Journal entry response on blog: Capital punishment

Dear journal,

I recently read a blog entry titled Capital punishment, which was written by a pastor of an evangelical church. The blog entry deals with the death penalty, whereby hardened criminals would receive this penalty as a just reward for their actions. The author of this blog strongly condemns the death penalty and he uses numerous bible texts to support his view.  He also makes extensive use of particular generic and language conventions, which add to the influence and persuasion of the text. The pastor, who wrote this blog, represents the idea of Capital Punishment as something insensitive, ruthless and inappropriate, by making use of particular writing techniques.

The purpose of this blog entry is to persuade and convince the reader that the death penalty is wrong. The author clearly has negative views towards capital punishment and he seeks to impress such views on his audience. Being a Christian, the author feels that it is his duty to present the “truth” to those in society around him. He uses the Bible as the guidelines by which the truth is presented and the impractical idea of Capital Punishment is condemned. The context of this blog is very clearly stated as the writer provides background information into the topic of Capital Punishment in Australia. He says the following: “Capital punishment has been forever abolished in Australia by the recent passing of The Crimes Legislation Amendment (Torture Prohibition and Death Penalty Abolition) Bill. Even though no Australian State or Territory has the death penalty, this law ensures none can ever reintroduce it.” This information is makes up the opening statement of the blog and it provides contextualisation. Capital punishment is a very current and relevant issue in Australia today, it is an issue which society should evaluate and have their opinions about. The author also provides insight into his own personal context, by saying the following: “As a Christian I fully support this move by the Australian Parliament.” The writer of this blog calls himself a Christian and he makes numerous references to the word of God. The target audience of this blog would include the Australian society; namely all who are included in the law to abolish capital punishment. The writer of this blog seeks to further support this decision by making reference to the Bible and by outlining the negatives of the death penalty. The purpose, audience and context have been used to represent the death penalty in a negative way and to encourage and persuade readers to take on a similar viewpoint.

The pastor who wrote this blog entry seeks to impress his ideas on his audience. He represents Capital punishment as something which is no longer correct, necessary and which contradicts what the scriptures teach. The writer has portrayed this idea by his use of particular generic techniques which help to strengthen his argument. The generic convention of structure is an example of the way in which clever layout can be used to backup ones viewpoint. The blog begins by contextualising. It speaks of how capital punishment has been abolished in Australia through the passing of the Crimes Legislation Amendment bill. The author goes on to explain how he is a Christian and he makes extensive use of Bible passages to support this. The first paragraph of the blog entry also includes a brief summary of the points which would be outlined and emphasised. This opening paragraph and the used of contextualisation allow the reader to immediately understand the topic being discussed and also understand the writers’ view of capital punishment. The powerful statement, found at the very beginning of the blog, gives the audience insight into the negative representation of the death penalty, which is to follow. The use of paragraphs is another form of a generic convention which the writer has made use of. Paragraphs are also part of the structure in a written text.  Paragraphs break the text into groups to make it easier to read and which allow the writer to present a number of different points to support his view. This is what the Pastor has done, to give his blog a better structure and to outline his arguments in a more organised format. Each new paragraph in this blog contains a different point or idea which supports the writer’s negative representation of Christianity. For example, the first paragraph talks about how God, in the Old Testament, indicated that the death penalty was wrong. The second paragraph provides evidence of this from the New Testament, while the last two paragraphs provide the writers own ideas which throw a negative light on the topic. The blog entry ends with a brief concluding paragraph which simply restates the main arguments and leaves the reader feeling convinced that capital punishment is not the way to go. Another generic convention which underlines the whole blog entry is personal tone. Personal tone is almost always evident in blog entries and journal entries, as they usually portray the personal view of the author. The same is the case in this blog entry as the negative portrayal of capital punishment is part of the view of the writer. All throughout, the blog is very personal and it is all written from the perspective of the author. The writer provides no other point of view then that of himself, possibly to prevent the audience being distracted into accepting another view. What the writer does do, however, is use a bible verse which supports the death penalty and then contradicts this with another verse which seems to oppose it. For example: “stubborn and rebellious children who would not receive correction could be stoned to death” (Deuteronomy 21:18). However 1 Corinthians 10:23 states that if “something is permissible, it does not mean it is beneficial or constructive.” The writer then continues to emphasise the opposing text to strengthen his view. Generic conventions can really add to the power and persuasion of a text, as we see in this situation.

