The Paper Parcel
Analyse how symbols have been used to develop your understanding of people OR ideas in at least two short written texts you have studied.
In the text 'The Paper Parcel' by Owen Marshall, the parcel is used to symbolise 'the transience of sexual preferment' and the misunderstanding between parents and teenagers.
Owen Marshall uses the parcel to symbolise the "transience of sexual preferment'. Marshall uses this symbol to show that stupid things can change sexual attraction. Marshall makes the parcel stand out by contrasting it with he better costumes at the dance, Marshall contrasts them by using vibrant and enthusiastic adjectives, to describe other costumes. Marshall the describes his costume as just a 'brown paper parcel'. This contrast emphasizes the boring and dullness of his costume. Because of the dull and boring parcel the narrators date is embarrassed and leaves him. So the parcel emphasizes that sexual preferment can be easily changed, based on stupid things.
Marshall also uses The Paper Parcel to signify the different point of views of parents and children. The Paper Parcel shows that his parents don't understand that their son is growing up, the parents believe that the dance is'some party,some kids thing'. Marshall uses the parcel to emphasize the differences between adults and children. Marshall does this by showing that the mother thinks the costume is cheap, creative and unique, Marshall then uses profanity 'A parcel; Jesus'. The profanity is used to show the shock in the narrator by creating shock in the reader, it also emphasizes the narrators disgust at The Paper Parcel. Marshall uses the symbol of The Paper Parcel to show 'how little adult convention applies to the young'.
In ' The Paper Parcel' Marshall uses the paper parcel to signify the different point of views of adults and teenagers, he also uses it to symbolise the transience of of sexual preferment. Marshall does this by showing that adults think the paper parcel was a good idea and that teenagers don't, and it causes the narrator to discover sexual magnetism and realise that it is temporary.
In the text 'The Paper Parcel' by Owen Marshall, the parcel is used to symbolise 'the transience of sexual preferment' and the misunderstanding between parents and teenagers.
Owen Marshall uses the parcel to symbolise the "transience of sexual preferment'. Marshall uses this symbol to show that stupid things can change sexual attraction. Marshall makes the parcel stand out by contrasting it with he better costumes at the dance, Marshall contrasts them by using vibrant and enthusiastic adjectives, to describe other costumes. Marshall the describes his costume as just a 'brown paper parcel'. This contrast emphasizes the boring and dullness of his costume. Because of the dull and boring parcel the narrators date is embarrassed and leaves him. So the parcel emphasizes that sexual preferment can be easily changed, based on stupid things.
Marshall also uses The Paper Parcel to signify the different point of views of parents and children. The Paper Parcel shows that his parents don't understand that their son is growing up, the parents believe that the dance is'some party,some kids thing'. Marshall uses the parcel to emphasize the differences between adults and children. Marshall does this by showing that the mother thinks the costume is cheap, creative and unique, Marshall then uses profanity 'A parcel; Jesus'. The profanity is used to show the shock in the narrator by creating shock in the reader, it also emphasizes the narrators disgust at The Paper Parcel. Marshall uses the symbol of The Paper Parcel to show 'how little adult convention applies to the young'.
In ' The Paper Parcel' Marshall uses the paper parcel to signify the different point of views of adults and teenagers, he also uses it to symbolise the transience of of sexual preferment. Marshall does this by showing that adults think the paper parcel was a good idea and that teenagers don't, and it causes the narrator to discover sexual magnetism and realise that it is temporary.
The Ace of Diamonds Gang.
Analyse how symbols have been used to develop your understanding of people or ideas in at least two short written texts that you have studied.
In the short written text 'The Ace of Diamonds Gang' by Owen Marshall, two symbols that helped me to understand the main ideas of fantasy and reality, were the ace of diamonds and the library card.
The ace of diamonds is the gang symbol, they leave a ace of diamond card made of old christmas cards at the scene of the crime, they also have it stamped on their masks. Marshall uses the ace of diamonds to symbolise the ideals of the gang, and to represent the excitement, danger and brotherhood of being in a gang. The boys wear masks with the ace of diamonds stamped on, this gives the gang 'anonymity, confederacy, a clear exception to approved society'. Marshall compares the ideals of the gang to be 'like the heroes of history'. Marshall also uses the ace of diamonds to signify the importance of fantasy and imagination by using it 'to escape from being 13 years old in a provincial town'.
The library card appears in the story when it is left at the scene of the Jorgesson crime, instead of the anonymous calling card. The library card is used to symbolise reality. Marshall uses the library card signify the end of boyhood and free imagination. Marshall does this by emphasizing that the library card causes the gang to loose anonymity and get caught, resulting in lack of freedom. Marshall also uses other symbols to represent reality, Marshall uses the 'mundane deficiencies' of the gang such as 'Ashley's wind, Bernie's glasses and Hec Green having to be in by nine o'clock' to emphasize the idea of reality by helping the reader to understand that the members of the ace of diamonds gang are just mediocre, conformist citizens that fantasise about being rebels.
Owen Marshall used the symbols of the ace of diamonds and the library card to help the reader to understand the ideas of reality and fantasy. Marshall uses the ace of diamonds to represent the gang and their perspective on the gang. Marshall then contrasts this with the library card and the idea of reality. Marshall also uses the library card to signify the end of boyhood and the end of the ace of diamonds gang.
