Physical And Spiritual Journey In Walking The Boundaries By Jackie French

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B: Australians are used to thinking that a journey is physical but they never think that the journey could be a spiritual one. In Jackie French’s 1993 novel, ‘Walking the Boundaries’ Martin, the main character, goes on a physical and spiritual journey where he learns about his family’s past and the importance of looking after the land.

A: Thesis Statement: Jackie French uses third person narrative, an obvious plot and descriptive language to intrigue and engage the reader to see the physical and spiritual journey that Martin goes on.

M: It is through the relationships that Martin develops with Old Ted, Meg and Wullamudulla that the materialistic young man gains an understanding of how he should look after the land for future generations.
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The reason why Martin is visiting Old Ted is because he gave an interesting offer to Martin, “If you make it around the boundaries you’ll get the farm… There’s no question about that”. (p.13)

L: Link: This offer gives Martin a goal to aim for as he walks the boundaries of the farm. Martin’s goal is to take the farm and then sell it and have enough money for him and his Mother.

P: Focus Paragraph 2: In the novel, when Jackie French uses figurative and descriptive language it makes it easy to see the physical and spiritual aspects of the journey that Martin undertakes throughout the novel.

E+E: Evidence+ Elaboration to support your argument:
Martin is from the city, so he is not used to the country, when he starts walking the boundary at first he believes it to be too easy to be true. “It was easy walking at first. The sun was fat and yellow-green, low in the sky, half hidden by the trees.” (Pg 26). Then the time changes to the past, Martin is confused about where he is, then Martin gets sent away by a tidal wave where he gets saved by a girl with bright red plaits, which is where he meets Meg and is able to learn where he is and what’s it's like to live in Meg’s life and what she's been
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This gives him an understanding of Meg’s life and allows him to learn more about her throughout the story.

P: Focus Paragraph 3: As the journey continues, aspects of a physical journey are apparent to the reader until Martin and Meg meet Wullumudulla from thousands of years ago. They realise that Wullumudulla is on the same path they are, then the journey again becomes a spiritual one and they’re coming to the end of walking the boundaries.

E+E: Evidence+ Elaboration to support your argument: Martin realises that he, Meg and Wullumudulla are all on the same journey but from all different periods in time. Wullumudulla says that he has to go on his own journey, though which Martin is disappointed about, but then Wullumudulla does what he needs to do with his own journey then comes back and joins Martin and Meg. Then they all eventually walk the end of the boundaries together.

L: Now Martin can walk the boundaries everyday with Meg and Wullumudulla and keep learning about the land and how they can work together to make it special for future generations to

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