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?