Language and style

Here we address the language and the style of the poem “The Past” by Oodgeroo Noonuccal discussing more specific elements which can enhance your understanding of the text.

Playing with the language

At a first sight, the poem does not appear to be playing with language. On the contrary, it is quite narrative, like the speaker describes a dream. Notice also the inclusion of mundane things, such as the electric heater:

“Tonight here in suburbia as I sit
In easy chair before electric heater,”  (ll. 7-8)

However, at a closer look, you will notice the poem is very symbolical. The poet makes associations like the “accidental present” (l.4), “known and unknown” (l. 19), which suggest a certain wordplay.

Furthermore, even the electric radiator (l. 21) is, at a deeper level, more than part of the decorum. It is a symbol of a present devoid of connection with nature, in opposition with the distant past when the tribe of the speaker lived in connection with the natural elements.  

Another way the poet plays with language is by jumbling word order, using inverted syntax, which reminds readers that this is still a lyrical account:

“Now is so small a part of time, so small a part
Of all the race years that have moulded me.”  (ll. 26-27)

Tense of the verbs

In the poem, the speaker combines various present tense forms. She uses mostly present tense simple, but also the gerund and present perfect simple.

The use of present tense simple is used to emphasise the overlapping of the past with the present. They both seem to coexist at the same time.

• Actual present: “Tonight here in suburbia as I sit” (l. 7)
• Past experienced as the present: “The tall surrounding trees that stir in the wind” (l. 15)

Furthermore, in her dream, all the memories of the past seem to happen in a continuous, never-ending flow, hence the use of the gerund:

“My own people, sitting on the ground,”  (l.12)
Making their own music,”  (l. ...