Cloudstreet questions/resources? (1 Viewer)

[treelovinhippie]

Barely anyone seems to do this crap book.

We seemed to have rushed through it at the end of the year and I've barely got around to finishing it (and obviously won't have time to do so).

I've dug up the questions from past papers on cloudstreet from 2001. Can someone explain what exactly we need to explain/write/study?

Any other resources someone can help with?

cheers


questions 2004-2001:

In your answer you will be assessed on how well you:
* demonstrate understanding of the ideas expressed in the text
* evaluate the text’s reception in different contexts
* organise, develop and express ideas using language appropriate to audience, purpose
and form


Question 4 — Prose Fiction (20 marks)
‘Interpretations of texts can shift and change with time and place.’
Considering your time and place, reflect on the ways in which context has shaped your critical
interpretation of the prescribed text.
In your response, refer to TWO extracts from your prescribed text.
The prescribed texts are:
• Michael Ondaatje, In the Skin of a Lion
or
• Emily Brontë, Wuthering Heights
or
• Tim Winton, Cloudstreet


Question 3 — Prose Fiction (20 marks)
Compose an argument for or against the topic:
‘That every text has its use-by date.’
Consider your prescribed text’s ideas, language and form, and its reception in different contexts.
The prescribed texts are:
• Michael Ondaatje, In the Skin of a Lion
or
• Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre
or
• Tim Winton, Cloudstreet


Question 2 — Prose Fiction (20 marks)
Two people who value your prescribed text in different ways and for different reasons are
having a conversation.
Compose their conversation which should include consideration of the structure, language and
ideas of the text.
The prescribed texts are:
• Michael Ondaatje, In the Skin of a Lion
or
• Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre
or
• Tim Winton, Cloudstreet


Question 3 — Prose Fiction (20 marks)
Two readers are arguing about the ending of the prescribed text you have studied.
Compose their discussion. The discussion should demonstrate your critical understanding of
the prescribed text.
The prescribed texts are:
• Michael Ondaatje, In the Skin of a Lion
• Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre
• Tim Winton, Cloudstreet

 

[scoby_2000]

you have to talk about context, reception and values!

these are mainly dependant on eachother

e.g.

Winton's context (not in australia) is emphasised through nostalgia, which is explored within the book through the absence of spirituality (value) and line between the physical and metaphysical world (value). These values contribute to cloudstreets contentious reception.

 

[135ttree]

Winton's context (not in australia) is emphasised through nostalgia, which is explored within the book through the absence of spirituality (value) and line between the physical and metaphysical world (value). These values contribute to cloudstreets contentious reception.

the absence of spirituality? really? But if Cloudstreet constructs the line between the physical and the metaphysical as problematic, then doesnt that suggest the presence, or at least the important role of the metaphysical - ie: the Spiritual?

Consider also discussing postcolonialism and questions of identity and how it allows Cloudstreet to be recieved by a range of audiences.

 

[treelovinhippie]

Does anyone have an example essay that answers one of the above questions?

The standards packages don't seem to have anything.

 

[elsi]

Tim Winton and values in Cloudstreet

I posted this on another thread as well - something our teacher gave us

Winton’s preference for the country and less inhabited coastal land of north Perth
- acknowledges the impact of the Aust landscape while overseas (“the land had affected us”)
- idyllic times at Geraldton for Rose (p19); life for the Lambs at Margaret River (p26);
- Quick’s enjoyment of Roo shooting (p197)

2. Family – Winton professes to a sense of belonging and home. “I knew I was unconditionally safe”
- “good hard working people who don’t mince words”
- Lambs strong family ethos; description of family scenes with happiness and unity; Rose’s desire to return to Cloudstreet (p418-9); opening and closing episodes.

3. Gender Roles – likes to squander the high weeks of summer with family; his grandparent with sympathy for the men who were failed farmers, failed policemen, failed merchants
- the women ran the family, iron women
- a non-stereotypical masculinity
- none of the four main characters of Laster, Oriel, Sam and Dolly conform to stereotypes of traditional male/female roles e.g. Sam is poor provider as is Dolly’ Oriel really runs the Lamb household not Lester; Lester dances sings, bakes (p77) clash between Dolly and Oriel.

4. Spirituality – Christianity became a major influence on Winton’s imagination, the stories, the sense of community; apprehended God through the landscape “the church community was a place where I felt loved and looked after”
- the church lets the Lambs down but it’s harder to escape than you think e.g. Oriel has the bible in her tent; they still sing hymns
- spirituality is also privileged in the ghosts in the Library, the Blackfella, the stolen children

5. Community; the destruction of culture through developments and urban sprawl. This according to Winton threatens community and is “stripping the guts out of our culture”. “I worry about our national shrinking heart”
- Opening and ending of the novel privilege values about cloudstreet and the importance of community. After twenty years Sams decision not to sell the house.
- Rose and Quick’s sterile home in the new suburbs is abandoned in favour of cloudstreet. – Rose is depressed away when not at Cloudstreet and has anorexia

6.Eqlitarianism; Winton shows a strong commitment to the battler ethos represented by the two families. This is a contrast with the values represented by Toby Raven, , Rose’s first lover, a fake intellectualist
- this is also evident in the tenacity of the battler to survive and the inequalities that Winton sees in Aust. Society toady. Also note his love of slang and vernacular that are so much a part of social class and provide much of its colour, stories and humour
- note the way in which Lamb’s shop becomes a hub for much of what goes on in the house; Oriel describes life as a war.

 

[bonniejjj]

Here's a generic essay I wrote. It examines different aspects of spiritual and post-colonial readings. Also talks about textual integrity. Hope it helps someone.

 

[elsi]

very messy notes

Epigraph/Prologue/Ch 10 p422-424 ; Fish drowns

In these sections Winton positions the responder to share his affection for the characters and to see in their experience relevance and significance that is universal
This is achieved through 4 main techniques;
1. Winton echoes the content, tone, vocabulary and imagery of the Lowry “Shall We Gather At The River” intertextuality.
2. Winton evokes an Australian Identity – people and Landscape and vernecular e.g. skylarking
3. uses poeic, descriptive prose for an elevated effect. An atmosphere of energy
4. uses a particular narrative perspective, cyclic structure and weaves together the temporal, spiritual and physical

Feeling of abundance (food spilling from bags)
Personal tone (because, look)
River seen as a symbol of what is beyond - Fish’ll have it, and it’ll have him
Fish is enlisting our sympathy for the families