations
presented by the migrants alienation in the hostel united and
connected them.

Post Card

Post Card by Peter Skrzynecki explores the personal conflict between

retaining old cultural heritage and assimilating into a new society and culture.
As a result of migrating at a young age, Skrzynecki never developed any
connections or empathy towards his homeland Poland.
o However upon receiving a postcard of Warsaw, lingering memories and
stories of Warsaw begin to haunt him, foreshadowing inner conflict
and highlighting his unease to reconnect with his cultural roots.
o Skrzynecki attempts to distance himself with Warsaw a symbol of
Poland, through the use of personification and high modality in
Warsaw, Old Town, I never knew you, dramatizing and emphasising
his distance between his homeland. The mono syllabic imperative Let
me be further demonstrates Skrzyneckis desire to be disconnected
from Warsaw and Poland.
However, Skrzyneckis attitude towards his choice not to reconnect and
belong with his cultural roots changes as he is torn between retaining his
former heritage and Australian culture.
o His lack of connection between both Polish and Australian is
exemplified with the juxtaposition of My fatherof your domes and
towers, my mother will speakUkraine, and the rhetorical question
Whats my choice to be?, highlighting his lack of national
identification and his anxiety to completely let go of his heritage.
o Skrzyneckis inner conflict is epitomised through the personification of
the tree in A lone tree whispers we will meet before you die,
implying that despite Skrzynecki initially disregarding his Polish culture
and heritage, if he wishes to find solace, he will be forced to reassess
the nature of his relationship with his homeland.

Ancestors

In Ancestors, Skrzynecki explores the fragmented and disjointed relationship

between himself and his ancestors- illustrating how a lack of a common past
and culture may prevent the development of a sense of belonging.
o Due to migrating at a young age, Skrzynecki finds himself disconnected
with his Polish identity and his familys past. Consequently he finds
himself disconnected with his ancestors.
o An inquisitive tone is created through the repetition of rhetorical
questions in Who are the shadows? and Why do their eyes never
close? implying that Skrzynecki yearns to learn about his ancestors
and their heritage, but is unable to develop a connection with them
due to the lack of understanding of his own culture.
o As a result, he perceives his ancestors as intimidating wraith like
figures as suggested through the imagery in shadows that hang over
you in a dream.
o The alienation between Skrzynecki and his ancestors is highlighted
further through the alliteration in faceless men standing shoulder to
shoulder, emphasising the contrast between the unity of his ancestors
who surround the encircled and isolated Skrzynecki.
o Furthermore, Skrzynecki cannot develop any connections with his
ancestors because he does not understand the language of his
ancestors Polish, as suggested through the rhetorical question What
secrets do they whisper into the darkness?, highlighting to the
responder how a lack of a common culture inhibits the development of
a sense of connectedness and belonging.

In the Folk
Museum

Through the composition of In the Folk Museum, Peter Skrzynecki illustrates

the uneasiness that arises when one is unable to belong with another culture.
The folk museum represents the history and culture of the rural Australian
community.
Skrzynecki however, cannot identify himself with what the museum
showcases.
Consequently, finds the museum boring and dull as suggested through the
personification of the colours of autumn in autumnstands at the door
dressed in yellow and brown contrasted with darkness in the rooms which
suggests that he perceives the museum as being devoid of liveliness and
excitement, while the outside world appears lively and dynamic
The monotonous tone used to list the museum artefacts in Hay knife,
draining plough, shoulder yoke emphasises Skrzyneckis lack of connection
and appreciation for what the museum showcases, highlighting to the
responder emotional detachment and indifference that arises as a lack of
belonging.
Skrzyneckis sense of alienation from the museum is highlighted further
through the use of tactile imagery in the grey clay bottle thats as cold as
water to touch indicating a lack of emotion and understanding towards the
museums artefacts and their meaning
Also, the use of repetition in Eternity, Eternity is repeated from the readers
text suggests that Skrzynecki will never have the ability to develop a sense of
belonging towards the museum and the culture it embodies, for he lacks any
form of common identity to associate himself with it.
With the alliteration of the w sound in Without wanting a final look,
Skrzynecki reflects the speed and haste in which he departs from the museum
in order to alleviate his feelings of disconnection and alienation.
However, the final question Would you sign the visitors book? suggests that
despite Skrzyneckis attempts to assimilate with the Australian culture, he is
still a foreigner and an outsider, a common belief that reverberated
throughout Australian society.