The writer of this blog entry also negatively represents Capital Punishment by the use of language conventions. Language, if used in the right way, can be extremely persuasive and convincing and the writer has made use of this to influence his audience into accepting his viewpoint. The first language convention, which has been used all throughout this blog, is quotations. The writer uses a large number of quotations from scripture to make it seem as if scripture is saying that capital punishment is wrong. Scripture does if fact state that the government “bears not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, an avenger to execute wrath on him that does evil.” (Rom 13:4). Quotations like this one are included all throughout the blog; however the writer then includes opposing bible chapters to attempt to portray that the death penalty is no longer relevant. For example: “Jesus made it very clear that “Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth” was a law that belonged to another era and not to the age of grace.” To someone who was not a Christian or who did not accept the bible in its entirety; this would be a very valid argument. Another language convention used to negatively present capital punishment, is particular persuasive techniques. Persuasive techniques are vital in texts which seek to impress a particular attitude, value or belief on the audience. The persuasive techniques that this writer uses are strong arguments which are very convincing in stating why capital punishment is wrong. The writer says the following: “Some criminals cannot be reformed because they are mentally ill, brain damaged or mentally retarded.  Is it right to take their life because of a handicap?” “The death penalty does not act as a deterrent.” “Capital punishment is not a more cost-effective option than prison.  In fact, it is cheaper to keep someone in jail for the rest of their life than to have them on death row.” These seem like very powerful arguments and many would be influenced into accepting that the death penalty is completely barbarous, outdated and defective. Connotation is another language technique which has been used to shed a negative light on the matter of capital punishment. Throughout the blog, the writer uses the phrase “Death Penalty” a lot more extensively then the phrase “Capital punishment.” The reason is that “Death Penalty” seems to have more negative connotations then the phrase “Capital punishment.” Capital punishment seems to indicate that it is something which the government has the right and authority to exercise, while Death penalty gives the impression that it is something cruel and unjust. Simple connotations like this can be used to create a powerful impression of how capital punishment is wrong. Another language convention which is also evident in this blog is figure of speech. The last paragraph includes the following phrase: “There are times when it is right to lock someone up and throw away the key, but…” This figure of speech presents the idea that locking someone up for life is the furthest we go; we would never go as far as to exercise the death penalty. Such language conventions evidently make a text very powerful and persuasive as is evident in this blog.

The blog titled Capital Punishment negatively represents the idea of the death penalty. The writer of this blog has made extensive use of generic and language conventions to powerfully present this idea and cause the reader to agree with what he is saying. The pastor who wrote this blog, made many references to scripture and often took scripture out of context. It is important, when reading blogs like this, that we as Christians evaluate what is being presented in the light and truth of Gods word.

Num 8: Representation of Adult Characters, Children and the attitudes, values and beliefs of Peekay

This final blog entry will focus on the representation of certain adults and children, and it will also look at the attitudes, values and beliefs presented. The characters are a very important part of a story, and this novel is no exception. It is important to evaluate certain character groups and look at how they are presented. It is also important to understand the certain attitudes values and beliefs of Peekay.

