Bora Ring: ISC Class 11 Modern English solutions, notes
Get summay, questions, answers, solutions, notes, extras, PDF, competency-based questions of Judith Wright’s poem Bora Ring: ISC Class 11 Modern English (Goyal Brothers Workbook), which is part of the present syllabus. These solutions, however, should only be treated as references and can be modified/changed.
Summary
The poem is about a special place called a Bora Ring. Indigenous Australian people once held ceremonies here. Now, their culture is gone from this place. The songs, dances, and stories have disappeared. The poem says the people are like “dancers in the earth.” This is a way of saying they have passed away and are part of the land now.
Only nature remembers what happened. The grass still grows in the shape of the dancing circle. The gum trees around the ring are described as if they are copying the old dances. The sound of the wind in their leaves is like a quiet, forgotten song. This is a metaphor, where the trees act like people to show that a memory of the past remains.
The poem also states that the hunter is gone. His spear is broken and buried. The memory of the people with their painted bodies is described as “a dream the world breathed sleeping and forgot.” This metaphor suggests their way of life has faded away, like a dream you cannot remember after waking up. The people who used to travel are now still.
Someone riding a horse stops near the empty Bora Ring. The rider feels a sudden, strange sadness and fear. This feeling is called “the fear as old as Cain,” which refers to an ancient story of conflict. It suggests the rider feels a deep sense of guilt or sorrow for the loss of the people and their culture that happened long ago.
Line-by-line Explanations
The song is gone; the dance / is secret with the dancers in the earth,
The poem begins by stating that the music and ceremonies of the Aboriginal people who once used this bora ring are no longer performed. The phrase “the dance is secret with the dancers in the earth” is a metaphorical way of saying that the people who knew these traditions are now dead and buried. Their cultural knowledge died with them, and it is now hidden or kept “secret” in the ground where they lie.
the ritual useless, and the tribal story / lost in an alien tale.
The specific ceremonies and religious practices (“ritual”) that were performed here no longer have a purpose because the community that practiced them is gone. The history and oral traditions of the tribe (“the tribal story”) have also disappeared. They have been replaced by the culture and history of the settlers, which is described as an “alien tale” because it is foreign and did not originate from this land.
Only the grass stands up / to mark the dancing-ring; the apple-gums
The only physical evidence left of the sacred ceremonial site is from nature itself. The grass grows in a way that shows the circular shape of the bora ring, the place where dances were held. The “apple-gums,” a type of Australian eucalyptus tree, stand around the ring like silent witnesses.
posture and mime a past corroboree, / murmur a broken chant.
The trees are described as if they are people. They “posture and mime,” meaning their twisted shapes and movements in the wind look like they are trying to imitate the Aboriginal ceremonial dance (a “corroboree”) that once happened there. The sound of the wind through their leaves is compared to a “murmur,” like a quiet, unclear voice, singing a “broken chant.” This suggests that nature holds a faint, fragmented memory of the past, but it is incomplete and fading.
The hunter is gone; the spear / is splintered underground; the painted bodies
This stanza shifts focus from the cultural practices to the people themselves. The Aboriginal hunter, a central figure in the traditional way of life, no longer exists here. His primary tool, the “spear,” is broken and buried, decaying in the earth. The “painted bodies,” decorated for ceremonies, are also gone from the physical world.
a dream the world breathed sleeping and forgot. / The nomad feet are still.
The memory of these people and their culture is compared to a dream that the world had and then forgot upon waking. This powerful image suggests that their existence has been almost completely erased from collective memory. The line “The nomad feet are still” confirms the end of their traditional lifestyle, as “nomad” refers to people who move from place to place. Their journeys have ended forever.
Only the rider’s heart / halts at a sightless shadow, an unsaid word
The poem’s perspective now moves to a modern-day observer, a “rider,” likely a non-Indigenous person on horseback passing by. This person feels a sudden, instinctive pause or hesitation (“halts”). They are not reacting to something they can see or hear, but to an invisible presence—a “sightless shadow”—and a silent message—an “unsaid word.” This shows a spiritual or emotional connection to the haunted history of the place.
that fastens in the blood of the ancient curse, / the fear as old as Cain.
