Common Module
'Past the Shallows'
'Past the Shallows'
Module A
'One Night the Moon'
'One Night the Moon'
Module B
'Oodgeroo Noonuccal'
'Oodgeroo Noonuccal'
Module C
Picture this
100
Where is the novel set?
Bruny Island, Tasmania
100
Who is Charles Perkins?
The father of the film's director Rachel Perkins, he was an Aboriginal activist
100
What is Oodgeroo Noonuccal's other name?
Kath Walker
100
What is the name of the protagonist in 'Home'?
Ahmed
100
Name this place which is mentioned in one of the texts we have studied
Sun-Yat Sen Memorial Hall
200
Identify TWO recurring motifs in the novel.
The ocean, Sharks/ the shark tooth necklace, cold/ coldness, silence, memory, lack of food/ hunger
200
'One Night the Moon' is based on the real events of a black tracker named ??? and a missing child named ???
Alexander Riley (black tracker) and Desmond Clarke (child)
200
In The Past, Oodgeroo writes: “Let no one say the past is dead.” What technique is used and what key idea does this opening line introduce?
Technique: High modality or Imperative statement
Idea: The enduring presence of history and cultural memory in shaping identity.
200
In Helen Garner's 'Dear Mrs Dunkley' what is the relationship between the composer and Mrs Dunkley?
Student and teacher
200
What is this and which text is it mention in?
Abalone - mentioned in 'Past the Shallows'
300
Identify THREE key structural features of the novel.
Cyclical/circular narrative structure; non-linear structure; flashbacks; multiple character perspectives; foreshadowing; motifs; character foil
300
Identify three techniques that the director utilise to signify the subservient gender roles of white women in the film?
- juxtaposition - Rose's domesticity with Jim's sheep slaughter/ the women in the kitchen cooking while the men search for Emily
- Rose's silence
- Framing of Rose (she is pictured behind the window, blocked by the verandah and the fence/ gate)
- high angel shot of Jim standing over her at the dinner table
300
Fill in the blanks from the last three lines of 'The Past'
Let none tell me ____ ____ ____ ____ ____.
Now is so small a part of time, ____ ____ ____ ____
____ ____ ____ ____ ____ that have moulded me.
Let none tell me the past is wholly gone.
Now is so small a part of time, so small a part
Of all the race years that have moulded me.
300
Name the three prescribed texts and composers we have studied for Module C
Catherine Cole’s 'Home '
Helen Garner’s 'Dear Mrs Dunkley'
Steve Jobs’ 'How to Live Before You Die'
300
What shot type and lighting technique is used in this scene from 'One Night the Moon'?
Close-up shot and low-key lighting
400
Explain how Parrett’s use of narrative perspective shapes the reader’s empathy for the brothers’ experiences.
By shifting between Miles’ and Harry’s limited viewpoints, the novel allows the reader to see their vulnerability and innocence, evoking empathy for their suffering and struggles with their father.
400
What grammatical distinction (technique), obvious through juxtaposition, causes subtle tension in the following dialogue between Rose and Albert's wife, leading to Albert's wife slamming the door in Rose's face:
Rose: Is the black tracker here?
Albert's wife: Albert's not here.
"Black tracker" is a common noun. Describing Albert by his racial features (adjective) and job/skill (noun), rather than his name, strips him of his identity and shows Rose's superior white voice and condescension to Albert as being 'lower' in social status than her.
"Albert" is a proper noun. Referring to him by his correct name restores his identity and power as equal to Rose and deserving of equal respect.
400
Name the poems that mention the Rainbow Serpent and provide the quotation
- China... Woman - "The great Wall/ Twines itself/ Around and over them,/ Like my Rainbow Serpent"
- Reed Flute Cave - "I didn't expect to meet you in Guilin/ My Rainbow Serpent", "Tell me, my Rainbow Spirit/ Was there just one of you?"
400
List three persuasive techniques utilised by Steve Jobs in his speech
1. Anecdotes / Personal Stories
Jobs shares stories from his own life: dropping out of college, being fired from Apple, his battle with cancer.
2. Repetition
Repeats key phrases like “You’ve got to trust…” and “Stay hungry, stay foolish.”
3. Inclusive Language
Uses “you” and “we” to address the audience directly.
4. Contrasts / Juxtaposition
Contrasts failure and success, life and death, setbacks and breakthroughs.
5. High Modality Statements
Uses strong, confident statements: “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.”
7. Pathos / Emotional Appeal
Discusses mortality, personal setbacks, and passion.
8. Ethos / Credibility
Jobs establishes authority by referencing his achievements: founding Apple, experiences at Pixar.
400
Name these three people
Favel Parrett, Steve Jobs, Oodgeroo Noonuccal
500
Provide an example of an anomaly, paradox and inconsistency evident throughout the novel.
Paradox
The ocean is a paradox because it provides for the family (their livelihood relies on fishing) but it can also take away (Harry’s death).
