Peter Skrzynecki – Immigrant Chronicle Essay Example

communicate with one another. The metaphor "voices left their caves" and personification in "silence fell from its shackles" indicate that the communication between these individuals was restrained, and a release of emotion has now taken place. The use of words like "caves" and "shackles" emphasizes this idea. The description of "sunken eyes" portrays their physical condition, while the personification in "memories strayed" reflects on their emotional well-being as they recall their past experiences. The war is personalized with the use of "We," and the phrase "Neither masters nor slaves" highlights the immigrants' status and lack of control over their destination. Finally, the imagery in "red banners" is open to interpretation, possibly referring to communism's spread or mockingly saluting the country's flag.

The text highlights that the colour red carries war connotations because it symbolises blood. Additionally, the metaphor "patches and threads of dialogue" emphasizes the slow pace of communication among people. To describe the physical conditions, the author uses the image of "unshaven faces". The phrase "as respite from the interruption of passing waves" conveys how people break their boredom during the trip. Using direct speech, people conversed about their memories, such as "I remember a field of red poppies…" which represents remembering fallen soldiers. Another memory is about a field in Europe where a soldier could have potentially died.

The repetition of the words "red" and "blood" throughout the text highlights the significant loss and bloodshed. Additionally, allusions to Lazarus from the Bible are made, symbolizing the opportunity for new beginnings that the people on the boats have been given. In section 4, the sea is personified as "the seas breath," which is reminiscent of

another biblical reference to Lazarus and his gratitude for miracles. The personification of the sea continues with "kindness of the sea," and a metaphor regarding grief breaking up into walls suggests that the immigrants can begin feeling again.

The sound of the sea, described as “pine trees whispering,” is personified. Meanwhile, in the line “day break took away the magic of dreams,” a metaphor is used to convey that the travelers must leave behind their idealistic notions and confront reality. Arriving at the equator represents the ultimate crossing point, thus they anticipate the end of their journey. Ultimately, after escaping the horrors of war, a sense of resolution is felt as they embark on a new life. Crossing the Red Sea is a poem that skillfully employs various literary devices to explore the significance of a voyage and its profound impact.

Similar to the crossing of the Red Sea, Immigrants at Central Station depicts the voyage from their hostel to their new self-sufficient lives. The poem employs techniques that convey the uneasiness and foreboding associated with this journey. The initial stanza has a pessimistic tone, using imagery of "rain" and "sadness" to evoke feelings of melancholy.

The sentence "all night it had rained" is used to demonstrate the uncertainty of dullness. Additionally, the use of personification through "the air was crowded" conveys the dampness and how it mirrors the thoughts and depressed emotions of the immigrants. Moreover, "slowly sank" alliterates with the rain and dampness, highlighting the sinking sensation of new life settling into their thoughts.

The persona in “but we at it all” uses a metaphor to express their keen interest in the surroundings while the colon

after ‘all’ serves to itemize the intangible aspects that nature provides and how individuals encounter them. The empty and quiet streets are characterized through personification, as they are depicted as kind and benevolent compared to the chaos of war-torn Poland. The personification in “Time anxiously waited with us” describes how time seems to move slowly as immigrants await their uncertain futures. Furthermore, the use of “behind upturned collars” describes how the immigrants huddle to protect themselves from the cold and dampness while eagerly waiting for their train. Finally, personification is used in ‘hemmed’ in “spaced hemmed us against each other like cattle bought to the slaughter” to illustrate overcrowding of individuals as if they were sewn together - an oxymoron when referring to a crowded space.

The treatment of immigrants during wartime was often inhumane, as they were treated like animals. Their worldly possessions were reduced to "blankets and packed cases." The repetition of the train whistle emphasizes the sadness of leaving behind a life they knew well. The alliteration in "so suddenly" conveys the suddenness of the event, catching them off guard. The simile "like a word of command" has military connotations and snaps people to attention as it announces their departure.

Peter Skrzynecki's poems use metaphor and imagery of death and blood to convey their message. "Turned red and dropped like a guillotine" creates a vivid image, while "along glistening tracks of steel" suggests that anything can happen in their new lives, despite the uncertainty of the future. The personification of time in "time moves ahead" shows that the future is approaching and will bring with it unknown experiences. These poems demonstrate how a

journey can impact an individual. In contrast, Shirley Geok-lin Lim's passage, "The Town Where Time Stands Still", explores how a journey can alter one's beliefs and ideals about traveling.