All throughout the story Peekay comes into contact with adults and children. At the beginning the adults, at the boarding school, treated Peekay with cruelty because of his English background. As Peekay grew up, he became very successful. He began to be widely respected by the adults who realised Peekays talents and respected and admire him for them. Peekay's mentors, Doc and Mrs. Boxall, claimed that he is a genius and they both had great respect for him. The black South Africans in the novel hail him as the Tadpole Angel, a chief who has come to lead them out of white oppression. Peekays mother, on the other hand, was strict, religious and constantly weary and stressed. Peekay also had different experiences with children. At the boarding school, he was generally hated and was nicknamed ‘pisskop’. However once he became a great boxer, he was respected and admired by adults and children alike. It shows how judgmental many where, at that time and how people would first have to get to know someone before accepting them.

Peekay had certain attitudes, which constantly showed up all throughout the novel. As the title suggests, Peekay always had this attitude of "the power of one." He didn’t seem to like the idea of depending on others and seemed to always seek personal independence in all aspects of his life. Already at a young age, he had the attitude of the necessity of camouflages in order to survive the system. Throughout the book he often referred to the words: "adapt, blend, … develop a camouflage." Peekay also has specific attitudes toward Christianity. At his younger age he admits God but as he grows and matures he becomes hardened to Christianity and to God. He admits that God is not interested in us, has nothing to do with us. Another important positive attitude that he had was the attitude of success. He always had a positive attitude; always believed he would be welterweight champion.

Peekay also held to certain values, throughout the story. He was the kind of person who was not easily influenced by other people’s values but developed his own, in response to his own experiences and understandings. For example: he had respect for all people, and did not treat them with disrespect on the basis of what color they were. He also had his own kind of morality, instead of following his mother's strict ideas of good and evil, based on Gods word. Peekay had his own idea of what was good and evil; right and wrong. He strongly believed everyone deserved a fair go; he said there were good and bad people in every race. Peekay’s own values were important in a society where hatred, prejudice and contempt were wreaking havoc.

There are also certain beliefs, which are emphasised throughout the novel. Beliefs are a very important part of a person and it was the belief that Peekay had, which eventually led to his success. From the very beginning of the story, Peekay held to the belief that small could beat big. This belief came about, when Hoppie beat the huge heavyweight Jackhammer Smit in a fight. As Peekay grew and matured, he never forgot his childhood belief that he could defeat those larger then him. Another important belief he had, came about when Hoppie taught him: “first with the head and then with the heart, thats how you stay ahead from the start.” This belief comes up constantly throughout the novel and this inspirational phrase was what guided Peekay to become a welterweight champion. All throughout the story we see the belief that Peekay had, in himself, that he would achieve success and become a champion. He was always confident and gave everything his best shot. Such beliefs led to Peekays great achievements.

Throughout the novel, The power of One, we see the representation of certain adults and children as they come into contact with the main character, Peekay. Peekay’s strong attitudes, values and beliefs led to his success in becoming a great boxer. By his achievements Peekay gained the respect of many adults and children alike. The strong portrayal of Peekay’s attitudes, values and beliefs makes this novel such a powerful and inspiring read. 

Num 7: Peekay's construction of Character in "The Power of One"

This blog entry will focus on the character of Peekay and also his construction via generic and language conventions. The construction of the character is a vital part in the success of a story and Bryce Courtenay’s construction of Peekay is what adds to the appeal of this novel. This entry will evaluate the speech, actions and appearance of Peekay and also how his character has been constructed by the language of the story.

In evaluating a character, it is important to look at their speech. The speech of a person often reveals their values and beliefs and it gives people an idea of what they are like. This is also true for Peekay, the main character of the novel, The Power of One. Peekay speaks as an adult looking back on his life from the age of five up until the age of seventeen. Although he usually tells the events as they are experienced we occasionally hear his ‘older voice’ looking ironically back on his younger life. Peekay describes himself as a pretty quiet, reserved character. However because he has his own strong values and attitudes he is not afraid to speak out. In the book he spoke many different languages including Afrikaans and English. He spoke with respect to those around him; no matter what their skin color was. This gives the reader an idea of how Peekay was not racist and he was not easily influenced into copying others. As a young child Peekay seemed polite and respectful, evident also by the fact that the boxing referee said he had good manners

