the true history of the kelly gang study guide
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Study notes for English Language and Literature LL1 exam on the True History of the Kelly Gang.TRANSCRIPT
The True History of the Kelly Gang: Study Guide.
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Introductory activities.
Cultural Context/Social Setting
The story is set against the backdrop of Australia in the years spanning 1855-1880.It is a history of lawlessness and continuous violence against authority. Much of the action takes place in rural Australia and consists of highway robbery, bank raids shootings and horse stealing. It is a rough atmosphere where people have to struggle for a living. Poverty dominates the society and contributes to a good deal of the rebelliousness inherent in the main characters. The women in the story are seen as survivors who are compelled to eke out an existence as well as bring many children into the world. There is only one reference to religion and this is seen when Ned is being brought out to be hanged when we hear about how the ‘Deans read the prayer proper to the Catholic Church on such occasions.’ The political situation is continuously paralleled with the Irish rebellion against the British.
Epistolary Novel
True History of the Kelly Gang is an epistolary novel, one in which the story is carried forward by letters written by one or more of the characters. Although, strictly speaking, what Ned Kelly writes are not letters but bound parcels, the novel is in effect one long letter to his unborn daughter.
The effect of an epistolary novel is to impart a sense of immediacy and verisimilitude (realism), or the appearance of truth and realism in fiction or drama. It accomplishes this because Kelly's letters are written in the thick of the action,
The novel is told in the first person narrative voice by Ned Kelly himself. It is divided into thirteen ‘parcels’ which are intended for Kelly’s daughter whom he has never seen. Towards the conclusion of the story the narrative voice changes and Carey makes use of a number of newspaper cuttings to continue the narration of the Kelly history. This method serves the function of objectifying the story more.
General vision or viewpoint
The general vision that governs this novel seems to be a sympathetic portrayal of the Kelly exploits and a justification in many cases of their deeds. Even though their actions and behaviour was in many ways outrageous, Carey seems to be intent in showing us that the Kelly family were driven to outlawry and death by the forces of authority that in themselves were deeply corrupt. The novel recounts the many relationships that Ned sustained with his family and with Mary Hearn the woman he loved. Even though Kelly was a murderer the story seems to suggest that he was a thief and killer because of circumstances beyond his control. Carey is showing in his portrait of Ned Kelly a picture of a folk hero whose violence has been glorified.
About the Author.
Peter Carey was born in 1943, in Bacchus Marsh, Victoria, Australia. His parents, who had a General Motors dealership, sent him to Geelong Grammar School, one of the leading private schools, "where the children of Australia's Best Families all spoke with English accents". He studied briefly at Monash University, but left after failing his first year science exams, after which he left to work as a copyrighter in advertising agencies in Melbourne and London. He started to read passionately, especially the work of Joyce, Beckett, Kafka and Faulkner, and in 1964 he began to write. He moved to Sydney in 1974 where he continued copyrighting. His first collection of surreal short stories, War Crimes, was published in 1979, followed by The Fat Man in History in 1980.
Ned Kelly.
Edward "Ned" Kelly (June 1854/June 1855 – 11 November 1880) was an Irish Australian bushranger. He is considered by some to be merely a cold-blooded cop killer others; however, consider him to be a folk hero and symbol of Irish Australian resistance against the Anglo-Australian ruling class.
Research what other information and different representations you can find of Ned Kelly.
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Initial Characters
Ned Kelly
Ned Kelly is the hero of this novel, and a legendary figure in Australia. Much like Robin Hood, the law, British rulers, and his pursuers see him as nothing but a murdering butcher, a horrible criminal. To the common and oppressed people he is a hero who moved from beyond mortality into the history books as a legend. Ned is the oldest boy in a large family, though he has an older sister, and when his father dies young and his mother leads the family from one disaster to another, he is a strong boy who fills into manhood at a very young age and is always there to help his family.
Ned becomes an outlaw, tutored under the wing of Harry Power, who is perhaps the most famous outlaw of the time. Ned falls into this life with talent, and though he is naturally talented in lawful areas, the hatred of the Irish held by law enforcement and the upper class seem to doom Ned to the start to a life of banditry, jail, and death, three things that he said he was destined for. Ned is a very lovable hero because of his loyalty. Though his family betrays him many times, he always comes back, always tries to help them, and refuses to go away even after all the hardships and heart aches they put him through.