The passage employs a formal language to convey the spiritual dimension of a physical journey to educated readers. By using the phrase "travellers through the centuries," the writer aims to encompass a wide range of individuals over a long period of time, thus highlighting a universal truth for travellers. They further use the metaphor of an interwoven thread to emphasize the significance attached to the motivation to travel.

The connection between "profit and pleasure" through alliteration taps into deep-rooted ideas. The phrase "subtle yet sometimes unconscious compulsion" refers to an inexplicable urge to discover a location's spirit or "genii loci." The term "purer realm" is aspirational, signaling something extraordinary and beyond earthly bounds. Rather than merely traversing to get from point A to point B, travel for its own sake is deemed more rewarding. The phrase "rather be moved than to move" captures the notion that the traveler aims to be enriched by the experience. Similarly, "they seek an external geography that will act on their internal psychology" expresses the desire for a transformative encounter.

The final portion of the text relates to resolution in a formal grammatical style. The use of aspirational language, such as "blessed and altered," serves as a prayerful expression of the emotions people experience after undertaking a transformative journey. People often embark on physical journeys with the intention of being permanently changed by the places they visit, highlighting the significance of such expeditions.

Kenneth Graham's The Wind

in the Willows presents a unique physical journey, centered around the anticipation of a journey that can ultimately determine its success. In contrast to the previous examples, this journey is hindered by the exaggerated anticipation of three main characters - Rat, Toad, and Mole - who are portrayed through anthropomorphism. This literary technique attributes human traits to these animal characters, effectively conveying Graham's ideas about the potential pitfalls of excessive anticipation towards a journey.

The ‘gypsy caravan’ is referenced as the beginning of a journey, characterized by itinerancy and a lack of permanence. The caravan is described with positive connotations like "shining newness" and vibrant colors such as "canary-yellow picked out with green, and red wheels." The text lists several places to be visited: "camps, villages, towns, cities," along with items commonly found during the journey: "a cooking stove, lockers, bookshelves, a birdcage with a bird in it; and pots, pans, jugs and kettles." This cataloguing technique creates a sense of speed and motion, describing elements of the journey. Furthermore, exclamation marks heighten the feeling of excitement regarding the journey.

The use of hyperbole in the phrase “the very finest cart” highlights the creativity involved in the journey and how the characters are persuading each other to join. The alliteration in “compact or comfortable” connects concepts and emphasizes convenience. Throughout this passage, the use of lists and informal language is linked to pleasure, as the characters attempt to encourage one another to embark on the journey by appealing to enjoyment. Exploring the idea of a physical expedition allows for insight into the characters and their tactics for achieving their desires. Although these three characters are

vastly different, they all assist each other in similar ways.

Toad is the driving force behind the upcoming journey. He possesses the most enthusiasm and is particularly adept at generating excitement for the adventure. Toad’s enthusiastic nature is conveyed through the use of the verb ‘cried,’ which implies a certain level of volume and excitement. It is clear that Toad has a strong sense of pride, which is of utmost importance to him. To further emphasize his positive outlook, the use of hyperbole in “there’s real life for you embodied in that cart” highlights his assertive personality.

In his attempt to persuade Rat to join him on the journey, Toad utilizes a patronizing and affectionate tone when referring to him as "dear good old Ratty," revealing his manipulative and egotistic nature as he expresses contempt towards the life choices Rat has made. The use of alliteration in "stiff and sniffy" further emphasizes Toad's attempts to make Rat feel guilty. Meanwhile, Mole displays great excitement and curiosity towards the journey and is easily impressed by even the slightest things, reflecting his impressionable nature.

The usage of the adverb 'eagerly' highlights the enthusiasm and eagerness of Mole. However, he is in a dilemma whether to accompany Toad or stay with Rat. Rat seems unenthusiastic about the journey and is portrayed as being hesitant and cynical through the usage of rhetorical questions like "I beg your pardon, but did I overhear you say something about “we” and “start”, and “this afternoon”?" The adverb 'most mistrustful' along with alliteration emphasizes Rat's attitude.

The gesture of "Only snorted and thrust his hands" demonstrates contempt, while italicized words employ heavy

irony to underscore reluctance expressed through rhetorical questioning. Rat exemplifies stubborn defiance, resolute in pursuing his own desires. Each of the four texts - Crossing the Red Sea, Immigrants at Central Station, The Town Where Time Stands Still, and The Wind in the Willows - offers unique insights into the ways physical journeys can impact individuals or groups. These effects are conveyed through diverse techniques.