The action of Peekay is another important part of the construction of a character. By studying Peekay’s actions, throughout the novel, the reader is further able to appreciate the kind of person he was. At the beginning of the book Peekay was subject to a lot of bullying and abuse. He succumbs to the constant torture and mistreatment of the judge and the ‘storm troopers’ but he never retaliates. Peekay quietly accepts that he was good-for-nothing. Once Peekay left the school he was influenced by Hoppie Groenewolt, to become welterweight champion. Peekay tries his upmost in everything he does and he has great success in his education and boxing career. Peekay was also treated like a hero, for the help he provided to those in the prison and for his kindness, generosity and respect for others. He was always willing to learn, especially in boxing and he never thought that he knew better. Peekay shows traits of extreme generosity and a love for people of all types of races and he rarely passes judgment on others. It is also interesting to note that Peekay barley did the wrong thing. There is also evidence, that at the beginning, Peekay admits God. Sadly, however, towards the end he becomes hardened to Christianity. His actions were a direct reflection of his own values, attitudes and beliefs.

The book does not include much about the appearance of Peekay himself. In this case it didn’t really matter what he looked like. What we do know, however, was that he was a smaller build, in his younger years and also the fact that he was a welterweight, meant he was fairly light. Being an English person, we also know that he was white. These elements of his appearance are all that the author reveals about Peekay.

Bryce Courtenay has effectively used generic and language conventions in the construction of Peekay. Generic conventions refer to aspects of a novel such as characters, plot, setting and dialogue. Language conventions refer to the words used to represent something or to create imagery in the mind of the reader. Language conventions also include dialogue and description; both of which feature a lot in this novel.  The numerous characters, involved in the story, are an example of generic conventions. The characters provide the reader with insight on what the different groups of people were like at that time, specifically Peekay. The plot, setting and climax of the story all revolve around Peekays life. The setting includes Peekays childhood at the boarding school and from this point the book builds up to the climax, where Peekay defeats formidable opponents to become a champion. The use of the setting and climax constructs Peekay as a person, who although was subject to much abuse, managed to focus and constantly strive to achieve his goals. Peekay is constructed as a character who listened to the advice of others and who worked very hard to get to where he desired to be. This novel is an example of a ‘Buildungsroman’ as it focuses on the building and developing of young Peekay. The fact that we the way Peekay grows up allows us to see his certain characteristics, mostly influenced by his early childhood. Because the book is written from Peekays own POV the reader can see his naivety and therefore sympathize with him. The novel uses language conventions, namely dialogue, to portray Peekay as the young, naive child that he was. The book uses dialogue which can be attributed to a young child as he interacts with the people and the world around him.  Peekay describes, in detail, his traumatic childhood and how later in life he blossoms into a hero. His in-depth description of his childhood allows the reader to see how this haunted him and left him with deep-set insecurity and vulnerability. Ultimately Peekay is constructed as a likable hero with whom we can identify. The detailed descriptions and insight into Peekay’s understanding of certain matters, allows the reader to appreciate how he was a clever and observant character. The dialogue, in the novel, shows Peekays kindness and respect for all those around him and it helps to make Peekay a very likeable character.

The clever construction of Peekay in the novel The Power of One is what makes him a more likeable character and it adds to the appeal of the story. The author has described in detail, Peekay’s speech and actions, and the inclusion of certain language conventions, has contributed to the widespread success of this story.  

Num 6: The Narration and Tone of "The Power of One"

In this blog entry, I will focus on the narration and tone of Bryce Courtenay’s novel, The Power of One. The Power of One has been written from first-person perspective and is loosely based in Bryce Courtenay’s own life. This novel is narrated by the main character and the protagonist of the story, Peekay. It allows the reader insight into the point of view of the main character and we see the tone of the story as Peekay looks back on his own naivety in his younger years.

