Feliks SkrzyneckiFeliks Skrzynecki The poem details persona’s The poem details persona’s reflection on the father he deeply reflection on the father he deeply loves and respects.loves and respects.It describes persona’s father, Feliks, It describes persona’s father, Feliks, and their changing relationship.and their changing relationship.Conflict is generated between the Conflict is generated between the two as a result of the persona further two as a result of the persona further becoming further embedded in becoming further embedded in Australian culture.Australian culture.Information on Feliks is provided by Information on Feliks is provided by the poet’s memory and the poet’s memory and reminiscences. The impact on Feliks’ reminiscences. The impact on Feliks’ experiences is as a strong for the son experiences is as a strong for the son as it is for the father.as it is for the father.The persona recognises in maturity The persona recognises in maturity that his father understood the gap that his father understood the gap that existed between them. Feliks that existed between them. Feliks knew that persona would come to knew that persona would come to treasure his heritage in later years treasure his heritage in later years after an initial dislocation from it.after an initial dislocation from it.

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Feliks creates a place to belong in his garden.Feliks creates a place to belong in his garden. Feliks has created a place to belong by surrounding himself with Feliks has created a place to belong by surrounding himself with

rewarding physical activity.rewarding physical activity. Feliks’ bond with his past is a barrier to belonging.Feliks’ bond with his past is a barrier to belonging. Persona belongs to his new home in Australia where he has grown up.Persona belongs to his new home in Australia where he has grown up. Wartime hardship influences Feliks’ capacity to belong in Australia.Wartime hardship influences Feliks’ capacity to belong in Australia. Dealing with bureaucracy hinder belonging.Dealing with bureaucracy hinder belonging. Peter is intent on belonging to the culture he is growing up in.Peter is intent on belonging to the culture he is growing up in. Although Peter admires his father, the separation between them is Although Peter admires his father, the separation between them is

enduring and they do no share belonging experiences.enduring and they do no share belonging experiences. In many ways father and son remain strangers to each other, with In many ways father and son remain strangers to each other, with

individual attitudes towards belonging.individual attitudes towards belonging. Feliks belongs to and has a shared history with other Polish Feliks belongs to and has a shared history with other Polish

immigrants he socializes with.immigrants he socializes with.

St Patrick’s CollegeSt Patrick’s College The poem deals with the persona’s memory of school days.The poem deals with the persona’s memory of school days. The speaker gives an impression of his day-to-day life as a The speaker gives an impression of his day-to-day life as a

student.student. Connections are made between the beginning of school days and Connections are made between the beginning of school days and

their endings to highlight the persona’s questioning attitude their endings to highlight the persona’s questioning attitude towards some of his experiences.towards some of his experiences.

The end of the poem sees the persona cast his thoughts to the The end of the poem sees the persona cast his thoughts to the potential of his future outside of restrains of school.potential of his future outside of restrains of school.

Some important concepts to Some important concepts to remember:remember:

St Patrick’s College is a well-known St Patrick’s College is a well-known Roman Catholic school in Sydney that the Roman Catholic school in Sydney that the poet does not feel he belongs to.poet does not feel he belongs to.

Skrzynecki uses school-based jargon to Skrzynecki uses school-based jargon to illustrate the lack of person’s illustrate the lack of person’s understanding of his environment and understanding of his environment and highlight his sense of not belonging.highlight his sense of not belonging.

The persona’s religious education does The persona’s religious education does not contribute to his sense of belonging.not contribute to his sense of belonging.

Persona’s mother works hard to create a Persona’s mother works hard to create a place to belong, yet it differs to the young place to belong, yet it differs to the young boy’s idea of belonging.boy’s idea of belonging.

Ancestors Ancestors

The persona ponders and reflects on The persona ponders and reflects on who his ancestors were.who his ancestors were.

In asking a series of questions in his In asking a series of questions in his reflections he attempts to resolve reflections he attempts to resolve issues surrounding his identity. issues surrounding his identity. However, he feels burdened by his However, he feels burdened by his heritage.heritage.

The persona’s dark, nightmarish The persona’s dark, nightmarish setting and content heightens setting and content heightens persona’s sense of dislocation from persona’s sense of dislocation from his past.his past.

The poem ends with a negative The poem ends with a negative image, casting doubt on a resolution image, casting doubt on a resolution to the persona’s frustration.to the persona’s frustration.

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Persona explores issues surrounding his heritage and identity in his Persona explores issues surrounding his heritage and identity in his search for a sense of belonging.search for a sense of belonging.

Persona feels cut off from the past and this creates a barrier to Persona feels cut off from the past and this creates a barrier to belonging.belonging.

Persona is uncertain and uneasy about his future and there is no Persona is uncertain and uneasy about his future and there is no sense that he will achieve a sense of belonging.sense that he will achieve a sense of belonging.

Persona’s ancestors stand sentinel in solidarity against the poet, Persona’s ancestors stand sentinel in solidarity against the poet, creating a barrier to belonging.creating a barrier to belonging.

Persona’s ancestors hold the keys to his identity and his ability to Persona’s ancestors hold the keys to his identity and his ability to create a sense of belonging.create a sense of belonging.

10 Mary Street10 Mary Street

The poem details the daily routine of Peter's family.The poem details the daily routine of Peter's family.

It describes the family home, 10 Mary street in Regents Park in It describes the family home, 10 Mary street in Regents Park in south-western Sydney, the family’s first home after leaving the south-western Sydney, the family’s first home after leaving the migrant hostel.migrant hostel.

It reveals the security of home life from immigrant family’s point It reveals the security of home life from immigrant family’s point of view.of view.

