Sample Essay 2
Question:
Whether discovering something for the first time, or rediscovering something, it is our attitude towards the process of discovery that is most important.
Demonstrate how your core and one related text represents this interpretation of discovery.
Whether discovering something for the first time, or rediscovering something, it is our attitude towards the process of discovery that is most important.
Demonstrate how your core and one related text represents this interpretation of discovery.
Note: This sample essay discusses both core and related texts, however, it has been shortened for the purposes of this activity.
It is an individual’s attitude towards the process of discovery and rediscovery that determines whether their perceptions of the world are broadened or limited. In the poems 'Home Burial' and 'Tuft of Flowers', Robert Frost explores the complex consequences of having an open and closed attitude toward the process of discovery. These ideas are similarly explored in Juan Bayona’s 2012 film, The Impossible, which recounts the experiences of a young family during the Boxing Day Tsunami. Bayona’s text explores how open and closed attitudes can affect both the process of discovery and outcomes of discovering. The way in which both composers convey these messages to their audience will now be explored.
Frost’s poem “Home Burial” depicts detrimental consequences a negative mindset can have upon the process of discovering the existence of repressed resentment between a married couple who have recently lost their child. Frost uses the severe dialogue between husband and wife to display their closed-off, destructive attitude. For example, the wife’s use of the dehumanizing phrase “Blind Creature” when thinking about her husband represents her belief that her husband is lacking in human empathy and this malicious description denotes the negative attitudes she holds towards the process of discovering the resentment they hold for one another. The husband character also denotes his negative feelings towards his wife by alluding to the fact he believes she is behaving in a degrading and inhumane fashion, thus emasculating him. It is clear that Frost intended; through the use of dialogue to characterize the husband as a slight chauvinist, completely incapable of understanding his wife’s point of view. He states “a man must partly give up being a man/with womenfolk” as well as asking his wife “Tell me about it if it’s something human”, thus alluding to his frustrations as his wife refuses to engage in conversation with him; only escalating the problem further. Ultimately, Frost thus displays to audiences how attitude has the ability to affect the process and consequences of discovery; in particular how and the inability to see eye to eye with loved ones in relationships when discoveries.
Conversely, in The Impossible audiences are presented with the results that a positive, compassionate attitude has on the process of discovery. Upon the mother and son characters discovering a young, fellow tsunami survivor among the rubble, the audience and characters are shown how approaching discoveries with an open and kindhearted attitude leads to the building of positive relationships. In a scene directly following the Tsunami, Bayona depicts an argument between mother and son over whether they should stop to help a victim. Through the use of rapid, over-the shoulder camera angling, followed by a Birdseye view of the tsunami’s wreckage, Bayona implies how small and insignificant their stubbornness and lack of compromise may seems in the event of a natural disasters. Bayona confirms the importance of empathy during times of need through the lighting change that occurs during the scene. The greyish lighting during the argument changes to highlight the bright colours of the landscape once the son character challenges his own opinions on aiding the survivor. This has the effect of creating a happier tone and suggests the positive consequences of having an open attitude towards discoveries. This act of openly accepting the challenging process discovery re-affirms the positive, strengthening impact such a mindset can have on the relationship between mother and son as their bond strengthens. Unlike "Home Burial", Bayona prefers to show his audience the positive outcomes attitude can have upon relationships in times of need as well as to the process and consequences of discovery.
In Frost’s poem “Tuft of Flowers”, the importance of a positive attitude when faced with discoveries is represented through the psychological musings about humanity made by a farmer. Frost uses repetition and tonal change throughout this poem in order to allow his audience to view the broadening of perspectives his character undertakes due to a discovery brought on by nature. Frost uses the symbol of a butterfly as a synecdoche of nature itself, representing it’s power in aiding individuals through the process of discovery. The end line of the poem states “Men work together…whether they work together or apart” which is a slight repetition from the earlier line stated by the main character “Alone as all must be, whether they work together or apart”. It could be said that this change in perspectives is due to the farmer’s trust in nature, as well as his open attitude to change which ultimately led to happiness for the character as his tone changed from dark imagery such as “withered” and “alone” to “brotherly” and “Kindred”. Frost uses these techniques in order to represent to his audience that their ability to broaden their own perspectives on the world relies upon their attitude towards discoveries.
Therefore through the analysis of these texts, it is clear that both composers desired to represent the importance of attitude towards the process of discovery, which ultimately affects whether individual’s perspectives of the world can be expanded or restricted.
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