The book is written in past tense, with Peekay looking back, as an adult, on the past. Peekay narrates from the future as he looks at his early childhood and teenage years. The fact that this book is written in first person, allows the reader insight into the thoughts and feelings all throughout his younger years. The reader is able sympathize with the naivety and lack of knowledge of this young character as he is subject to certain issues and values of the wide world. At the beginning we see Peekay’s lack of understanding of many issues surrounding him. The cruelty, hatred and racism, at that time, was something that Peekay was subject too but unable to fully comprehend. As Peekay grows and matures, he gains a greater understanding of the world around him but he always holds fast to his own values.

The stream of consciousness is a literary technique which has been widely used throughout this novel. The stream of consciousness technique is characterised by the presentation of the thoughts and feelings in a certain character. All throughout this novel, Peekay speaks of his own thoughts, feelings and understandings of certain matters. The reader is often subject to the reflexion,
consideration, contemplation, and the questions spinning through Peekay’s mind. The inclusion of these elements, adds to the striking message of the story and it allows the reader to have a better understanding for the way a young child thinks and feels about certain issues.

The tone of story is also a very important part of the structure of this novel. Tone refers to the manner in which written words might be said; for example, sarcastic, mild, witty or angry. The book is written from the tone of young child, who eventually grows and matures and gains a greater understanding. The tone often seems somewhat naive, at the beginning of the book. Often throughout the story, there is also the tone of irony, as the narrator looks back on his life and laughs at his early misunderstandings and misconceptions. Occasionally Peekay seems to critically look back on his past as he evaluates his own limited views and comprehension. The use of tone also allows the reader to better understand what is being said in the story.

The Power of One is written from the first person perspective of Peekay and it includes his thoughts, feelings and comprehension. By studying the narration and tone of this story, the reader can better understand and appreciate what is being portrayed.  

Num 5: Important Symbols and Literary Reference in "The Power of One"

The Power of One includes many important symbols and numerous intertextual references. In this blog entry, I will evaluate certain important symbols of the novel and also the importance of the intertextual references. The main symbols, which I will focus on, are all directly linked with Peekay’s own thoughts, views and feelings and it is therefore important to study them. Certain intertextual references to Alice in Wonderland and the Bible have been made, throughout the book and I will also discuss them.

The first symbol, found in the novel The Power of One, is the references to the three waterfalls. The three waterfalls were not a physical place but was part of the vision Peekay had because of his bed wetting habits. The local witch-doctor had agreed to help Peekay due to his ‘night water’ which he had at the boarding school. The witch doctor spoke of how he visited Peekay in his dreams, where there was a place of three waterfalls and ten stones going across the river. Peekay had to jump the three water falls and cross the river using the stones, then was healed of his ‘night water’. This symbolism shows the importance of magic, witchcraft and superstition to many South African people. It also symbolizes Peekay’s ability to overcome and rise above certain challenges.

Another symbol, in this book, is the numerous references to the full moon. Throughout the story, Peekay links the full moon with death. In chapter 19 Peekay points to the fact that it was a full moon on the nights that both Grandpa Chook and Geel Piet died. Granpa Chook was a symbol of hope and survival to Peekay and it is understandable why Grandpa Chook’s death caused Peekay so much grief. The time that Doc discusses his death, with Peekay at the crystal cave, it was also a full moon.  Towards the end of the book, the last reference to the full moon is made. Although no one dies, it possibly symbolizes the death of Peekay's hatred for the Judge. Such symbolism adds to the depth and mystery of the story.

The lowliness bird is also a symbol, found throughout the story. As the name suggests, the loneliness birds are Peekay's childly motto for loneliness. There is reference to the lowliness birds in Peekay's life during his fifth year, when he was constantly abuse by the Judge and his storm troopers. Another reference occurs at the end of Chapter Eight, when Peekay says that he has grown up and the loneliness birds stopped laying stone eggs inside of him. The loneliness birds seem to disappear at the very end of the book when Peekay had avenged himself against the Judge. Because this book was written from Peekays perspective, the reader is able to see and appreciate these certain symbols that Peekay had in his mind.

