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English Standard Module B:
Close Study of Literature |
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(Reed Flute Cave, Kath Walker 1988)
In this module, students develop an informed understanding, knowledge and appreciation of a substantial literary text. Through their development of considered personal responses to the text in its entirety, students explore and analyse the particular ideas and characteristics of the text and understand the ways in which these characteristics establish its distinctive qualities.
Students study one text chosen from the list of prescribed texts. They engage in the extensive exploration and interpretation of the text and the ways composers (authors, poets, playwrights, directors, designers and so on) portray people, ideas, settings and situations in texts. By analysing the interplay between the ideas, forms and language within the text, students appreciate how these elements may affect those responding to it. Students produce critical and creative responses to the text, basing their judgements on a detailed knowledge of the text and its language features.
Through reading, viewing or listening, students analyse, assess and comment on the text’s specific language features and form. They express increasingly complex ideas, clearly and cohesively, using appropriate register, structure and modality. They draft, appraise and refine their own texts, applying the conventions of syntax, spelling and grammar appropriately.
Through their analyses and assessment of the text and their own compositions, students further develop their personal and intellectual connections with, and enjoyment of the text, enabling them to express their informed personal interpretation of its significance and meaning (NESA 2019)
Students study one text chosen from the list of prescribed texts. They engage in the extensive exploration and interpretation of the text and the ways composers (authors, poets, playwrights, directors, designers and so on) portray people, ideas, settings and situations in texts. By analysing the interplay between the ideas, forms and language within the text, students appreciate how these elements may affect those responding to it. Students produce critical and creative responses to the text, basing their judgements on a detailed knowledge of the text and its language features.
Through reading, viewing or listening, students analyse, assess and comment on the text’s specific language features and form. They express increasingly complex ideas, clearly and cohesively, using appropriate register, structure and modality. They draft, appraise and refine their own texts, applying the conventions of syntax, spelling and grammar appropriately.
Through their analyses and assessment of the text and their own compositions, students further develop their personal and intellectual connections with, and enjoyment of the text, enabling them to express their informed personal interpretation of its significance and meaning (NESA 2019)
Poetry Analysis
Matrix Education - How To Analyse A Poem In 6 Steps
Matrix Education - English Literary Techniques Toolkit for the HSC
Owlcation - How to Analyse a Poem
ReadWriteThink.com - Poetry Analysis Sheet
StoryBoardThat.com - Poetry Analysis with SMILE
Teach for America - How to Analyze a Poem in 6 Steps
Matrix Education - How To Analyse A Poem In 6 Steps
Matrix Education - English Literary Techniques Toolkit for the HSC
Owlcation - How to Analyse a Poem
ReadWriteThink.com - Poetry Analysis Sheet
StoryBoardThat.com - Poetry Analysis with SMILE
Teach for America - How to Analyze a Poem in 6 Steps
(Book Cover: Kath Walker in China 1988)
Oodgeroo Noonuccal
In this module, students will engage with a selection of poems by Oodgeroo Noonuccal (formerly Kath Walker). All but one of the poems (The Past*) is from the publication Kath Walker in China. Through an investigation of her life as a poet, activist, mother, Aboriginal advocate and woman, students will develop a deep understanding of how her poetry was used to express her concerns about society and Aboriginal peoples, as well as a deep love of nature and the Aboriginal culture and traditions. Students will also examine the influence that her visit to China had on her world outlook as an indigenous woman, as expressed in these works (Brice, et. al. 2014).
* The Past is from her publication Dawn is at Hand
Poems studied from Kath Walker in China are:
The Past
China…Woman
Reed Flute Cave
Entombed Warriors
Visit to Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall
Sunrise on Huampu River
A Lake Within a Lake
Merit and Cultural Significance of Her Poetry
- Oodgeroo Noonuccal’s poetry is highly regarded in Australia and overseas. Also renowned as an artist, teacher, performer, writer, essayist and public speaker, she was a tireless campaigner for Aboriginal rights.
- Oodgeroo received a number of literary awards and accolades, including the 1967 Jessie Litchfield Award for Literature, the 1970 Association for the Study of Australian Literature Mary Gilmore Award for a First Book of Poetry, and two Fellowship of Australian Writers awards, the 1977 Patricia Weickhardt Award to an Aboriginal Writer and the 1992 Christopher Brennan Award for Poetry (BOS 2013).
- As Kath Walker, in 1970, she was appointed an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for services to the community, but late returned it in protest over the bicentenary celebrations held in 1988. In the same year, she adopted the Noonuccal tribal name Oodgeroo (meaning “paperbark”).
