Inheritance by Hannie Rayson VCE Unit 3 English Outcome One: Reading and Responding Nirvana Rose Watkins Sale College 2008

Key Questions What is this rural ‘crisis’ that we keep hearing about?

What is this rural ‘crisis’ that we keep hearing about?

Key Questions To whom does the land belong? Inter-generationally Culturally Small and large scale “ Mate, the land belongs to the people who work it” - Maureen

To whom does the land belong?

Inter-generationally

Culturally

Small and large scale

Key Questions What is the effect of endemic racism of the Hanson era? Pauline Maureen

What is the effect of endemic racism of the Hanson era?

“ I love…theatre that engages with the political and ethical forest in which we all lead our lives…” - Hannie Rayson, The Bulletin , 2002

Structure Short-faced paced scenes Quotations and ideas often linked between scenes Centred on family reunion This is the narrative centrepiece from which all tension is derived and revolves Flashbacks Whole scenes and within scenes Ghostly dimensions (eg. Act I, Sc. 20; Act II, Sc. 1) First Act ends with a crisis  Act II – Maureen’s ascension and the funeral

Short-faced paced scenes

Quotations and ideas often linked between scenes

Centred on family reunion

This is the narrative centrepiece from which all tension is derived and revolves

Flashbacks

Whole scenes and within scenes

Ghostly dimensions (eg. Act I, Sc. 20; Act II, Sc. 1)

First Act ends with a crisis  Act II – Maureen’s ascension and the funeral

Symbolism Tossed coin = ‘destiny’ vs. ‘duty’ for Dibs and Girlie

Tossed coin = ‘destiny’ vs. ‘duty’ for Dibs and Girlie

Symbolism Two sides to Lyle: pigeons and weapons (gun and whip) = gentle vs. violent

Two sides to Lyle: pigeons and weapons (gun and whip) = gentle vs. violent

Symbolism Nugget and Farley’s hat = connection between father and son

Nugget and Farley’s hat = connection between father and son

Symbolism Black dog = a euphemism for depression; a link between Norm Myrtle and Lyle Delaney, and the cyclical patterns within the family

Black dog = a euphemism for depression; a link between Norm Myrtle and Lyle Delaney, and the cyclical patterns within the family

Dramatic Conventions Flashbacks Offer historical perspective Show repetition of patterns over time (cyclical continuity) Prologue and Epilogue Romanticising the past Providing closure? Direct address to the audience Asides, speeches, humour

Flashbacks

Offer historical perspective

Show repetition of patterns over time (cyclical continuity)

Prologue and Epilogue

Romanticising the past

Providing closure?

Direct address to the audience

Asides, speeches, humour

Dramatic Conventions continued Characterisation Characters embody political views and values Language and vernacular Shows contrasts between characters (eg. Felix and Lyle) Off-stage noises Eg. ‘Almighty crash’ of Lyle driving into the bank p.94 Body language/stage directions Silence/pauses, ‘beat’: Act I, Sc. 11; Act II, Sc. 12 = dramatic punctuation

Characterisation

Characters embody political views and values

Language and vernacular

Shows contrasts between characters (eg. Felix and Lyle)

Off-stage noises

Eg. ‘Almighty crash’ of Lyle driving into the bank p.94

Body language/stage directions

Silence/pauses, ‘beat’: Act I, Sc. 11; Act II, Sc. 12 = dramatic punctuation

Comic Elements Raucous jokes ‘ Donger’ jokes; ‘faggot races’ Lyle and Nugget’s impotent fight and subsequent joking at funeral: “You’ll keep” Graveyard scene Tragic comedy serves the purpose of both lightening the load of the tension and reflecting reality more accurately: Life isn’t all melancholia

Raucous jokes

‘ Donger’ jokes; ‘faggot races’

Lyle and Nugget’s impotent fight and subsequent joking at funeral: “You’ll keep”

Graveyard scene

Tragic comedy serves the purpose of both lightening the load of the tension and reflecting reality more accurately: Life isn’t all melancholia

Themes: Family Conflict Secrets Cycles Favouritism: winners and losers ‘ Sins of the fathers’ Norm  Dibs and Girlie (suicide, duty) Farley  William, Julia and Nugget (illegitimate) Lyle  Ashleigh and Brianna (suicide) Inheritance and entitlement: everyone has a claim Fate and fortune

Conflict

Secrets

Cycles

Favouritism: winners and losers

‘ Sins of the fathers’

Norm  Dibs and Girlie (suicide, duty)

Farley  William, Julia and Nugget (illegitimate)

Lyle  Ashleigh and Brianna (suicide)

Inheritance and entitlement: everyone has a claim

Fate and fortune

Themes: Clash of cultures City vs. Country Religious Irish Catholic vs. Presbyterian Class Rich vs. Poor Racial Aboriginal, European, Multi-cultural Gender Traditional male vs. female roles Sexual Gay vs. Straight Age Old vs. Young Duty vs. Freedom

City vs. Country

Religious

Irish Catholic vs. Presbyterian

Class

Rich vs. Poor

Racial

Aboriginal, European, Multi-cultural

Gender

Traditional male vs. female roles

Sexual

Gay vs. Straight

Age

Old vs. Young

Duty vs. Freedom

Themes: More terms Sub-themes or concerns could also be described as: Prejudice and self-interest; Inheritance (and land) Duty/Freedom (and Luck/Fortune) Economy and society Race and multiculturalism Outsiders/insiders (favouritism) Politics and political correctness

Sub-themes or concerns could also be described as:

Prejudice and self-interest;

Inheritance (and land)

Duty/Freedom (and Luck/Fortune)

Economy and society

Race and multiculturalism

Outsiders/insiders (favouritism)

Politics and political correctness