This feeling the rider experiences is connected to a deep, inherited guilt. The “ancient curse” refers to the violent history of colonization and the dispossession of the Aboriginal people. The final line compares the rider’s feeling of guilt and fear to that of Cain, a figure from the Bible who murdered his own brother, Abel. This comparison suggests that the conflict between settlers and Indigenous people was like a brother turning against a brother, and the land itself now carries the memory and guilt of that violence.
Word Meanings
Bora Ring: (from the title) A sacred place in some Indigenous Australian cultures. It is a circular area of ground where important ceremonies, especially initiation rituals for young men, were held.
- In the context of the poem, the Bora Ring is not just a place but a powerful symbol of the entire Indigenous culture that has been lost. The poem describes how only the shape of the ring in the grass remains.
Ritual: A religious or solemn ceremony involving a series of actions performed in a set order.
- In the context of the poem, “the ritual useless” means that the sacred ceremonies and traditions of the tribe no longer have a purpose because the people who practised them are gone and their cultural system has been destroyed.
Alien: Unfamiliar and strange; belonging to a foreign country or people.
- In the context of the poem, the “alien tale” refers to the history, language, and culture of the European colonisers, which has replaced and overshadowed the “tribal story” of the land’s original inhabitants.
Apple-gums: A type of Australian eucalyptus tree, often with gnarled or twisted branches.
- In the context of the poem, the trees are presented as the only living witnesses to the past. Their twisted shapes are imagined to be imitating the dancers from long ago.
Posture: To assume a particular pose or position of the body.
- In the context of the poem, the trees are not just standing there; they “posture and mime,” meaning they seem to be actively holding the poses of the dancers, as if trying to remember and re-enact the lost ceremony.
Mime: To act out a story or character using body movements and gestures, without speech.
- In the context of the poem, the trees “mime a past corroboree” by silently imitating the movements of the dancers. It creates a ghostly, silent echo of the vibrant event that once happened there.
Corroboree: An Australian Aboriginal ceremonial gathering, often involving dancing and singing to tell a story.
- In the context of the poem, the “past corroboree” represents the lively, spiritual, and communal life of the tribe that has now vanished completely.
Chant: A short, simple melody or phrase that is sung or spoken rhythmically.
- In the context of the poem, the “broken chant” is the murmuring sound of the wind in the trees. It is described as “broken” because it is an incomplete, fragmented echo of the powerful songs that were once sung during the rituals.
Splintered: Broken into small, thin, sharp pieces.
- In the context of the poem, the spear being “splintered underground” means it has decayed and fallen apart over time. This symbolises the end of the traditional hunting lifestyle and how the tools of that culture are now buried and forgotten.
Nomad: A member of a community of people who live in different locations, moving from one place to another.
- In the context of the poem, “the nomad feet are still” refers to the traditional, wandering lifestyle of the Indigenous people. The phrase powerfully suggests that this way of life has stopped, and the people themselves are gone.
Halts: Stops suddenly.
- In the context of the poem, the “rider’s heart halts” when he passes the site. This suggests a sudden feeling of shock, fear, or a guilty conscience as he senses the tragic history of the place.
Sightless: Blind; unable to be seen.
- In the context of the poem, a “sightless shadow” refers to a presence that can be felt but not seen. It is the invisible ghost of the past, the memory of the lost people and their culture that haunts the land.
Fastens: Attaches or fixes itself firmly.
- In the context of the poem, an “unsaid word that fastens in the blood” means that the unspoken truth of the past injustice becomes a permanent, undeniable part of the rider’s identity and conscience, passed down through generations.
Curse: A declaration meant to bring about harm or punishment to someone.
- In the context of the poem, “the ancient curse” is not a magical spell, but the deep and lasting guilt that the descendants of the colonisers (like the rider) feel for the destruction of the Indigenous culture.
Cain: A figure from the Bible who murdered his brother, Abel. He is a symbol of jealousy and the first murderer.
