The Early Settlers by Ken Chau

techniques: pun, alliteration, vulgar slang, ambiguous pronouns

The Early Settlers by Ken Chau

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

The British and the Asians.

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

It's very short and sharp. The Asians sort of just arrived with no warning.

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

They are already dug in in Australia, there's lots of them.

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

He just wants to live there and farm, and the British are hostile.

5. What action does the Great-Grandfather do that ties him both to the ‘early settlers’ and to his own culture?
He calls them 'a fucking bastard' but in his own language.
6. How does this short poem highlight the irony of the hatred that immigrants experience when they come to a 'settled' land like Australia?
There hatred reflected back on to them by the Asian immigrants