This term paper wants to examine the forms and functions of Aboriginality in Kim Scott’s novel Benang: From the Heart. Published in 1999 as the author’s second novel, it gained great attention and also won the Miles Franklin Award. Kim Scott is a descendant of the Nyoongar people who have at all times inhabited the south-east coast of Western Australia. They used to be a large homogenous group that shared a common language and culture until the first white settlers landed on their continent. Apart from general mistreatment of these people, Kim Scott’s novel illustrates how an institutionalized genocide of them and other Aboriginal people was attempted. The story not only includes individual stories of several Aboriginal characters, but also official documents, newspaper articles, letters and reports. Like that, Scott creates a counter-narrative to colonial history and gives voices to those who were oppressed by legislations and racism.
The paper focuses on one type of Aboriginality, namely Harley’s discovered Aboriginality. This closer investigation includes the other aspects to some extent, as all of them are closely intertwined. In the course of my survey I will try to work out Scott’s way of representing certain aspects and which implications his choice might have for the interpretation of his novel, especially concerning the implications for a construction of Aboriginal identity and for the establishment of a new historical discourse.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- The Problem of Defining Aboriginality
- Aboriginality in Benang: From the Heart
- Facets of Aboriginality in Benang
- Discovered Aboriginality
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This term paper analyzes the representation of Aboriginality in Kim Scott's novel, Benang: From the Heart, exploring how Scott portrays various facets of Aboriginal identity and challenges colonial narratives. The paper examines the complexities of defining Aboriginality, considering its historical context and diverse expressions. A central focus is on the concept of "discovered Aboriginality" as portrayed in the novel.
- The complexities and challenges of defining Aboriginality.
- The portrayal of diverse forms of Aboriginal identity in Benang: From the Heart.
- Kim Scott's counter-narrative to colonial history.
- The construction of Aboriginal identity within the novel.
- The implications of Scott's representation for a new historical discourse.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
Introduction: This chapter introduces Kim Scott's novel Benang: From the Heart and its significance. It establishes the paper's objective: to examine the forms and functions of Aboriginality as depicted in the novel. The chapter contextualizes Scott's work, highlighting his Nyoongar heritage and the historical context of the Nyoongar people's experiences with colonization, emphasizing the devastating cultural impact and the attempted genocide. The introduction previews the paper's structure, outlining the approach to defining Aboriginality, illustrating its diverse expressions in the novel, and focusing on the concept of "discovered Aboriginality" as a key aspect of the analysis. It highlights the paper's goal to understand Scott's representational choices and their implications for the construction of Aboriginal identity and the creation of a counter-narrative to colonial history.
The Problem of Defining Aboriginality: This chapter critically examines the difficulties in defining "Aboriginality," highlighting its multifaceted nature and the problematic history of its usage. It discusses the complexities arising from the colonizers' attempts to define and control Aboriginal identity, emphasizing how this definition was used to justify colonial power. The chapter acknowledges the pre-colonial diversity of Aboriginal cultures across Australia, contrasting the multitude of tribes and languages with the homogenizing term "Aborigines." The discussion addresses the historical inaccuracy of the "terra nullius" concept and the impact of colonial narratives on shaping perceptions of Aboriginal identity. It also notes the ongoing debate regarding the appropriate terminology and the lack of a universally accepted neutral alternative.
Aboriginality in Benang: From the Heart: This chapter (encompassing sections 3.1 and 3.2) delves into the portrayal of Aboriginality within Kim Scott's Benang: From the Heart. While specifics of sections 3.1 and 3.2 are not provided, the chapter summary would synthesize the various facets of Aboriginal identity presented in the novel, focusing on how these different expressions are intertwined and interconnected. A deep dive into the narrative techniques employed by Scott to represent these facets would be critical. The discussion of "discovered Aboriginality" would be central to this chapter, analyzing how this specific concept contributes to the overall representation of Aboriginal identity in the novel and its challenge to dominant narratives.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Aboriginality, Kim Scott, Benang: From the Heart, postcolonial literature, Australian literature, Indigenous identity, colonial history, cultural representation, discovered Aboriginality, Nyoongar people, counter-narrative, genocide, terra nullius.
FAQ: Benang: From the Heart - A Literary Analysis
What is the main focus of this academic paper?
This paper analyzes the representation of Aboriginality in Kim Scott's novel, Benang: From the Heart. It explores how Scott portrays various facets of Aboriginal identity and challenges traditional colonial narratives. A key theme is the concept of "discovered Aboriginality."
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
The paper examines the complexities of defining Aboriginality, considering its historical context and diverse expressions. It investigates Kim Scott's counter-narrative to colonial history, the construction of Aboriginal identity within the novel, and the implications of Scott's representation for a new historical discourse. The challenges of defining Aboriginality in the face of colonial attempts to control and homogenize it are central.
What are the chapter summaries provided in the preview?
The Introduction sets the context, introducing Benang: From the Heart and its significance, outlining the paper's objectives, and highlighting Scott's Nyoongar heritage and the historical context of colonization. The Problem of Defining Aboriginality chapter critically examines the difficulties in defining "Aboriginality," highlighting its multifaceted nature and the problematic history of its usage. The Aboriginality in Benang: From the Heart chapter delves into the novel's portrayal of Aboriginal identity, focusing on the concept of "discovered Aboriginality." Specific details within the third chapter's subsections are not provided in this preview.
What are the objectives of the paper?
The paper aims to analyze the complexities and challenges of defining Aboriginality, portray the diverse forms of Aboriginal identity presented in Benang: From the Heart, understand Kim Scott's counter-narrative to colonial history, examine the construction of Aboriginal identity within the novel, and explore the implications of Scott's representation for a new historical discourse.
What are the key words associated with this paper?
Key words include Aboriginality, Kim Scott, Benang: From the Heart, postcolonial literature, Australian literature, Indigenous identity, colonial history, cultural representation, discovered Aboriginality, Nyoongar people, counter-narrative, genocide, and terra nullius.
What is "discovered Aboriginality"?
While not explicitly defined in this preview, "discovered Aboriginality" is presented as a central concept in the novel Benang: From the Heart and a key focus of the paper's analysis. It likely refers to the process or experience of individuals discovering or reclaiming their Aboriginal identity, potentially in the context of a colonial past that attempted to suppress or erase it.
What is the overall structure of the paper?
The paper follows a standard academic structure, beginning with an introduction, followed by a chapter exploring the complexities of defining Aboriginality. The main analysis is dedicated to exploring Aboriginality within Benang: From the Heart, with a conclusion summarizing the findings.
- Quote paper
- Katharina Dellbrügge (Author), 2009, Form and Functions of Aboriginality in Kim Scott’s Benang 'From the Heart', Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/145012