Another important symbol, in this novel, is the swastika. The swastika is symbol which, at that time, was attributed to the Germans. The swastikas, which are widely recognised as symbols of evil, and used in The Power of One clearly to demonstrate wickedness and power of apartheid, which had the power to segregate a nation and the hopes of many people. There are numerous references to the swastika, which symbolized the nearness of the powerful Germans. Peekay describes the boarding school dormitories as open, cold, bare and covered with the Nazi swastikas. He also describers a swastika tattooed Afrikaner officer, intertextually linked with Hitler, saying to Peekay 'you’re destroying our country, you kaffir lover'. This symbol represented the hate and segregation which occurred during this time.

The Power of One also includes numerous intertextual links. Throughout the book, there are numerous references to Alice in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll. For example, Peekay compares the rose garden behind his Barberton house as something out of Alice in Wonderland. Also the twin Shangaan kitchen maids are called Dum and Dee, after Alice in Wonderland characters, Twiddle Dee and Twiddle Dum. There are links to fairy tales in general, for example in Chapter Eighteen Peekay says that the crystal cave of Africa looks like "an illustration from a fairy tale." Bryce Courtenay has also included numerous references to the bible. At the beginning of the story Peekay meets Pik Botha on the train, Pik Botha was a converted Christian and he made a lot of references to the bible and was very centered on the word of God. Peekay’s mother was very similar and she too was a very dedicated Christian. Peekay, himself was not so religious and he viewed the new Christian converts as a “pathetic bunch.”

The Power of One includes a lot of symbolism. Symbolism was very important in Peekays life and it is also important in bringing certain messages across in the story. These symbols were mostly mental and involve imaginary but they still bring across a powerful message. Bryce Courtenay has also chosen to include certain intertextual references to add to the appeal of the novel.

Num 4: South African Racial Ideology in the 1930's - 1950's

In this blog entry, I will discuss the racial ideology in South Africa in the 1930s to 1950s. In South Africa there was racial segregation between certain ethnic groups, much of which stemmed from the Anglo-Boer War. Racism involves the different treatment, both socially and legally, of certain people who come from different races. The result of this racism was to become known as the Apartheid. Apartheid is an Afrikaans word which basically means ‘apartness’.

During the 1930s and 1940s South Africa became more industrialized and urbanized, and apartheid was a reaction by Afrikaners to this rapid change. The Afrikaners felt disempowered by blacks, in the workforce, and by the power and success of English-speaking South Africans. What caused the apartheid was the fact that different races in South Africa thought they needed to be separated for their own mutual benefit. The Afrikaners thought it was impossible, impracticable and ungodly for the different races and cultures to live together. And so a policy of separate development was made by the white government.

The apartheid began with the colonization, of South Africa, by the Afrikaners - mainly from Dutch, French and German descent. It was these European descendants who wanted the separation of blacks and whites. The apartheid was characterized by the exclusion of the ‘blacks’ from equal participation in the affairs of the State and country. Racial segregation had been evident in South Africa for a long time but the general election in 1948 was the official founding of the Apartheid. New legislation classified inhabitants into racial groups, “black” and “white”.  Residential areas were also segregated and later black people were not even considered citizens. Non-whites were excluded from national government and were not allowed to vote. The apartheid laws were established through political means and often enforced by the South African police force and the army when needed. The apartheid was violation of human rights and while not supported by all white people in South Africa, it was enforced by the government at that time. The affects of the apartheid are very evident in the novel The Power of One.

