Perspectives
When analysing a literary text, you may find it useful to put the text into perspective, for literature never stands alone, but it is influenced by context and other literary works. Below are some points you can consider in connection with “Freddy Andrews” by Polly Borland which will help you engage in a meaningful dialogue about the text.
- Periodical perspective
- Current issues; relevance today
- Societal perspective: Photo from Contexts
- Thematic perspective: "Going Home" by Archie Weller
- Textual perspective: Poem “The Past” by Oodgeroo Noonuccal
Periodical perspective
The story was published in 2000, along with a collection of portraits of Australians. Do you think the author might have been inspired by the photographic portraits to write the story?
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Societal perspective: Photo from Contexts
In your text book, there is a photo included with the short story. The picture depicts an Aboriginal with his traditional wear and body painting, sitting in a modern environment.
The Aboriginal sits on an armchair in a modern house with a TV next to him showing a cricket game. The picture is possibly satirical. Perhaps it suggests that Aboriginals cannot change even if they are taken out of their tribal environment.
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Thematic perspective: “Going Home”
As you have seen, “Freddy Andrews” is a story about identity and racial bias in Australia. Another story touching upon the same topic is “Going Home” by Archie Weller.
“Going Home” tells the story of an Aboriginal young man who travels back to the camp of his tribe, after he had tried many years to forget his ethnic origins. Back at the camp, he comes again face to face with the prejudices the local community has about Aboriginals and ends up being arrested for a theft his brother committed.
The story, just like “Freddy Andrews”, depicts the inner identity conflict of the protagonist - Billy Woodworth.
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Textual perspective: Poem “The Past”
In Contexts, you are asked to write a poem inspired by the photo of the Aboriginal in a modern setting and then compare it to the poem “The Past” by Oodgeroo Noonuccal. Here are some points about “The Past” which might be useful in your comparison.
“The Past” by Oodgeroo Noonuccal can be read as a lyrical argument against the idea that the past has no effect on the present. The first-person speaker describes the way in which the past influences her present life, how she is aware of her Aboriginal origins.
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