- In the context of the poem, the “fear as old as Cain” connects the colonisers’ actions to the very first act of a brother killing a brother. It frames the destruction of the Indigenous people as a terrible, primal crime, creating a sense of shared, foundational guilt.
Workbook solutions
Multiple Choice Questions
1. What does the phrase ‘the song is gone; the dance is secret with the dancers in the earth’ suggest about the Aboriginal traditions?
(a) They are thriving and widely practiced.
(b) They have been forgotten or buried with those who practiced them.
(c) They are being passed down through generations.
(d) They are evolving into modern rituals.
Answer: (b) They have been forgotten or buried with those who practiced them.
2. What is implied by the line ‘Only the rider’s heart halts at a sightless shadow, an unsaid word’?
(a) The rider is indifferent to the past.
(b) The rider is haunted by the loss of indigenous culture.
(c) The rider is joyful about the changes in the land.
(d) The rider is searching for a new home.
Answer: (b) The rider is haunted by the loss of indigenous culture.
3. What does the poem suggest about the fate of Aboriginal culture?
(a) It has adapted and survived.
(b) It has been completely erased.
(c) It lingers in memories and remnants of the past.
(d) It has been fully integrated into modern society.
Answer: (c) It lingers in memories and remnants of the past.
4. How does the poet use imagery in the poem to convey the loss of Aboriginal traditions?
(a) By describing vibrant celebrations and rituals.
(b) By portraying nature as a silent witness to cultural erasure.
(c) By illustrating the resilience of indigenous traditions.
(d) By highlighting the joy of modernisation.
Answer: (b) By portraying nature as a silent witness to cultural erasure.
5. What is the significance of the phrase “the fear as old as Cain” in the last stanza?
(a) It refers to an eternal sense of guilt and violence linked to colonisation.
(b) It suggests the Aboriginal people were violent and dangerous.
(c) It implies that the past holds no relevance to the present.
(d) It highlights a biblical reference without any connection to history.
Answer: (a) It refers to an eternal sense of guilt and violence linked to colonisation.
6. How does Judith Wright contrast the past and the present in the poem?
(a) By juxtaposing the vibrancy of Aboriginal culture with its present erasure.
(b) By showing how indigenous traditions have adapted to modern life.
(c) By presenting a historical account of Aboriginal rituals.
(d) By emphasising the superiority of modern culture.
Answer: (a) By juxtaposing the vibrancy of Aboriginal culture with its present erasure.
7. In what way does the poem reflect the effects of colonisation on Aboriginal culture?
(a) It celebrates the merging of Aboriginal and European traditions.
(b) It mourns the loss of indigenous practices and voices.
(c) It suggests that Indigenous culture has remained unchanged.
(d) It focuses only on environmental destruction.
Answer: (b) It mourns the loss of indigenous practices and voices.
8. How does the poet use sound and rhythm to enhance the poem’s theme of loss?
(a) By using abrupt and broken lines to mirror the cultural disintegration.
(b) By employing a lively and energetic rhythm to celebrate Aboriginal traditions.
(c) By avoiding any patterns that confuse the reader.
(d) By using musical references to suggest that the rituals are still alive.
Answer: (a) By using abrupt and broken lines to mirror the cultural disintegration.
Fill the blanks/Complete Sentences
1. In the poem Bora Ring, the hunter is no longer present because ______
Answer: the traditional Aboriginal way of life, which included hunting for survival, has vanished due to the destructive impact of colonization.
2. The poem describes the Bora Ring as being marked only by grass because ______
Answer: the human ceremonies and rituals are gone, leaving only nature as a silent witness to the sacred ground where the dancing once took place.
3. The phrase “the song is gone; the dance is secret with the dancers in the earth” suggests loss because ______
Answer: it signifies that the cultural traditions are no longer practiced, and the knowledge of them has been buried with the generations who have passed away.
4. The line “the nomad feet are still” signifies a cultural shift because ______
Answer: it marks the end of the Aboriginal people’s free, wandering lifestyle, which has been permanently stopped by the arrival of settlers and the destruction of their culture.