Some aspects of the apartheid included: Separate development for ‘black’ people in their own territories; no political rights for ‘black’ people in ‘white’ areas and separate areas of ‘black’ workers in the work force. The ‘black’ Africans were treated with great disrespect; they were called “kaffirs” by the majority of ‘whites.’ The word ‘kaffir’ literally means heathen and we find many references to this degrading word in The Power of One.

The South African racial ideology of the 1930s – 1950s, was a very bleak part of South Africa’s history. The apartheid was categorized by racial segregation and racial abuse by the ‘whites’ towards the ‘blacks’. Bryce Courtenay has made very evident in his novel, The Power of One, what affects the apartheid had on those living at the time in which this novel is set.

Num 3: The Anglo-Boer War

In this blog entry I will focus on the Anglo-Boer war, which took place in South Africa. The Anglo- Boer war can be divided into two main parts. The ‘first’ war took place from December 1880 to March 1881 and the ‘second’ war took place from 1990 to 1992. Bryce Courtenay’s novel The Power of One, includes numerous references to the Anglo-Boer, although this story is set at a later stage.

The country of South Africa became known, in the 1800s, for its rich diversity in valuable minerals found in its soils. The British realized the great potential wealth they could gain by mining minerals such as diamonds and gold, and they took over the region of Cape Colony in 1877. The “Boers” were the white farmers in South Africa who were descendants of Dutch
and French and they were greatly angered by the British.

On 16^th of December 1880 the ‘Boers’ declared independence from Great Britain and they fired gun shots at Potchefstroom, marking the start of the first Anglo - Boer war. On the 20^th December 1880, the ‘Boers’ ambushed and destroyed a British army convoy near Pretoria and they continued to besiege the British defeating them at numerous places. On 8 February 1881 another British force barely escaped destruction at the “Battle of Schuinshoogte”. In the end the British government signed a peace treaty, on 23 March 1881, returning the Transvaal Republic to the "Boers".

The ‘second’ Anglo – Boer war took place from 1990 to 1992. By September 1900 the ‘Boer’ republics were once again under British control.  However, it was very difficult for the 250,000 British troops to effectively control such a large territory, and this led to the ‘Boers’ beginning to fight for independence. The ‘Boers’ resorted to a new guerrilla style of warfare, as they were able to move around with considerable freedom. The ‘Boer’ forces did as much damage as possible to the British, before enemy reinforcements became too much to handle. They were able to successfully attack the British because the British were disadvantaged by the size of the territory; unfamiliarity with the terrain and their inability to match the mobility and skills of the ‘Boers’. In the end the British responded by burning down the farms and homes of the ‘Boers’. They put ‘Boer’ women and children in concentration camps, subject to appalling conditions. In the end 26,000 ‘Boer’ women and children and 14,000 black and coloured people were to die in appalling conditions. The ‘Boers’ were forced to surrender and on 31 May 1902 the war ended with the signing of the peace treaty of Vereeniging in Pretoria.

The Anglo-Boer War was a very dark period in the history of South Africa. The events that took place at this time, eventually led to problems between the different racial groups of South Africa. The results included racism and segregation between certain groups. The Power of One includes a lot of information on the problems which stemmed from the Anglo- Boer War.

Num 2: The Context, Popularity, Appeal and Audience of "The Power of One"

For this blog entry, I have been required to focus on the context of the novelist; the popularity and appeal of the novel and the intended audience. This book was written by Bryce Courtenay, a very successful author. Courtenay’s own context is vital to the storyline of this book and it adds to the appeal and popularity of the novel. Although this book is written from the perspective of a five-year old, it has a very distinct target audience.

