‘Belonging’ Essay
To a certain extent the different groups we belong to define who we are, however there are times when a certain group can separate you from belonging. Being accepted within a group defines who you are as you share similar qualities and morals, making it easier to be socially accepted and create relationships. On the other hand, you can physically belong to a group but not always emotionally belong as your individual beliefs create a barrier to belong. ‘Belonging’ is defined as ‘the right personal or social qualities to be a member of a particular group’ or to ‘fit a particular environment’. The themes and issues explored in Peter Skrzyneckis poems include filial relationships highlighted in the poem ‘Feliks Skrzyneckis’ …show more content…

The flashbacks are highlighted in the text through the darkening of the sepia tone to suggest the past, as well as the pain. This has effect of bonding the arrival to people with his new environment and slowly creating a place where he can belong. The consequences and affects of not belonging is that the arrival who is a migrant cannot understand his new environment so the process of belong can be slow and difficult and the arrivals separation from his loved ones makes belonging even more difficult. Filial relationships with different groups without a doubt define who we are.

Furthermore, the lack of spirituality and religion affects his place in belonging as a student. In the poem ‘St Patrick’s college’ the poet explores the effects of not belonging, and his physical existence within the school; however there are clear divisions in him not belonging in his schooling environment. This is portrayed throughout the last stanza as Skrzyneckis use of tone to emphasise his spiritual detachment from the religion practiced at school. This highlights the isolation –which had been most strongly introduced at the beginning in the distancing between mother and son which also gives a visual dimension in the sight of the boy “with closed eyes” (stanza 5, line 6). This is also demonstrated “I walked Strathfield’s paths and streets... like a