Fly Away Peter
David Malouf’s Fly Away Peter, although a simple story about two Australian men going to war, deeply depicts the horrors and misery of World War I. Throughout the narrator’s journey, we encounter two very contrasting lifestyles—one existing in Ashley Crowther’s undisturbed land in southern Queensland, and the other in the evil trench warfare of Europe. Malouf’s use of imagery in the novel illustrates Jim Saddler’s experiences as he explores his unfamiliar vision about war, to the contrasts that existed in his prior homeland. We are introduced to a naïve narrator who spends his time on a bird sanctuary on his friend, Ashley’s property. Jim has a faithful understanding of the birds’ lives, and appreciates the role each one has in its environment. Furthermore, he is amazed at how these creatures are able to travel thousands of miles, “across oceans without a guiding mark” to reach their destination. Jim’s friendship with Ashley, and later Imogen Harcourt, an English photographer, reflect the undisturbed, even balanced life they are living in. Each one of their contributions creates for a successful recording of the bird life of the sanctuary. To Ashley, Jim’s hobby expresses “a fire of individual passion.” Imogen is ad
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Some common words found in the essay are:
War Maloufs, Jim Whos, Ashley Jims, Jim Saddlers, Jim Europe, Jim Ashley, Clancy Parkett, Australia Europe, Harcourt English, Eric Jim, trench warfare, war experienced, sandpiper jim, novel illustrates, home war, war europe, life simply, world war, war jim,
Approximate Word count = 1051
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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