The house represents safety and security and the family will The house represents safety and security and the family will experience loss and displacement when it is gone.experience loss and displacement when it is gone.

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rememberremember:: The house at 10 Mary Street has both The house at 10 Mary Street has both

literal and symbolic belonging literal and symbolic belonging significance.significance.

The garden is symbolic of where the The garden is symbolic of where the family belongs.family belongs.

Routine creates a sense of belonging in Routine creates a sense of belonging in the family’s day-to-day life.the family’s day-to-day life.

Imagery of the “old world” and European Imagery of the “old world” and European ways is warm and inclusive and reveals ways is warm and inclusive and reveals where the family feels they belong.where the family feels they belong.

Removal of their home represents their Removal of their home represents their lack of belonging to the Australia. lack of belonging to the Australia.

Migrant HostelMigrant Hostel

The persona reminisces about the The persona reminisces about the two years his family spent at the two years his family spent at the Parkes hostel for newly arrived Parkes hostel for newly arrived migrants.migrants.

The immigrants are forced to spend The immigrants are forced to spend this time in Parkes as a transition this time in Parkes as a transition into Australian society.into Australian society.

The poet conveys the immigrants’ The poet conveys the immigrants’ sense of isolation and dislocation sense of isolation and dislocation during this time.during this time.

The promise of new life is not quickly The promise of new life is not quickly realised and there is a sense of realised and there is a sense of enforced imprisonment at the hands enforced imprisonment at the hands of an unsympathetic bureaucracy.of an unsympathetic bureaucracy.

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rememberremember:: The inhabitants of the hostel come and go but no one seems to The inhabitants of the hostel come and go but no one seems to

have control or to have achieved a place to belong.have control or to have achieved a place to belong.

The immigrants continue to be haunted by their recent The immigrants continue to be haunted by their recent experiences that impact upon their ability to belong.experiences that impact upon their ability to belong.

The barrier at the main gate symbolises isolation from the outside The barrier at the main gate symbolises isolation from the outside world and acts as a barrier to belonging.world and acts as a barrier to belonging.

The family question whether they will achieve belonging in their The family question whether they will achieve belonging in their lives.lives.

The immigrants congregate in nationality groups to provide The immigrants congregate in nationality groups to provide mutual support and to create a transitory sense of belonging.mutual support and to create a transitory sense of belonging.

In the folk museumIn the folk museum The persona reminisces about a visit to The persona reminisces about a visit to

a folk museum.a folk museum. The museum is filled with information The museum is filled with information

and items relating to Australia’s rural and items relating to Australia’s rural history.history.

The experience forces the persona to The experience forces the persona to consider his own different heritage and consider his own different heritage and generates feelings of cultural isolation generates feelings of cultural isolation in him.in him.

The poem ends with the possibility for The poem ends with the possibility for the two cultures to meld. However, this the two cultures to meld. However, this is dismissed my the persona.is dismissed my the persona.

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rememberremember:: The museum transmits the poet’s feelings of mot belonging to The museum transmits the poet’s feelings of mot belonging to

Australian culture and generally not belonging anywhere.Australian culture and generally not belonging anywhere. Personification of the weather outside heightens feelings of not Personification of the weather outside heightens feelings of not

belonging.belonging. The persona feels further isolation by religion that adds to his The persona feels further isolation by religion that adds to his

feelings of not belonging.feelings of not belonging. The persona is in a hurry to leave, as he has not realised a sense The persona is in a hurry to leave, as he has not realised a sense

of belonging.of belonging. The caretaker is a faceless representative of Anglo past and The caretaker is a faceless representative of Anglo past and

culture who belongs to the local culture, unlike the persona.culture who belongs to the local culture, unlike the persona. In his quest to create a sense of personal belonging, persona In his quest to create a sense of personal belonging, persona

hopes for a connection between the two cultures by connecting hopes for a connection between the two cultures by connecting with the old woman at the door. Yet, they do not.with the old woman at the door. Yet, they do not.

Post Post cardcard

A friend traveling in Poland sends the persona a postcard showing A friend traveling in Poland sends the persona a postcard showing the historic center of Warsaw, his father’s home.the historic center of Warsaw, his father’s home.

It prompts a relationship with the city that poet has not yet It prompts a relationship with the city that poet has not yet acknowledged.acknowledged.

The postcard acts as a catalyst for the persona’ s sense of The postcard acts as a catalyst for the persona’ s sense of frustration about his identity.frustration about his identity.

The final section of the poem sees the persona acknowledge the The final section of the poem sees the persona acknowledge the significance of his heritage and his place.significance of his heritage and his place.

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The persona contemplates the image of the city he has never seen, but The persona contemplates the image of the city he has never seen, but that his parents “belong” to physically and emotionally.that his parents “belong” to physically and emotionally.

The persona feels Warsaw is a place he should belong to, yet is unable to The persona feels Warsaw is a place he should belong to, yet is unable to connect to.connect to.

The persona’s parents belong to Warsaw and have strong historical and The persona’s parents belong to Warsaw and have strong historical and cultural ties to the city.cultural ties to the city.

The persona feels marginalised by the scenes on the postcard that The persona feels marginalised by the scenes on the postcard that means so much to his parents, but that creates a barrier to belonging for means so much to his parents, but that creates a barrier to belonging for him.him.

The persona’s distant association with Warsaw contrasts with his parents’ The persona’s distant association with Warsaw contrasts with his parents’ love for the city and impact upon him achieving a sense of belonging.love for the city and impact upon him achieving a sense of belonging.

We are left wondering that perhaps persona will belong to the city one We are left wondering that perhaps persona will belong to the city one day.day.