Ned grows far beyond the legends of his tutor, Harry Power. He is seen as a traitor for betraying Power, though it was his uncle, and he spends several years in prison. When he gets out a bare fisted fight with Wild Wright redeems his honour and makes him a hero. He tries to live a quiet life, but when the police steal his property and harm his family, he goes into the bush ranger life, swearing to avenge them. He takes this role unwillingly, but is bound by honour to do so. His brother, Dan, is with him, as are two others, and though for a short time they are living Robin Hoods, like Harry Power before him, they are betrayed. His friends and his brother die, he is wounded and caught, tried, and executed, but remains a major folk legend in Australia to this day.
Red Kelly
Although he is not around the novel past the first parcel, Ned Kelly's father does play an important role in what develops. His actions early on embarrass Ned, and force him to become a man early on. Red's death lead's to Ellen's charging every which way, including into the mess that ends in her selling Ned into crime. Red's early experience with prisons also marks him, and his family, so that the law was always watching them, always fighting with them. Though not very helpful in life, his death still manages to be far more devastating to the remaining family.
Ellen Quinn
Ellen is Ned Kelly's mother, to whom he always shows a great deal of respect and commitment, even when those traits are not returned. Ellen starts out as a very strong independent woman, but as the work goes on she seems to become weaker and weaker, not only in physical strength, but in emotion, in character, and in about every way. Although she
is the catalyst for much of the tragedy that will end up befalling the Kelly family, Ned refuses to abandon her, and stays loyal to the very end, which is part of the reason why he eventually falls. As she weakens she marries men she shouldn't, starting with Bill Frost and going onto George King. She will be put into prison for hitting Constable Alex Fitzpatrick with a shovel. Ned refuses to leave Australia until she is released, a decision that will result in his death.
Harry Power
Harry Power is a famous bush ranger, when Ned is young. Ned's mother sells him into an apprenticeship with Harry, who is also trying to court Ellen Quinn, but is fairly unsuccessful in doing so. Harry is loved by the common people, but is fairly simple and draws a lot of contempt, even from those he robs. Eventually he and Ned get into a fight, and Ned's uncle betrays him to the constables, who give him fifteen years in prison.
Sergeant O' Neil
O'Neil is a haughty constable, who spreads the story of Red Kelly wearing a dress. He tries to seduce Ellen Quinn, while her husband is in prison. He goes out of his way to harass the family and is directly involved with Ned's first experience of being sent to prison.
Themes
Post-Colonialism
Colonialism is the use of economic, political, and social policies to maintain or extend control over jurisdictions and peoples that lie outside the nation exercising such power. In the second half of the nineteenth century, the era in which True History of the Kelly Gang is set, Australia was struggling to emerge from its colonial past with England and from its own history as a penal colony where English and Irish criminals were sent
Racism
A prevalent theme through this novel is how racism plays a factor in the everyday lives of many of the citizens. The squatters, the police, the law, the politicians are all distinctly "British." The highest an Irishman can seem to go is the police, and even
then they are at the whim of all the British ahead of them. The family one is born into, especially if that family is Irish or viewed as thieves, in many ways predetermines the lives that they will have. Red Kelly is a thief out of the gaols, and so it is absolutely no surprise to Ned that he is arrested and sent to prison repeatedly for crimes he is actually completely innocent of.
LawlessnessThe whole novel traces the history of Ned Kelly and his exploits in outwitting the police and the forces of the law. The novel gives a sympathetic portrayal of Kelly and his family and indeed suggest that they were justified in their savage attacks on the police force. The story draws a parallel between the situation of the Kelly family in Australia in the 1880s and that of the Irish peasants who fought against the British forces. Peter Carey seems to be intent in drawing this parallel deliberately as New South Wales was a former penal colony at the frontier of the British Empire, a colony which was full of Irish people. So the story hints at the fact that in many ways the Kelly were justified in their war against the forces of authority. There are several references to transvetism.
ViolenceThere are many graphic descriptions of violence and the capacity inherent in the Kelly family for savage brutality. Much of this violence is shown in their various attacks on the police force. Carey is realistic and quite direct in his depiction of violence. We witness how Ned’s mother launch into a brutal attack on Fitzpatrick a corrupt policeman.