Arthur Bryce Courtenay was born on the 14^th August 1933. He is a South-African-born Australian novelist and his own context plays a very important role on the storyline of The Power of One. Courtenay was born in Johannesburg and spent most of his early years in a small village in the Lebombo Mountains in South Africa's Limpopo province. This book was set during the 1930s and 1940s, around to time that Courtenay himself was young. The novel includes many references to the war (WWI and WWII); it is important to note that WWII which was about to take place. The fact that Courtenay also experienced and lived through WWII, no doubt influenced his writing. The author identifies the main character "Peekay" as a reference to his earlier nickname "Pisskop": Afrikaans for “Pisshead”. The book is written from first person perspective and it is loosely based of Courtenay’s life. It includes many references to certain characters and events that did in-fact occur during the life of the author.

The Power of One was an extremely successful book and it appealed to a large number of people. This novel is one of the most popular classics, in Australia, and it is currently used by many English classes. Some comments on the book include: “This is a truly inspirational historical fiction about of boyhood in South Africa at the birth of apartheid”, “The reader really gets pulled into the life of PK, experiencing his trials and successes”, “In this magical novel, an irresistible boy tells the story of his survival and coming of age against the background of South Africa during and just after World War II.” A certain book review website rates this novel 4.3 out of a possible 5.

It is vital to consider the target audience of the novel The Power of One. Although the book was written from the perspective of five year-old, it is no way intended for this young age group. The novel is intended for a teenage to adult audience, particularly Australian and South-African. The language, vocabulary and issues dealt with, in this story, are not a suitable read for younger children. However, because of its popularity and powerful storyline, an additional book was written based on The Power of One which targets younger children. This allows all ages to benefit from this inspiring story.

Bryce Courtenay has included a lot of his own history in this story. He tells the story from first-person perspective and it is based loosely on his own life. Such a powerful and inspiring story is very popular among many teenagers and adults in Australia and South Africa.  

Num 1: My response to the first seven chapters of "The Power of One"

In this blog entry I will focus on my own view, of the first seven chapters, of the novel The Power of One. This book was written by Bryce Courtney and is loosely based on his own life. The main character, Peekay, tells the story from his own perspective, in immaculate detail. This book gives the reader an understanding of situation in South Africa, from the perspective of a five year-old. In this blog entry, I will also deal with my personal expectations for the rest of the novel.

The novel, The Power of One starts with the phrase: “This is what happened.” It gives the reader an idea that the story which will follow; is the truth. It also shows that the author is looking back on his life. After this phrase the main character goes on to explain his early childhood from the way he saw it at that time. The five year-old boy, who we later know as Peekay, explains in detail his own view on what took place in his life. The reader is able to see the situation of racism and war, from the view of a young child. The author has successfully done this to bring the story to a more personal level and give us some idea of the mental and physical impacts this would have had on a young child.

Bryce Courtenay explains the life of Peekay in a very detailed manner. He describes Peekay’s feelings and observations, which allows for the scene to be set. I think this is very important as it makes the reader realise why Peekay felt and thought the way he did. Peekay describes how he was bullied by the others at his boarding school and the way he describes his situation, leaves the impression that everything and everyone around him was against him. We see how big and powerful Peekay’s enemies seemed to him. Also evident is his lack of understanding toward the Nazis, Adolf Hitler and even his own background. This allows us to sympathize with this young, vulnerable and naive character. Such detailed descriptions also occur in the boxing scene. The descriptions are very accurate and this makes it more exciting and gives the reader a better picture in their head.

Having not read to the end of the book, I have certain expectations for the rest of it. I think that throughout the book we will see certain values that Peekay held and believed; to come true. For example his idea how small beats big will come true – possibly he will beat someone in a fight who is larger then he is. The important values and beliefs that Hoppie taught him will also come to be very important later on in Peekays life – he will never forget them; they will help him to win. For example Hoppie said to him “you have to have a plan, first with the head and then with the heart that’s how a man stays ahead from the start.” These wise words, I think, will turn out to be very vital throughout Peekay’s life.

So far this book has been very enjoyable. The detailed descriptions and insight into the life of a five year-old, allow the reader to sympathize with the main character. I have high expectations for the rest of the book and feel that certain values and beliefs emphasised at the start will continue on through to the end.