We are going by oodgeroo noonuccal

Analysis of "We Are Going" by Oodegeroo noonuccal

1. “We Are Going” by Oodgeroo Noonuccal Presented by: Freddy Baiwal  Josman Ghani Nigel Lawai Willie  Norhilman Bin Hussin Rachel Chin Mui Yin 1 SKBS2213 Selected Literary Works

2. “We Are Going” by Oodgeroo Noonuccal (Kath Walker) They came in to the little town A semi-naked band subdued and silent All that remained of their tribe. They came here to the place of their old bora ground Where now the many white men hurry about like ants. Notice of the estate agent reads: 'Rubbish May Be Tipped Here'. Now it half covers the traces of the old bora ring. 'We are as strangers here now, but the white tribe are the strangers. We belong here, we are of the old ways. We are the corroboree and the bora ground. 2 SKBS2213 Selected Literary Works

3. We are the old ceremonies, the laws of the elders. We are the wonder tales of Dream Time, the tribal legends told. We are the past, the hunts and the laughing games, the wandering camp fires. We are the lightening bolt over Gaphembah Hill Quick and terrible, And the Thunderer after him, that loud fellow. We are the quiet daybreak paling the dark lagoon. We are the shadow-ghosts creeping back as the camp fires burn low. We are nature and the past, all the old ways Gone now and scattered. The scrubs are gone, the hunting and the laughter. The eagle is gone, the emu and the kangaroo are gone from this place. The bora ring is gone. The corroboree is gone. And we are going.' 3 SKBS2213 Selected Literary Works

4. Significant Meaning of the Poem Pain of dispossession Cry for help from the aborigine's people White people are considered as ant since they are busy at work and hurrying like ant Bora grounds The aboriginals felt neglected and left out by the white people They are considered as strangers even though they are the real owner of the sacred island Treated like they don't belong in Australia 4 SKBS2213 Selected Literary Works

5. Bora Grounds 5 SKBS2213 Selected Literary Works

6. The eagle is gone, the emu and the kangaroo are gone from this place. The bora ring is gone. The corroboree is gone. And we are going.’ Portrays how the life of aboriginal would be Destroyed culture 6 SKBS2213 Selected Literary Works

7. Themes 7 SKBS2213 Selected Literary Works

8. Literary Devices 1. Personification " Thunderer after him, that loud fellow" (S4, L2) 2. Simile "White men hurry about like ants" (S1, L5) 3. Hyperbole "...town a semi-naked band subdued and silent" (S1, L1-2) 8 SKBS2213 Selected Literary Works

9. 4. Alliteration "...subdued and silent" (S1, L2) 5. Symbolism "We are the past, the hunts..." (S3, L3) 6. Repetition "The bora ring is gone, the corroboree is gone" (S5, L4-5) 7. Metaphor - "We are the lightning bolt over Gaphembah Hill" (S3, L4) 9 SKBS2213 Selected Literary Works

10. Tone Suffer from the dispossession and cultural disinheritance which results into lost of identity , spirituality , way of life , happiness and freedom Loss of hope Confused and worried DESPAIR, DEPRESSED, ANXIOUS 10 SKBS2213 Selected Literary Works

11. Mood Results from: The pain of dispossession of the aboriginals’ right to cultural acceptance. Ownership of their homeland The whittling away of the traditional aboriginal ways MELANCHOLY (A Deep And Long-lasting Sadness) & GLOOMY 11 SKBS2213 Selected Literary Works

12. Moral Values We must have enough courage and self-confidence to voice out our opinions and thoughts when someone is trying to overtake our roles, power and rights. We must uphold and maintain our traditions and culture and build a strong unity among each member of the community We must be patient no matter how hard the obstacles are We must love our country 12 SKBS2213 Selected Literary Works

13. Discussion Explain the meanings of "we are going" and state the differences of each meaning. Why do the whites have different perceptions on the bora ring? For the poem we are going, Oodgeroo Noonuccal was criticised for not being poetic. Why was she criticised for this poem? 13 SKBS2213 Selected Literary Works

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