Corruption
The story shows the double standards which governs this society of Australia in the nineteenth century. It becomes evident as the story unfolds that there are many corrupt elements inherent in the police force.
Parcel 1
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Important themes: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Links with context:
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Similarities/ comparisons with ‘In Cold Blood.’
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Write a diary entry as Kelly exploring his feelings about the rescue of Dicky Shelton and the presentation of the sash.
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Parcel 2
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Important themes: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Links with context:
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Similarities/ comparisons with ‘In Cold Blood.’
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Create a lonely hearts ad / profiles for Ellen’s suitors, adding on what Kelly thinks of them.
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PEEE paragraph: How important is family to Ned Kelly?
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Parcel 3 summery.
Key events:
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Important themes: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Links with context:
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Similarities/ comparisons with ‘In Cold Blood.’
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Find two quotes that show what Kelly thinks about the robberies and Harry Power. Analyse these in detail, exploring what they show about Kelly’s character.
Research banshees and connect them to Irish heritage. Discuss the previous spiritual encounter (the ghostly figure of his father, which turns out to be his uncle).
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Parcel 4
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Important themes: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Links with context:
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Similarities/ comparisons with ‘In Cold Blood.’
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Create a comparison between Bill Frost and Red Kelly. You should use quotes to support your ideas.
Parcel 5
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Important themes: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Links with context:
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Similarities/ comparisons with ‘In Cold Blood.’
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Mind map honourable actions and characters in this parcel. Consider who is honourable or appears so and why.
Honour
Parcel 6
Honour
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Important themes: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Links with context:
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Similarities/ comparisons with ‘In Cold Blood.’
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Find as many quotes as possible that show how people feel about Kelly. Divide them into categories of positive and negative.
Does Law and order exist in the society Kelly lives in?
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Parcel 7
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Important themes: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Links with context:
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Similarities/ comparisons with ‘In Cold Blood.’
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Write a newspaper article of the fight between Wright and Kelly with the headline: ‘Irish Hero Victorious’.
‘Irish Hero Victorious’.
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Parcel 8
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Important themes: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Links with context:
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Similarities/ comparisons with ‘In Cold Blood.’
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Compare rich and poor – the squatters, favoured by police, and the settlers, who have struggled to buy and work their land. What do they own, how are they treated, how do they view the each other?
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Storyboard the events at the end of parcel 8, leading up to Alex Fitzpatrick being shot and the impact of the final short sentence: “So it did come to pass.” Use quotes under each image.
Parcel 9 summery.
Key events:
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Important themes: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Links with context:
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Similarities/ comparisons with ‘In Cold Blood.’
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Discuss who is the villain in this parcel.
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Parcel 10
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Important themes: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Links with context:
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Similarities/ comparisons with ‘In Cold Blood.’
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Research and discuss what ‘sons of sieve’ are and explain Mary’s reaction to them.
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Parcel 11
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Important themes: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Links with context:
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Similarities/ comparisons with ‘In Cold Blood.’
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PEEE paragraph : is Ned Kelly’s letter the truth?
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Parcel 12
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Important themes: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Links with context:
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Similarities/ comparisons with ‘In Cold Blood.’
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How good a father is Kelly?
Parcel 13
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Important themes: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Links with context:
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Similarities/ comparisons with ‘In Cold Blood.’
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Happiness?
What provokes Kelly to say:
“I were suddenly more happy than I had ever hoped to be.”
And then to admit:
“…I were ashamed to have acted thus.”
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Ned Kelly begins by writing that his history "will contain no single lie may I burn in Hell if I speak false" [p. 7], and much in his narration is concerned with setting the record straight. Is Kelly a reliable narrator?
Throughout the novel, Ned Kelly represents himself as a person who was pushed into the life of an outlaw by forces beyond his control. "What choice did I have?" he asks, when he kills Strahan at Stringybark Creek. "This were the ripe fruit of Constable Alexander Fitzpatrick" [p. 250]. Parcel 8
True History of the Kelly Gang is preceded by an epigraph from William Faulkner: "The past is not dead. It is not even past." How does this quote illuminate what happens in the novel? Epitaph