The ocean provides respite and joy for Miles, but represents fear and discomfort for Harry.
- The boys are children but must navigate adult dangers like grief, violence, and secrecy.
Inconsistency: The ocean is inconsistent as it can be calm and beautiful one moment/day then stormy and dark the next. It’s unpredictable.
Aunt Jean is nurturing and loving to the boys one minute but can also be cold and harsh.
- The boys’ recollections of happier times clash with present suffering.
Anomaly Dad is an anomaly as we often consider a father as a figure who provides love, protection, guidance, whereas Dad is the cause of the boys’ fear and pain in the novel.
The boys’ home - we associate home as a place of refuge, safety and comfort, yet their house is cold, empty, quiet and the boys have to run away to seek safety.
Harry is an anomaly because he is so selfless and wise for someone so young.
500
This question has TWO parts.
In the feature song, 'This Land is Mine', Jim Ryan and Albert Yang's disparate identities and cultural views of the world are represented through clever use of film techniques.
(a) Explain how juxtaposition is used in the vocal delivery of the song to show the differences between Albert and Jim's view of land ownership. Be specific in describing how the juxtaposition has been created.
(b) Identify and describe the effect of TWO film techniques used to emphasise the distinction between the two men.
(a) The contrast between settler and indigenous and is juxtaposed when they sing as a duet. Jim refers to the land as tenancy and ownership in terms of a contractual agreement, represented through Jim’s nasal, strident tone in singing “this land is mine”, asserting the ownership of his land. In contrast, Albert conveys a universal affinity and connection to the environment, time, ancestors and land custodianship, as expressed in his deep baritone voice in singing “this land is me”, affirming his holistic connection with the land.
(b) Panning shot: Perkins uses a panning shot to display Jim striding back and forth on his land, ordering the men to spread out across the line, demonstrating Jim’s profound sense of ownership over his land.
Tracking shot: In contrast, Perkins uses a steady tracking shot to emphasise Albert's affinity/alignment with the land.
Close-up shot: Continuous close-up focus on Albert as he delivers his first lines of the song limits view of background, implying he is one with his environment. In contrast, the panning shot of Jim traversing the land continually shows the dominance of the vast rural landscape and Jim's comparative insignificance and powerlessness.
Juxtaposition/Editing: The disparity between both protagonists is shown when she directs Jim and Albert to walk off in opposing courses, displaying a physical representation of their opposing viewpoints.
500
Identify four distinctive features of Noonuccal's poems
Common Techniques
Free Verse & Conversational Tone
Personification of nature
Mythological/ Religious Allusion
Juxtaposition of Past and Present
Shifts in Setting → movement between China and Australia, present and memory
Distinctive Features of Noonuccal’s Poetry
- Fusion of Aboriginal and Global Perspectives
- History as a Living Force
- Nature as Sacred and Universal
- Personal Voice of Reflection
- Empowerment through literature and imagination
500
Identify a key idea from each of the three prescribed texts you studied for Module C
'Home'
Belonging and displacement – Ahmed’s adjustment to a new country and home highlights the migrant experience.
Family and loss – He has lost his wife, son, and son-in-law, and longs for reunion with his daughter and grandchildren.
Memory and past trauma – Reflections on past violence in Baghdad and grief permeate the story.
Hope and resilience – Despite his losses, Ahmed looks forward to rebuilding family life and cultivating his garden.
Connection to place – The house, garden, and cemetery serve as anchors in his new environment.
'Dear Mrs Dunkley"
Education and discipline – Explores both the rigour and harshness of teaching practices.
Childhood and growth – Shows how formative experiences shape knowledge, confidence, and identity.
Respect and gratitude – Acknowledges the lasting influence of a teacher despite fear or difficulty.
Memory and perspective – Reflects on how time and maturity change understanding of past events.
Authority and human complexity – Recognises the teacher as both strict and capable of positive impact.
'How to Live Before You Die'
Mortality and the value of life: Reflecting on death as motivation to live authentically.
Individuality and self-discovery: Encourages following one’s passion and intuition.
Resilience and learning from failure: Shows how setbacks can guide personal growth and innovation.
500
This question has TWO parts.
(a) Identify THREE film techniques used in this shot.
(b) Explain the meaning behind this moment shown at the start of the film.
(a) Dissolve transition; Mid-shot/long shot layered over extreme long shot; low-angle; symbolism of stark/bare outback; back-lighting (silhouetting); negative space; body language; circular narrative structure/flash-forward.
(b) This moment occurs at the beginning of the film after the opening song. It is a flash-forward to the end of the story, creating a circular narrative. Here, Jim Ryan is walking away from his home, slowly disappearing and appearing further away in the distance. This symbolises his fading grip on reality, both psychologically (due to grief) and physically (he is about to kill himself). The deserted background signifies his social isolation resulting from his ignorance and racism, both from his wife and Aboriginal communities. This also reflects the emptiness of his life and emotions now his daughter is dead.