The Early Settlers by Ken Chau

1. How does this title refer to two groups of ‘settlers’? Who are they?

It shows that one group is the early European settlers and the later settlers such as Italians and the Chinese and so forth.

2. How is the first line of the poem successful at being ‘forceful’ regarding the Great-Grandfather’s presence in Australia?

It says "Great-Grandfather arrived". It makes it seem more forceful than something like "My Great-Grandfather arrived in Australia"

3. What action are the ‘early settlers’ doing that gives them equally a strong presence?

They are entrenched, this means that they are already firmly placed in the land instead of just being there. They know what to do as they have been there for a while

4. How is the intention of the Great-Grandfather juxtaposed to the beliefs of the ‘early settlers’?

He has the intention to grow corn, cabbage and tobacco which is juxtaposed to potential terrorist

5. What action does the Great-Grandfather do that ties him both to the ‘early settlers’ and to his own culture?

He insults calls him a "fucking bastard" showing his anger towards the man as he damaged Great-Grandfathers new country and he does it in his own language connecting him to his culture.
6. How does this short poem highlight the irony of the hatred that immigrants experience when they come to a 'settled' land like Australia?
They were thought of as terrorists and that is how the Aboriginals thought of the Early settlers when they arrived


techniques: pun, alliteration, vulgar slang, ambiguous pronouns


The Early Settlers
Great-Grandfather arrived
in 1897 to grow corn
cabbage tobbaco in Wahgunyah
the early settlers
already entrenched
each a foreign devil
a potential terrorist
the first terrorist
he called a fucking bastard
in his own language