- Oodgeroo was awarded honorary doctorates from Macquarie University (1988), Griffith University (1989), Monash University (1991), and Queensland University of Technology (1992). In 1990, after the formation of the Australian and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC), she was elected a member of the Southeast Queensland Regional Council (Australian Poetry Library 2015).
See also Anita Heiss — Aboriginal writing: literature as a political tool
In this module, students will engage with a selection of poems by Oodgeroo Noonuccal (formerly Kath Walker). All but one of the poems (The Past*) is from the publication Kath Walker in China. Through an investigation of her life as a poet, activist, mother, Aboriginal advocate and woman, students will develop a deep understanding of how her poetry was used to express her concerns about society and Aboriginal peoples, as well as a deep love of nature and the Aboriginal culture and traditions. Students will also examine the influence that her visit to China had on her world outlook as an indigenous woman, as expressed in these works (Brice, et. al. 2014).
* The Past is from her publication Dawn is at Hand
Poems studied from Kath Walker in China are:
The Past
China…Woman
Reed Flute Cave
Entombed Warriors
Visit to Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall
Sunrise on Huampu River
A Lake Within a Lake
Merit and Cultural Significance of Her Poetry
- Oodgeroo Noonuccal’s poetry is highly regarded in Australia and overseas. Also renowned as an artist, teacher, performer, writer, essayist and public speaker, she was a tireless campaigner for Aboriginal rights.
- Oodgeroo received a number of literary awards and accolades, including the 1967 Jessie Litchfield Award for Literature, the 1970 Association for the Study of Australian Literature Mary Gilmore Award for a First Book of Poetry, and two Fellowship of Australian Writers awards, the 1977 Patricia Weickhardt Award to an Aboriginal Writer and the 1992 Christopher Brennan Award for Poetry (BOS 2013).
- As Kath Walker, in 1970, she was appointed an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for services to the community, but late returned it in protest over the bicentenary celebrations held in 1988. In the same year, she adopted the Noonuccal tribal name Oodgeroo (meaning “paperbark”).
- Oodgeroo was awarded honorary doctorates from Macquarie University (1988), Griffith University (1989), Monash University (1991), and Queensland University of Technology (1992). In 1990, after the formation of the Australian and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC), she was elected a member of the Southeast Queensland Regional Council (Australian Poetry Library 2015).
See also Anita Heiss — Aboriginal writing: literature as a political tool
About the Poet
Australian Poet Library - Oodgeroo Noonuccal (1920 – 1993)
Indigenous Australia - Noonuccal, Oodgeroo (1920–1993)
Reading Australia - Kath Walker in China
Australian War Memorial - Lance Corporal Kathleen Walker
Encyclopedia of World Biography - Oodgeroo Noonuccal Biography
Australian Poet Library - Oodgeroo Noonuccal (1920 – 1993)
Indigenous Australia - Noonuccal, Oodgeroo (1920–1993)
Reading Australia - Kath Walker in China
Australian War Memorial - Lance Corporal Kathleen Walker
Encyclopedia of World Biography - Oodgeroo Noonuccal Biography
(Aboriginal Rock Art, Carnarvon Gorge© Sstoll850 2014)
About the poems and the poet
- The selection of poems for this module deals with themes of cultural heritage, nature, connections to land, places and environment, links to the past and concepts of time, personal identity, and the discovery of intercultural connections.
- The prescribed poems were written during a 1984 visit to China as part of an Australian cultural delegation. Her experiences and discoveries in China provided a source of great inspiration to Oodgeroo and reinvigorated her poetry.
- Through her poems, Oodgeroo sought to share the knowledge and love of her Aboriginal culture with a wider audience
- The book Kath Walker in China, was published in both Chinese and English, but had only small number printed and published. As a result, this publication is little known and is often overlooked in Oodgeroo's body of work.
- The poems demonstrate a representation of the chronological shift in Noonuccal's perspective.
- Students should consider connections between the poems and Oodgeroo’s political and social activism. By studying the poems, students will investigate and reflect on the representation of aspects of Aboriginal history, society, culture and spirituality. Students should also consider the influence of Aboriginal oral traditions and language use on the language forms and features of the poems (BOS 2013 ; Morphy 1999).
- Oodgeroo's poems have been criticised by some for their simplicity, however, it is this very simplicity that contributes to their beauty and makes them highly accessible and evocative for students. Oodgeroo's style is minimalist whilst conveying sharp imagery relating to her themes and the Chinese setting.