5. In the poem, the “apple-gums” are described as miming a past corroboree because ______
Answer: they are personified to show that nature itself remembers and imitates the lost dances, preserving a memory of the culture that humans have forgotten.
6. The phrase “murmur a broken chant” implies fragmentation of traditions because ______
Answer: the sound is described as faint and incomplete, reflecting how the once-whole cultural chants now exist only as fragmented memories, symbolizing the overall cultural disintegration.
7. In the poem, the reference to “the fear as old as Cain” suggests historical guilt because ______
Answer: it links the destruction of Aboriginal culture to the biblical story of the first murder, suggesting the loss was a profound and violent wrongdoing that carries an ancient and inherited sense of guilt.
8. The poet contrasts the past and present in the poem because ______
Answer: this juxtaposition highlights the immense scale of the loss by showing the stark difference between the vibrant, living culture of the past and the silence and erasure of the present.
Short Answer Type Questions
1. How does Judith Wright use the metaphor of the “dancing-ring” to reflect cultural erasure in Bora Ring? You are required to answer in 100-150 words by incorporating the following details:
- The significance of the “dancing-ring” in Aboriginal culture.
- How its current state reflects the loss of traditions.
Answer: Judith Wright uses the metaphor of the “dancing-ring” to show the erasure of Aboriginal culture by first establishing its past significance. The Bora Ring was a sacred site for Aboriginal initiation ceremonies, a central part of their tradition and culture where songs and dances like the corroboree were performed. These were circles in the ground associated with religious ceremonies of the Aboriginal society.
The poem then contrasts this with the ring’s current state, which reflects the complete loss of these traditions. Now, only the grass stands up to mark the dancing-ring, silently marking the sacred site where ceremonies once took place. The song is gone, the ritual is useless, and the dancers are gone. The emptiness of the ring, once a place of community and ritual, now serves as a physical marker of the absence of the people and the disappearance of their entire way of life.
2. What role does nature play in the poem Bora Ring in preserving the memory of Aboriginal culture? You are required to answer in 100-150 words by incorporating the following details:
- How natural elements like trees and grass symbolise the past.
- The contrast between nature’s endurance and human absence.
Answer: In the poem, nature plays the role of a keeper of memory for the lost Aboriginal culture, acting as a silent witness to what has vanished. Natural elements like the grass and trees are personified to show that they remember the traditions even after humans have forgotten. The grass “stands up to mark the dancing-ring,” physically preserving the location of the sacred ceremonies. The apple-gum trees are described as they “posture and mime a past corroboree” and “murmur a broken chant,” appearing to re-enact the lost dances and songs.
This creates a contrast between nature’s endurance and human absence. While the hunter, the dancers, and the nomad feet are gone and still, the natural world continues to hold the imprint of their culture. The poem suggests that while human memory fades and colonisation erases history, the land itself bears witness and retains a memory of the indigenous people and their rituals, showing a deep connection between the people and their environment.
3. What does the phrase “the painted bodies / a dream the world breathed sleeping and forgot” suggest about the loss of Aboriginal identity? Why is this image effective? You are required to answer in 100-150 words by incorporating the following details:
- The meaning behind “painted bodies” and their cultural importance.
- The effectiveness of describing them as a “dream”.
Answer: The phrase “the painted bodies / a dream the world breathed sleeping and forgot” suggests the complete and passive erasure of a core part of Aboriginal identity. The “painted bodies” were culturally important, as Aboriginal communities traditionally painted their bodies for ceremonies, rituals, and camouflage. This practice was a living expression of their identity and connection to their traditions.
Describing this as a “dream” is an effective image because a dream is fleeting, intangible, and easily forgotten upon waking. It suggests that the dominant colonial world was never fully conscious or aware of the Aboriginal culture; it was something experienced passively, like a dream, and then completely forgotten. This imagery communicates that a real, tangible, and central aspect of Aboriginal life has been reduced to nothing more than a distant, forgotten memory, highlighting the depth of the cultural loss.
