Unearth essay-english PDF

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Unearth essay Explain how the poem unearth uses language to reveal and challenge prevailing assumptions and beliefs about cultural groups. Through poems, language has the power to acknowledge different cultural groups and confront the preconceptions made by society about specific cultures. Aboriginal communities have suffered long lasting injustice from government agendas and individuals through society such as stereotypes and casual racism about their cultural values and beliefs. Through the poem Unearth, Cobby Eckermann addresses this issue using different poetic devices and language techniques to portray these experiences that the Aboriginal communities are facing, powerfully through her writing, challenging the current image set by government parties and educating the youth about Aboriginal communities. Often, new generations are unaware of the historical past of their cultures due to lack of education. Aboriginal communities have suffered much in the past which has not been emphasized in todays’ society. Rather young individuals have a set idea about the Aboriginal communities which is set by individuals in society and government agendas. The lack of education comes from the stereotypes made by these individuals and casual racism seen in society which is passed on through generations. In the poem Unearth, these experiences are hidden throughout the use of language techniques to educate the youth of the Aboriginal community but also challenge the current image set by government. Cobby Eckermann uses contrast throughout the poem and negative connotation through her choice of words. “In the future the petition will be everlasting even when the language is changed.” In this quote the word future represents the contrast as the poem starts off talking about the past and gradually about the future. Through the word everlasting, this quote further emphasizes that the Aboriginal communities have been through long lasting experiences in the past and will still be going through them in the future. Negative connotation through the word changed is used to describe the loss of culture and identity educating the youth and encouraging the them to rebuild this culture. Different cultures have different values and beliefs which shapes an individuals’ identity. For the Aboriginal culture, nature is one of the most significant aspects embedded through their culture, therefore, is significantly sacred to their community. Throughout the poem Unearth, the idea of reconnection to family and culture is portrayed as the Aboriginal people use nature to connect to their past and their ancestors. “let’s dig up the soil and excavate the past/breathe life into the bodies of our ancestors.” Through this metaphor, Cobby Eckermann writes as a collective experience, referring to the past and calling out to the youth to work together to bring the past back to life. The past in this metaphor refers to Aboriginal identities such as their culture, language and point of view that has been lost. The verb dig used in this metaphor symbolises the discovery of something hidden, lost or kept secret. This refers to the image that has been set by the government and individuals in society, also the lack of education that the youth have access to. The words soil and ancestors work together symbolising the scaredness of nature and the idea of the ancestors guiding the Aboriginal people through their goals and journeys. Overall, it is evident that

Cobby Eckermann uses symbolism through the metaphor to call out to all the youth to work together in bringing back Aboriginal culture which shapes their identity. Preconceptions and misjudgement made by society about different cultures can often be mistaken for the truth. Aboriginal communities have been suffering this type of dilemma for a long time and still are until this day. Through the poem Unearth, Cobby Eckermann portrays the idea of society creating a set idea that is passed on to the younger generations which results in false information. The Aboriginal communities have suffered harsh and difficult times in the past impacting on their generation today which is not emphasized today. “There is blood on the truth.” Cobby Eckermann uses negative connotation through the word blood representing the difficulties and suffering they have faced. Through this metaphor Cobby Eckermann suggests a literal meaning really emphasizing how the truth of their suffering has been lost such as the two major events: colonisation and the massacres. This further implies that there Is lack of education in the community and the younger generations’ mind sets are influenced by the current society’s perception shaped by government agendas and the community. To conclude, Aboriginal communities have suffered long lasting injustice from both the government agendas and the individuals in society. These injustices include preconceptions and false information through stereotypes and casual racism mace by individuals’ through society, covering the actual truth of the Aboriginal culture and what their community suffered. Overall, Cobby Eckermann portrays these hidden experiences through language techniques challenging the image set by government and individuals and educating the youth to work together to rebuild and bring back the Aboriginal culture that has been lost. Ultimately, culture is what shapes and individual’s identity....