- Oodgeroo presents strong messages regarding maternalism and nature, with a strong female identity being presented as a life-giver and nurturer.
- Students will need an understanding of Oodgeroo's Aboriginal context in order to approach a more complete understanding of the themes that she explores (Bartolo 2018 ; BOS 2013 ; Brice, et. al. 2014 ; Collins 1994 ; Jose 1994).
- The selection of poems for this module deals with themes of cultural heritage, nature, connections to land, places and environment, links to the past and concepts of time, personal identity, and the discovery of intercultural connections.
- The prescribed poems were written during a 1984 visit to China as part of an Australian cultural delegation. Her experiences and discoveries in China provided a source of great inspiration to Oodgeroo and reinvigorated her poetry.
- Through her poems, Oodgeroo sought to share the knowledge and love of her Aboriginal culture with a wider audience
- The book Kath Walker in China, was published in both Chinese and English, but had only small number printed and published. As a result, this publication is little known and is often overlooked in Oodgeroo's body of work.
- The poems demonstrate a representation of the chronological shift in Noonuccal's perspective.
- Students should consider connections between the poems and Oodgeroo’s political and social activism. By studying the poems, students will investigate and reflect on the representation of aspects of Aboriginal history, society, culture and spirituality. Students should also consider the influence of Aboriginal oral traditions and language use on the language forms and features of the poems (BOS 2013 ; Morphy 1999).
- Oodgeroo's poems have been criticised by some for their simplicity, however, it is this very simplicity that contributes to their beauty and makes them highly accessible and evocative for students. Oodgeroo's style is minimalist whilst conveying sharp imagery relating to her themes and the Chinese setting.
- Oodgeroo presents strong messages regarding maternalism and nature, with a strong female identity being presented as a life-giver and nurturer.
- Students will need an understanding of Oodgeroo's Aboriginal context in order to approach a more complete understanding of the themes that she explores (Bartolo 2018 ; BOS 2013 ; Brice, et. al. 2014 ; Collins 1994 ; Jose 1994).
NSW DoE Resources
Sample unit of work
A Very, Very Simplified History of China (Ancient China to 1950)
Entombed Warriors - Analysis
Oodgeroo in China
Points to consider – Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall
Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall - Background Information
Other Resources
Kath Walker in China: An Ecocritical Reading
- See pages 161 – 164 for China…Woman
- See pages 164 – 165 for Sunrise on Huampu River
- See pages 166-168 for A Lake within a lake
A Lake Within A Lake
Sample unit of work
A Very, Very Simplified History of China (Ancient China to 1950)
Entombed Warriors - Analysis
Oodgeroo in China
Points to consider – Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall
Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall - Background Information
Other Resources
Kath Walker in China: An Ecocritical Reading
- See pages 161 – 164 for China…Woman
- See pages 164 – 165 for Sunrise on Huampu River
- See pages 166-168 for A Lake within a lake
A Lake Within A Lake
Poetry and Politics in Oodgeroo's Earlier Works
Compare the quiite positive appraisal of Oodgeroo's early works, above, with one published 27 years prior, below. Discuss possible reasons for the contrasting opinions.
Oodgeroo in China
Writing Tips
Academic Writing
ALARM - A learning and responding matrix
How to Write a Band Six Essay
Matrix Education How to Write a Band Six Essay
See also
How to Study Effectively
English Common Module: Texts and Human Experiences - Standard and Advanced (Billy Elliot and 1984)
English Standard Module A - Language, Identity and Culture (Henry Lawson Short Stories)
Academic Writing
ALARM - A learning and responding matrix
How to Write a Band Six Essay
Matrix Education How to Write a Band Six Essay
See also
How to Study Effectively
English Common Module: Texts and Human Experiences - Standard and Advanced (Billy Elliot and 1984)
English Standard Module A - Language, Identity and Culture (Henry Lawson Short Stories)
References and further reading
Abbey, S. (2019). Oodgeroo Noonuccal (1920–1993). Retrieved from http://ia.anu.edu.au/biography/noonuccal-oodgeroo-18057
