Discuss the Journeys Represented in the Happiest Refugee

A Journey is a physical or psychological adventure that takes from one place to another. Various types of Journeys can be seen clearly in the three texts studied this year: The Happiest Refugee extract, written by Ann. DOD in 2010, The Silver Donkey novel by Sonny Hairnets in 2004 and the film Bend It Like Beckman directed by Grinder Chad in 2002. The techniques that the composer uses to express the journeys are personification, onomatopoeia, repetition, similes, metaphors, music and acting skills. In The Happiest Refuge, there are both physical and emotional Journeys.

The extract s about Vietnam refugees escape from their war-torn country in an overcrowded, battered boat. The aim of their Journey was to safely reach Australia. Throughout their physical Journey they had to overcome many problems. For example when refugees’ boat engine started spluttering, the reader is in suspense because the refugees Journey could come to an end. “… The engine was spewing out thick petrol fumes… ” This quote uses the technique personification to gives the reader a better description and mental picture of the physical Journey. Ann. DOD also uses onomatopoeia to create a more vivid image of the experience.

For example, when the patrol boat starts shooting at the refugees, their life is at risk. “Bang! Bang! Bang! ” The technique onomatopoeia communicates the danger of the physical Journey and how all of their hard work, effort and preparation could all come to a halt so easily. Emotional Journeys are also represented in The Happiest Refugee. Throughout their overall Journey, the refugees faced emotions of fear, hope, relief and frustration. They were in constant fear that they could be caught by the army. In one case, pirates approached their boat forcing them to give over all of their goods. The refugees’ were in a state of shock and horror. We stood there silent and numb, like sheep awaiting slaughter. ” Ann. DOD uses a simile to describe the emotions that the refugees were facing. The simile expresses the feeling of fright and makes the reader feel the same way. In other situations, feelings of weakness are conveyed. “… SHUT UP! ” The pirates created emotional Journeys for the refugees as they made them feel vulnerable. The quote is an example of the confidence and power of the pirates because of the emotive language as well as the exclamation mark and capital letters o stress the words. Imaginary and physical Journeys are represented in The Silver Donkey.

The novel is about two sisters who find a wounded soldier in the woods. The soldier is trying to get back home so the children help and take care of him. The soldier tells the journeys. For example in one of the tales, an old donkey named Hazel is told to carry a pregnant woman a far distance. The donkey has to try and make it the distance since he is very weak to show his loyalty to his owner. “Steadily, steadily she walked keeping the dancing baby safe… ” The author uses the technique repetition and alliteration to convey the imaginary Journey. This is not a real life Journey; it is the soldier making up a story.

Another type of Journey that is conveyed in The Silver Donkey is the physical Journey of the soldier. The soldier has fled from the awful environment of war. He has been physically damaged resulting in weakness and suffering psychological blindness. “The soldier struggled to see the boy through the lingering fog in his eyes” This metaphor represents the physical Journey of his blindness. In the film Bend It Like Beckman there are both cultural and emotional Journeys. It is bout an Indian girl, Jess, who loves to play soccer although her family is totally against it as it’s not their tradition.

Jess has a special talent for the sport and knows that she can succeed in it as a career so she lies to her parent’s and secretly Joins a soccer team. Jess’ cultural Journey begins when she decides that she is not going to follow her Indian culture as she can’t be herself and please her family. Throughout the film Jess is switching between her fake, home Indian life and her real, outside soccer life. This cultural Journey is represented through music. When Jess is at home, vying an Indian lifestyle, there is sad, Indian music playing.

Then when she is outside playing soccer there is upbeat, Joyful music playing. This technique displays that Jess is not happy with wanting to follow her Indian cultural values and is happier being herself. The emotional Journey of Jess’ parent’s is how they have to learn to accept who Jess is and what she wants to do with her life. At first her parent’s are strict on her, not wanting her to play at all but they eventually saw the talent their daughter had and accepted it. Their emotional Journey comes from being ashamed and annoyed to coming proud and happy for their child.

This Journey is conveyed from the use of drama and emotions of the actors. When the parent’s are ashamed, their attitude is angry and disappointed and then when their emotions towards their daughter change they have a more positive attitude. When they have a positive attitude their face softens and their eyes become more warming. In conclusion the three texts studied display the types of emotional, physical, imaginary and cultural Journeys. These Journeys are clearly expressed through the techniques such as personification, onomatopoeia, repetition, music and acting skills.