Bran Nue Dae

Bran Nue Dae – characters, motivation,conflictCarry out the following activities on the main characters,their behaviour and motivations, and their relationshiptowards each other.Write a short character sketch of:o Willieo Rosieo Theresao Uncle Tadpoleo Lestero Father Benedictuso Slipperyo AnnieDiscuss in class then write your own analysis of the variousinternalised and externalised conflicts experiencedby Willie. Explore how these conflicts impel the story forwardand decide whether they are satisfactorily resolvedby the end of the narrative. For example, you shouldexamine the conflicting desires between those of Willieand those of Theresa, and how these impact on Willie’srelationship with Rosie. Also look at the emotionalpressures placed on Willie by Father Benedictus and thepower relationship between them.Discuss the importance in terms of the plot of Willie runningaway from school. What is the motivation for thisplot event? Offer an explanation as to why Willie confessesto stealing food from the tuckshop when none ofhis boarding mates does so. How does this scene relateto the fact that Willie is Indigenous? In other words, whydoes he begin to sing ‘There’s nothing I would rather bethan to be an Aborigine’ in this scene?Write a set of personal diary entries about Willie’sdeparture from Clontarf from the viewpoint of one of hisschool friends. You will need to delve deeply into thediarist’s mixed feelings as to what has caused Willie torun away. For example, does the diarist feel guilty? Whatdoes the diarist think about Father Benedictus’ behaviourand methods of discipline?Discuss the following possible view about Willie’s departure:he is running away from, and turning his backon, a formal education that will benefit him in the yearsto come, without having considered or thought abouthis situation at all. Explain whether you would agree ordisagree with this proposition.Following from the previous discussion, the film concludeswith Willie and Rosie in each other’s arms,surrounded by a ‘blackout’ image of a heart. But whatis Willie’s future now that he has returned to Broome?What does he mean when he says, near the end of thefilm, ‘God is here’? What has Willie lost? What has hegained? Do you think the film confronts and resolvesthese issues? Discuss these questions as a class.At one point, Father Benedictus says to Willie, ‘You wantto waste your life like all those useless blackfellows upin Broome?’ Is Benedictus correct or not? What do youSCREEN EDUCATION4