Extract Of Maestro By Peter Goldsworthy

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In the extract from “Maestro” by Peter Goldsworthy, the author discusses the protagonist, Paul, and how he and his family moved from the South to Darwin. They stay in a motel room the first night and the next day they visit their new house. It shows the relationship between the family and their environment, expressing their feelings about the situation. In the prose extract, the author illustrates a rough atmosphere which the protagonist immediately loves, unlike his family, in order to create characterisation through the family’s first impression of the new town. The text conveys Nancy as a strong-willed person by her initial rejection of her new circumstances and then she improves them by quickly moving forward with the situation, showing …show more content…

“I loved the town of booze and blow at first sight” conveys Pauls immediate connection with this new town using alliteration with the two ‘b’ sounds to emphasise the words. It shows how he feels comfortable in this new location. The use of “booze and blow” is a colloquialism that means alcohol and drugs, this describes the people in the town as unhealthy with behaviour problems. Goldsworthy uses bildungsroman through Pauls love of the town, despite the alcohol and drugs, this shows a ‘false view’ to the situation and the theme of ‘ignorance to knowledge’ because this isn’t the best town. The first part of text contrasts with the following section which talks about “the brilliant furnace of the rising sun” using a metaphor to symbolize the sun and created clear imagery. This shows Pauls progression of thoughts. “Furnace” is significant and gives the image of intense heat to describe the atmosphere. “From time to time a cube would descend from directly above: not so much rain as a solid mass of water.” This is visual imagery of the rain and the purpose is to show a change of mood, progress and atmosphere to slow the events down and introduce a new day. In this section of the extract, Goldsworthy uses descriptive language to develop characterisation and …show more content…

The metaphor “bare shoebox” creates visual imagery of a sparse room, with little inside. “Wet shrubbery” creates a natural atmosphere of the environment around the house. He says that the house is elevated on “thin stork-stilts”, this uses sibilance to catch the reader’s attention. It also uses visual imagery to show Paul’s perspective. In the text there is repetition of the phrase “This is it.” spoken by Paul’s father, John, in response to “Is this it? My mother tried to disbelieve.” This phrase is repeated, a short and sharp message to show finality. Nancy, the mother is doubtful and denies the current situation. “Perhaps the key won’t fit, she hoped.” Through the use of dialogue, the author shows how Nancy is doubtful and unhappy about the situation. The descriptions of the house show the family react to it, developing their character in the beginning of the