4. How does the poet contrast movement and stillness to emphasise the disappearance of Aboriginal traditions in the poem Bora Ring? You are required to answer in 100-150 words by incorporating the following details:
- The significance of “nomad feet” and “rider’s heart” in representing change.
- The impact of stillness in the poem.
Answer: The poet contrasts movement and stillness to show the disappearance of Aboriginal traditions by setting the past, active life of the Aboriginal people against the static, silent present.
The significance of “nomad feet” and “rider’s heart” is in representing change and its consequences. The “nomad feet” refer to the Aboriginal people’s once-free and wandering lifestyle, which has been permanently halted. Their stillness signifies that the once-wandering tribes have disappeared and no longer travel freely as they did before colonisation. In contrast, the “rider’s heart” halts, which evokes a sense of mourning and a stop in the natural flow of life. The rider, who could be the poet or a European settler responsible for the destruction, pauses to reflect on the loss when they see a “sightless shadow” of the vanished culture.
The impact of stillness in the poem is to convey the finality of the cultural erasure. The poem states that the “nomad feet are still,” the “hunter is gone,” and the “spear is splintered underground.” The feet, which once moved with energy and purpose, are now still, showing that the nomadic lifestyle of the Aboriginal people has come to an end. This stillness powerfully contrasts with the memory of past movement, such as the dance and the hunt, to illustrate that the culture and its traditions are now lying dead and still.
Long Answer Type Questions
1. What is the significance of the title Bora Ring? How does it shape the central theme of the poem? You are required to answer in 200-250 words by incorporating the following details:
- The cultural meaning of the Bora Ring in Aboriginal traditions. •
- How the title reflects the poem’s themes of loss and remembrance.
Answer: The significance of the title “Bora Ring” lies in its direct reference to a specific and sacred element of Australian Aboriginal culture. Bora Rings are significant sites for Indigenous Australian tribes, used for ceremonial purposes like the initiation of young boys into manhood. They are sacred circular grounds constructed from earth and stone, which were once central to the religious and social life of the Aboriginal people.
The title immediately shapes the poem’s central theme, which is the loss of Aboriginal culture and the deep sorrow this brings. By naming the poem after this sacred site, Judith Wright establishes a tangible symbol for the entire vanished culture. The poem then proceeds to describe the current state of the Bora Ring, which now lies empty, silent, and marked only by grass. This physical emptiness mirrors the cultural void left by colonisation. The title, therefore, acts as a focal point for the poem’s exploration of loss and remembrance. It frames the poem as a lament, where the physical remnant of the ring prompts a reflection on the disappearance of the songs, dances, rituals, and stories that once gave it meaning. The title itself reflects the poem’s theme of remembrance, as the ring is a trace of the past that serves as a reminder of the lasting effects of colonisation.
2. Does the poet present the disappearance of Aboriginal culture as an irreversible loss, or is there a sense of hope in Bora Ring? You are required to answer in 200-250 words by incorporating the following details:
- Whether the poem suggests complete destruction or cultural survival.
- The role of nature in preserving Aboriginal heritage.
Answer: The poem predominantly presents the disappearance of Aboriginal culture as an irreversible and complete loss. The poet uses definitive statements of absence, such as “The song is gone,” “the ritual useless,” “The hunter is gone,” and “The nomad feet are still.” These declarations suggest a finality to the destruction. The poem explains that this cultural loss is irreversible and that once a culture is lost, it can never be truly restored. The tribal stories are described as being “lost in an alien tale,” indicating their replacement by foreign colonial narratives, and the tools of their way of life, like the spear, are “splintered underground,” forgotten and useless.
However, while the poem mourns a complete destruction of the living, practiced culture, it does suggest a faint form of cultural survival through the role of nature in preserving memory. The poet shows that while humans may forget, nature remembers. The grass “stands up to mark the dancing-ring,” and the apple-gum trees are personified to “mime a past corroboree” and “murmur a broken chant.” Nature acts as a silent witness, holding a memory of the lost traditions. This preservation in the landscape offers a contrast to human absence. Yet, this is not presented as a sense of hope for revival. It is a passive, ghostly memory—a “sightless shadow”—that brings sorrow and guilt to the observer, not optimism. The poem concludes with the “fear as old as Cain,” reinforcing the sense of a tragic, irreversible event rather than offering hope for the future.