Australian Poetry Library. (2015). Noonuccal, Oodgeroo - Poet. Retrieved from https://www.poetrylibrary.edu.au/poets/noonuccal-oodgeroo
Australian War Memorial, The. (2015). Kath Walker. The Australian War Memorial. Retrieved from https://www.awm.gov.au/learn/memorial-boxes/3/online-resources/walker
Bartolo, L. (2018). Standard Module B: Close Study of Literature. Lukebartolo.blogspot.com. Retrieved from http://lukebartolo.blogspot.com/2018/02/standard-module-b-close-study-of.html
Basic, A. (2017). The Past by Oodgeroo Noonuccal. Retrieved from https://prezi.com/rxjx7jk9u4du/the-past-by-oodgeroo-noonuccal/
Board of Studies NSW. (2013). English Stage 6 Annotations of selected texts prescribed for the Higher School Certificate 2015–20. BOS. Retrieved from https://www.blackincbooks.com.au/sites/default/files/Coast-Road-English-annotations-2015-20.pdf
Brice, K., Kedicioglu, B., Thompson, K., & Walker, P. (2014). English Stage 6 Prescriptions 2015-2020. Standard Mod B: Close study of text. Poetry. Oodgeroo Noonuccal: Overview. Retrieved from https://sites.google.com/a/education.nsw.gov.au/hsc-smodb-noonuccal-edu/
Collins, J. (1994). A mate in publishing. Australian Literary Studies, 16(4), 9. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.sl.nsw.gov.au/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lkh&AN=9502102309&site=ehost-live&scope=site
Donaldson, M, The End of Time? Aboriginal Temporality and the British Invasion of Australia, Time and Society, 5(2), 1996, 187-207. Retrieved from https://ro.uow.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https://www.google.com/&httpsredir=1&article=1158&context=artspapers
Encyclopedia of World Biography. (2019). Oodgeroo Noonuccal Biography. Encyclopedia of World Biography. Retrieved from https://www.notablebiographies.com/supp/Supplement-Mi-So/Noonuccal-Oodgeroo.html
Heiss, A. (2009). Anita Heiss - Aboriginal writing: literature as a political tool. Allen and Unwin. [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0x_34uJww_E
Hodge, Bob. Poetry and politics in Oodgeroo: transcending the difference. Australian Literary Studies, Vol. 16, No. 4, 1994: 63-76. Availability: https://search-informit-com-au.ezproxy.sl.nsw.gov.au/documentSummary;dn=950201617;res=IELAPA> ISSN: 0004-9697
Jose, N. (1994). Oodgeroo in China. Australian Literary Studies, 16(4), 42.
Lee, SE. Poetic fisticuffs [Book Review]. Southerly, Vol. 27, No. 1, Mar 1967: 60-71.
Malcolm, I. (2000). A Submission on Aboriginal English and Urban Dwelling Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People. Research Team On Aboriginal English. Edith Cowan University. Retrieved from https://www.aph.gov.au/parliamentary_business/committees/house_of_representatives_committees?url=atsia/urbandwelling/sub31.pdf
Morphy, H. (1999). Australian Aboriginal Concepts of Time. In Lippincott, K. (Ed.). The Story of Time, London, Merrell Holberton. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/282818866_Australian_Aboriginal_Concepts_of_Time
NSW Education Standards Authority. (2017). English Stage 6 Prescriptions: Modules, Electives and Texts Higher School Certificate 2019–2023. NESA. Retrieved from https://educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/wps/wcm/connect/f2ef71a2-ea7c-4b96-92f6-398fe141925c/english-stage-6-prescriptions-2019-2023.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CVID=
NSW Education Standards Authority. (2017). HSC English Prescriptions 2019-2023 English Standard Module B: Close Study of Literature Oodgeroo Noonuccal poetry. NESA. Retrieved from https://syllabus.nesa.nsw.edu.au/assets/global/files/oodgeroo-noonuccal-poetry-english-stage-6-2019-2023-prescriptions.pdf
Pal, D. (2018). Chapter V - Kath Walker in China: An Ecocritical Reading from An Ecocritical Reading of the Works of Oodgeroo Noonuccal. Thesis. pp. 161 – 184. Retrieved from http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/jspui/bitstream/10603/201650/4/full%20thesis.pdf
Reading Australia. (2016). Kath Walker in China. Reading Australia. Retrieved from https://readingaustralia.com.au/books/kath-walker-china/
Sstoll850. (2014). Aboriginal Rock Art, Carnarvon Gorge ID 72191798 ©. Dreamstime. Retrieved from https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photo-aboriganal-rock-art-carnarvon-gorge-aboriginal-queensland-australia-image72191798
Van Neerven, E. (2018). Oodgeroo Noonuccal: Poetry and Place. Melbourne Writers Festival. Retrieved from https://mwf.com.au/blog/ellen-van-neerven-oodgeroo-noonuccal-poems/
Writing NSW. (2018). Honouring: Oodgeroo Noonuccal. YouTube. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4ZaDEvSHOY
