aussie identity i had been only 19 analysis
The text I have decided to analyse through this written assessment is called ‘I Was Simply Nineteen’, but also passes by the names ‘Only Nineteen’ and ‘A Stroll inside the Light Green’. It was constructed by John Schumann, the lead singer/songwriter of the folk group Redgum. This evaluation will concentrate on topics like the poetic approaches used, just how Australian id is pictured, the effect the written text has on you and my opinions.
I used to be Only 19 tells the storyline of an Australian digger’s experiences preparing for, struggling with in, and reflecting upon the Vietnam War because an old man, psychologically and physically broken from the chemical substance defoliant Agent Orange.
Though it may seem such as a long time in the past ” the war resulted in mid 1975 ” the scars that left behind will not ever fade. David Schumann uses numerous graceful devices throughout his strike song. The most frequently used approaches include vocally mimic eachother (as is the same for the majority of lyrical songs), repetition, questions the teacher asks the class and countless of colloquialisms.
Many of the stated techniques ” as well as other folks in the tune ” supplied the reader/listener with a way to think about the theme of Australian identity. The colloquialisms applied to this ballad permit the reader to associate and relate to their own lifestyles nationwide. “Drinking tinnies ” an Australian vernacular term which means ‘drinking cans of beer’ ” connects with the stereotypically casual behaviour of pub attendees Right here. Schumann’s wide Australian highlight for the entirety of this piece also expresses a feeling of Australia.
Schumann makes a habit of bringing up genuine Australian and Thai locations. “Puckapunyal, “Canungra, “Shoalwater, “Townsville, “Nui Dat and “Vung Tau are some of the several places observed in this song. By citing factual towns/cities, Schumann creates yet another bond with the viewers, as most people would have been aware of at least one of these just before. The rhetorical questions used in this kind of have Aussie aspects to them. Schumann quotes “the Channel Eight chopper chills me to my feet, Channel Seven being a very well known Australian tv channel.
By simply bringing up popular Australian symbols and brands, the author consists of himself with all the audience. Even though subtle, Australians can also relate with the line “Frankie kicked a mine the afternoon that mankind kicked the moon. This kind of sentence describes the historical event by which humankind starting set foot around the moon: “kicked the moon. This is an allusion that numerous Aussies ” especially those who watched the 1969 moonwalk on their Tv sets ” could understand and could pertain to.
Through the use of poetic devices, mcdougal has effectively encouraged the audience to explore their very own thoughts on Australian identity and also to reflect on our nation’s history. Second paragraph: The language and tone of ‘I Was Only Nineteen’ is solemn and reflecting of the earlier. John Schumann has used various types of terminology to show this kind of. Schumann’s phrasing of this text message is very well planned and thoroughly thought out. Sentences from this piece regularly begin with ‘And’, implying the author is definitely not yet performed telling his story.
In such a way it represents that the soreness of the battle never finished, it is continue to continuing on. The chorus line “God help me, I was only nineteen is a primary part of this kind of song. It expresses the innocence and childhood that was shed by 1000s of involuntary Aussie soldiers throughout the war. This kind of exact series is repeated four occasions throughout the tune. On one event it is a little bit changed to “God help me, he was going house in June. This transform, although only minor, brings more mental significance for the statement although still continuous on the idea of lost innocence.
Repetition of the identical word (also known as anaphora) generates a sense of emotion and draws the reader/listener in ” expecting the next addition to the story. The phrase “an Asian orange sunset through the scrub provides double that means, the obvious 1 being along with of the atmosphere at that point over time. But when more research is conducted, it becomes obvious that it may be hinting by ‘Agent Orange’, one of the herbicides/defoliants used by the US military throughout the war. This killed the foliage with the Vietnamese woodlands so as to stop the Viet Cong from taking cover inside the trees.
Roughly 1 mil people ” including Australians ” are disabled or have health issues due to Agent Orange. The concept of the mateship and strong dedication is also obvious. Schumann says that they can still “see and “hear Frankie, implying that although Frankie lost his existence, he will hardly ever be overlooked. “But you wouldn’t allow your mates straight down ’til they’d you dusted off also speaks with the fondness the author had intended for his many other soldiers, dusted off staying the military term pertaining to medical expulsion of injured via heli.
Again, Aussie identity comes into play: the attribute of complete loyalty loath Australians will be renowned intended for. On the whole, the vocabulary found in this tune carries with it a variety of emotional benefit and deeper meanings (these aspects turn into especially obvious when the textual content is investigated and cracked down). The structure of this song is continually that of a quatrain. The rhyming scheme follows not any specific design, but typically exists as ABAB and AAAA. A notably identifiable characteristic of this piece is definitely the way the storyline is set out. The majority of the paragraphs feature a diverse location and emotion with the crowd.
The opening stanza states that “Mum and Dad and Denny saw the passing out parade at Puckapunyal. The setting of this verse can be Puckapunyal and addresses the family members from the protagonist. The tempo can be moderately sluggish and the feeling in the ambiance is one among speculation intended for the unfamiliar future to come, although also pressure ” “It was a lengthy march coming from cadets and a slight volume of low self confidence. In the second verse, the cadence speeds up and a feeling of excitement begins to build. The concept of being amidst the action of the Vietnam War turns into very actual and very near.
This sentirse is the first of the refrain line “God help me, I was only nineteen ” a proper time, as a result of nigh possibility of death. “Townsville lined the footpaths as we marched to the quay mentions the Queensland town and its occupants. There are many other examples of this kind of throughout the song, including Vung Tau as well as the maturity with which it is voiced of (in the third verse), the Vietnamese jungle plus the living with the worry that “each step can mean your last one on two legs (stanzas five and six) and back home nationwide, reflecting for the war and its particular events (eight and nine).
The author provides purposely produced the least lines (6-7 words and 8-9 syllables) the most highly effective. “It was obviously a war within just yourself ” one of the least lines ” metaphorically explains how the frustrating sensations in the war endangered at every second to take over your heart. There are seven stanzas, each consisting of 4 lines. Although it may not look like it, this layout is really for a purpose. The music Stairway to Heaven by simply Led Zeppelin contains extended verses, sometimes as long as nine lines, which in turn creates a going story and frequently doesn’t give the audience the opportunity to consider the impact of the lyrics.
However , I used to be Only 19, with its four line passages, permits readers and listeners to reveal and contemplate the meaning and poignancy from the stanza in the pause under. The flatness and monotony of Schumann in the tune mirrors the futility and fatalistic thinking of the Vietnam soldiers. These people were well known for ‘live every day as if that were your last’ strategy on life. Many combatants, as young as fourteen (this was an illegitimate age plus they used false documents) got no programs for the future, besides having fun although they were even now living.
To numerous Australian individuals back then ” and still right now, the Vietnam War was pointless. Some say this wasn’t well worth more than 6 million lives (civilian and military) only to stop North Vietnam’s communisation from overtaking, others declare otherwise. Even though we will never truly known what it was like, Schumann’s producing allows us as readers/listeners to experience a smidgen of what would have recently been like. Schumann has seemingly spent time assembling the superlatively set-out structure, while this significantly impacted in the audience, including myself.
After studying this text, I use developed a far greater and more profound value for the Vietnam experienced. It isn’t spoken of much ” not in comparison to the World Battles. These men and ladies were subsequent instructions in fact it is not people who are to be blamed for the millions of casualties. Schumann offers brilliantly yet terrifyingly depicted the disasters of conflict and the suffering endured by simply veterans for many years ” even decades following your fall of Saigon. His use of numerous poetic products, intelligent and well-planned terminology and meaningful structure pave the way for any sure masterpiece.
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