Migrant Hostel

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Peter Skrzynecki poem ‘Migrant Hostel’ is a powerful text which paints a firsthand picture of the emotional and physical transition that Skrzynecki and other immigrants experienced whilst living in a ‘Migrant Hostel’ in Australia during 1949-1951.
The choice of language forms and techniques is one of the key factors to a person’s interpretation and understanding of a place or event. They help to create a vivid image in the responders’ mind which allows them to have a greater understanding of the text, setting and context. The powerful language techniques of metaphors, similes and personification used throughout the poem ‘Migrant Hostel’ by Skrzynecki helps to portray the feelings of uncertainty, isolation and not belonging.
There are four stanzas in this poem with each stanza depicting …show more content…
The last stanza of the poem highlights the immigrant’s feelings of disconnection with their new country. “A barrier at the main gate sealed off the highway” The highway is a representation of life moving forward which is out of reach for the immigrants. This along with Skrzynecki’s use of personification “rose and fell like a finger pointed in reprimand or shame” creates a powerful image of rejection. The effects of these negative images highlight the feeling of non acceptance and isolation felt by the immigrants during their time at the ‘Migrant Hostel’.
The poem ‘Migrant Hostel’ written by Peter Skrzynecki is a powerful text that should be included in anthology of poems as it is a firsthand representation of the negative emotional thoughts and feelings experienced by immigrants whilst living in a ‘Migrant Hostel’ in Australia during

Summary Of Migrant Hostel

Feelings of exclusion and isolation accompany the migrant experience, predominantly when attempting to assimilate into a new culture. This idea is communicated through the poem “Migrant Hostel” written by Peter Skrzynecki which conveys the migrant experience as a negative aspect of a migrant’s life due to the feelings of isolation and exclusion that are associated with segregation. Symbolism is portrayed in the quote “ A barrier at the main gate / sealed off the highway / from our doorstep—”, Skrzynecki…

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Migrant Hostel Skrzynecki Analysis

challenges and experinces of belonging when individuals are different from those around them. As a recently arrived migrant family to Australia in 1949, the skrzyneckis felt disconnected and unwelcome in their new country. Hoping to find a more stable life after the terrors of world war 2, ‘Migrant Hostel’ deals with the more negative side of belonging to a…

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Analysis Of Postcard And Migrant Hostel

these, they shape us as a person, our perspectives and feelings. Every person in the world will partake in some type of journey within their lives. This idea of journeys is extensively explored throughout Peter Skrzynecki’s poems, ‘Postcard’ and ‘Migrant Hostel’. These texts are a recollection of Skrzynecki’s own experiences, specifically his conflicting relationship with his father stemming from his distancing of Polish Culture, ultimately leading to his perceived sense of exclusion. Each of these texts…

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Migrant Hostel Poem Analysis

Peter Skrzynecki’s “Migrant Hostel” and “Immigrants at Central Station” enlightens its audience with a tale of a journey of migration from post WWII Europe to Australia. The poems portray the fears and anxieties of the travellers, by using imagery, symbolism and similes. The poems are ones of hope but also uncertainty. “Migrant Hostel” expresses the migrant’s emotions as they are transitioning between the long voyage from Europe and beginning a new life in Australia. The migrants feel constantly uncertain…

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Peter Skryzencki Migrant Hostel Summary

connection to culture, place or community framed by an individual’s ability to find acceptance and create or deny a secure sense of identity. ‘Migrant Hostel’ by Peter Skryzencki strongly depicts the feeling of alienation and displacement as a migrant in a new country. The uncertainty of whether one will ever belong or not. Since Shyzynecki was a migrant himself, he is able to give the audience insight on what a migrant’s perception is when they do not belong. Belonging is to some extent a primal…

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Peter Skrzynecki's Crossing The Red Sea And Migrant Hostel

Australia. Immigrant Chronicles is a collection of his poems depicting his journey reflecting on the hardships and the memories he experienced. In this essay I will analyse two poems from his collection which includes Crossing the Red Sea and Migrant Hostel and how together these two poems explores the theme of changing worlds. Crossing The Red Sea illustrates the boat journey of Skrzynecki and his family as well as the refugees amongst them. We can see already in the first stanza their lack of resources…

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skrzynecki essay

impacts the traveller endures that gives them perceptions of the world around them. Through a variety of techniques the poems “crossing the red sea”, and “migrant hostel” composed by Peter Skrzynecki explore the physical and emotional impacts immigrants undertake in their journey from war-torn Europe to Australia. In “crossing the Red sea” European migrants embark on a journey to escape their homeland of war-torn Europe. “Many slept on deck because of the days heat” / “shirtless, in shorts, barefooted”-…

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History: Australia and Snowy Mountain Scheme Essay

Post World War 2 migrants played an integral part in creating the Australian nation. Migrants had both positive and negative experiences in contributing to the creation of Australia as a multicultural society. The two major migrant groups that had an impact on the Australian population were the Italian and the Lebanese. They had contributed with the economic, social and cultural part of the Australian population. After World War 2 Ben Chifley the Labor Prime Minister, faced the issue of immigration…

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Belonging: Feature Article Essay

of self. The challenge to seek belonging within a community has been proven to be a contributing factor to individual’s beliefs and perceptions, affecting whether they belong or don’t belong. This notion is evident in Peter Skrzyneckis poems; ‘Migrant Hostel’ which outlines the tough experiences which Skrzynecki and his family faced when attempting to form a connection and ‘St. Patrick’s college’ which exemplifies Skrzyneckis disconnection from his school due to his negative perception of place as…

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Extract from Incoming Tide Essay

Extract from Incoming Tide, by Elizabeth Strout, explores the key idea of external environments and the relationships you forge play a huge role in the making of one’s identity. Skrzynecki’s works, St Patrick’s College and Migrant Hostel also share Strout’s viewpoint, often displaying the importance of attachment to an environment. The extract from Incoming Tide portrays how the detachment from external environment can lead to the weakening of one’s sense of self. Through the repetition of ‘you’…

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