3. How effectively does Bora Ring serve as a commentary on historical injustice? You are required to answer in 200-250 words by incorporating the following details:
- The poet’s approach to portraying colonisation and its consequences.
- Whether the poem encourages reflection or action.
Answer: “Bora Ring” serves as a highly effective commentary on historical injustice by portraying the devastating consequences of colonisation through subtle yet powerful imagery and allusion. The poet’s approach is not one of direct political accusation but of a sorrowful elegy that reveals the depth of the injustice through what has been lost. The poem details the erasure of an entire way of life with phrases like “the song is gone” and “the hunter is gone.” The cause of this loss is identified as colonisation, with the tribal story being “lost in an alien tale,” a clear reference to the imposition of foreign narratives over indigenous ones.
The poem’s commentary on injustice is most powerfully delivered in the final stanza with the reference to “the fear as old as Cain.” By alluding to the biblical story of the first murder, born of jealousy, the poem frames the destruction of Aboriginal culture as a primal and unforgivable crime. It draws a parallel between Cain’s fratricide and the “senseless violence” inflicted by European colonisers upon their “native brother-settlers.” This elevates the historical event to a tragedy of mythic proportions, carrying a deep and ancient burden of guilt. The poem primarily encourages reflection on this injustice. The image of the “rider’s heart” that “halts” suggests a pause for contemplation and mourning. It urges readers to acknowledge the history and heritage of the indigenous people. By evoking a sense of sorrow and shared guilt, the poem prompts a moral and historical reflection, which is presented as a necessary response to the profound injustice it describes.
4. Does Bora Ring remain relevant in today’s world? Discuss its contemporary significance. You are required to answer in 200-250 words by incorporating the following details:
- How the themes of cultural loss and remembrance apply today.
- Whether poetry is an effective medium for addressing historical injustices.
Answer: The poem Bora Ring remains highly relevant in today’s world because its central themes of cultural loss and remembrance continue to resonate. The poem highlights how Aboriginal traditions, songs, and rituals vanished due to colonization, with their stories being replaced by an alien tale. This depiction of cultural erasure is not confined to the past or to Australia; many indigenous and minority cultures around the globe still face similar threats from globalization and dominant societies. The poem serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving cultural heritage and acknowledging the lasting effects of colonization. The mourning for a lost way of life, the disappearance of traditions, and the replacement of native customs with foreign influences are issues that many communities grapple with today, making the poem’s message timeless.
Poetry proves to be a very effective medium for addressing historical injustices, as demonstrated by this work. Judith Wright uses simple yet striking language and strong visual images, such as the splintered spear and the silent dancing-ring, to shed light on the tragic consequences of colonization. The poem is described as a powerful voice and a protest poem of an explicitly political nature. By personifying nature, alluding to the biblical curse of Cain to suggest wrongdoing and guilt, and creating a sorrowful mood, Wright makes the historical injustice felt on an emotional level. Her powerful use of language makes the poem memorable and thought-provoking, encouraging readers to reflect on the past and its consequences. This shows that poetry can communicate deep historical and social commentary in a way that factual accounts may not, fostering empathy and a deeper understanding of injustice.
5. Discuss the poem Bora Ring as an elegy. You are required to answer in 200-250 words by incorporating the following details:
- Meaning and significance of Bora Ring.
- Loss of Aboriginal culture and tradition.
Answer: The poem Bora Ring functions as an elegy, which is a lament for the dead, by mourning the loss of Aboriginal culture. The poem is written in the elegy form and that it is an elegy for the lost Aboriginal culture. The title itself, Bora Ring, refers to the sacred sites of the Aboriginal people. These were significant circular grounds used for ceremonial purposes, including initiation ceremonies. In the poem, the Bora Ring, which was once a center of cultural practice, now lies empty and silent, marked only by grass. Its current state symbolizes the complete erasure of an entire way of life, making it a fitting central image for a poem of mourning. The significance of the Bora Ring is that its emptiness represents the void left by the destruction of a culture.
