Belinda Murrell: Bringing Australian History To Life | Page 30

CLASS ACTIVITIES This is Belinda’s mother’s lovely charm bracelet. The charm in the novel becomes symbolic of the past and gives the characters strength. LITERARY DEVICES AND SYMBOLS Literary devices and symbols are often used by a writer to cement themes. The novel’s title refers to the river stone which Charlotte brought from her home in England, and which offers her comfort in hard times. Later it was made into a gold charm which becomes symbolic of her past and of the comforts of home and hearth. Aunt Jessamine says, ‘Now I wear it as a symbol, to give me hope and courage and remind me where I came from.’ (p. 20), words which are echoed in Millie’s acceptance speech for the art award (p. 290) when Millie is also wearing the charm bracelet, which Aunt Jessamine has loaned her for the evening. 30 randomhouse.com.au/teachers Questions and Activities 1. Invite students to discuss an object (like the river stone) which has some sort of significance in their lives or in that of their families. See also the worksheet for how students can unearth clues about their family. 2. Fiction depends for its effect on the creative usage of literary devices such as similes, metaphors, or personification. Find examples of such devices in the text. 3. Louisa dreams that her father tells her not to leave her mother (p. 187) and literally comes back from the dead. Millie sees the apparition of the ‘Dream Girl’ and paints an award-winning picture of her. What thematic role do such dreams and ‘portents’ play in this novel?