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Discovery In Swallow The Air

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Exploration of discovery can allow for the development of an understanding of the idea that texts have the ability to certify or challenge presumptions and beliefs about features of human experiences and the world. Some texts allow for the journey of exploration to be present and experienced. This journey allows for discovery to occur. The discovery can be anything from emotional, self or unplanned. This allows for the concept of discovery to surprising and challenging, while either affirming or challenging previous presumptions and beliefs, permitting the audience to go on a journey of discovery with the characters within the text. The ways in which the concept of discovery is represented in and throughout texts is shown within the book “Swallow …show more content…

Unplanned discoveries have been present all throughout the novel “Swallow the Air”, sometimes these discoveries come about from a planned discovery. An example from the book is within the Territory chapter which documents her discovery of her father and who he was. This discovery was planned, however the unplanned discovery was when she rediscovered the true nature of her father and his violence against her mother. She mentions how “He was the monster I’d tried to hide” this was in relation to May going to a rodeo and seeing a man who she didn’t recognise - someone completely different to her imagination and what she wished for. This discovery has led her to becoming that little bit more resilient and grow that much more. To portray this idea of unplanned discoveries, I have annotated a oyster with a pearl inside. The oyster represents the planned discovery, however the pearl represents the unplanned discoveries which stem from the planned discovery. Sometimes these discoveries happen - just like finding a pearl but sometimes it doesn’t. When pearls are found, it is a moment of shock and surprise - just like when you discover something which you hadn’t intended. The outer shell of an oyster is strong and tough, similar to a planned discovery as you have braced yourself for the worst and emotionally ready yourself. Whereas the meat that is inside the oyster can be identified as the result of discovering something unplanned as when this happens, the individual isn’t ready for something that could possibly be confronting and could leave them vulnerable. Unplanned discoveries developed the understanding of the potential of texts to affirm of challenge assumptions and beliefs about aspects of human experience and the

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