The poem elegiacally details the loss of Aboriginal culture and tradition piece by piece. The speaker states that the song is gone and the dance is now a secret known only to the dancers buried in the earth. The ritual has become useless because no one performs it anymore, and the tribal story is lost, replaced by an alien tale. The poem continues this lament by noting that the hunter is gone, the traditional spear is splintered underground, and the painted bodies are but a forgotten dream. The nomadic lifestyle has ceased, as the nomad feet are still. This systematic listing of what has been lost—song, dance, ritual, story, hunting, and movement—constructs a comprehensive and sorrowful picture of a vanished world, which is the primary function of an elegy.
Extras
MCQs: Knowledge-based
1: What does the term “Bora Ring” refer to?
A. A type of Australian tree
B. A traditional hunting spear
C. A sacred ceremonial ground
D. A forgotten tribal story
Answer: C. A sacred ceremonial ground
21: The painted bodies are described as “a dream the world breathed sleeping and ______.”
A. forgot
B. lost
C. remembered
D. kept
Answer: A. forgot
MCQs: Competency-based
22: (I) The ritual is described as useless.
(II) The song is gone and the dancers are in the earth.
A. I is a contradiction of II.
B. II is the cause for I.
C. I is independent of II.
D. I is an example of II.
Answer: B. II is the cause for I.
31: The phrase “The song is gone” is an example of synecdoche because ‘song’ is used to represent:
A. A single musical piece
B. The entire Aboriginal oral and cultural tradition
C. The sound of the wind
D. A forgotten memory
Answer: B. The entire Aboriginal oral and cultural tradition
Questions and Answers
1. How does the poem ‘Bora Ring’ serve as a sad reflection on lost Aboriginal culture?
You are required to answer in 100-150 words by incorporating the following details:
- The disappearance of traditions, songs, and rituals.
- The current empty and silent state of the Bora Ring.
Answer: The poem ‘Bora Ring’ serves as a sad reflection on the loss of Aboriginal culture by documenting its complete disappearance. The speaker mourns the traditions, dances, songs, and rituals that were once full of life but have now vanished. The opening line, “The song is gone,” immediately establishes this sense of finality. The poem expresses a deep sorrow for how these cultural practices have been erased.
The Bora Ring itself, once a sacred site for ceremonies, is now empty and silent, marked only by the grass. This emptiness symbolizes the hollowing out of a whole way of life. The people who held this knowledge are described as being “in the earth,” meaning their rich heritage is buried and forgotten. This leaves the speaker, and the reader, with a feeling of inescapable loss.
28. How does the imagery in the third stanza depict the end of the traditional Aboriginal way of life?
You are required to answer in 200-250 words by incorporating the following details:
- The symbolism of the absent “hunter” and the “splintered spear”.
- The meaning behind the phrases “painted bodies a dream” and “nomad feet are still”.
Answer: The imagery in the third stanza powerfully depicts the complete and final end of the traditional Aboriginal way of life by systematically listing the core elements of that existence and declaring them gone. The symbolism of the absent “hunter” and the “splintered spear” is particularly telling. The hunter represents a way of life deeply connected to the land and based on self-sufficiency, skill, and traditional knowledge. His absence signifies the end of this entire mode of existence. His spear, the essential tool for survival, is not just lost but “splintered underground,” a potent image of something broken beyond repair and permanently buried, just like the culture it represents.
The stanza then moves from the practical to the spiritual and social. The phrase “painted bodies a dream” transforms a tangible, living part of ritual and ceremony into something intangible and forgotten. Body painting was a physical expression of belief and community identity; reducing it to a forgotten “dream” shows its complete removal from the world of the living. Finally, “the nomad feet are still” marks the end of a defining characteristic of many Aboriginal groups: their freedom of movement and deep, migratory connection to country. This stillness contrasts with their previously active life, creating a final image of a people and a culture brought to a permanent halt.
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