Louis Nowra

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Summer of the Aliens

• Louis Nowra
• Close Study of Text

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Summer of the AliensAct 1,Scene 1

• Exposition
• Begins with Lewis and Dulcie hiding in the
  shooting range sense of confusion and violence
  use of subtext to create a link between sex and
  violence. peeling of skin and reference to Nazis
  then the does it feel good wrestle.
• Narrator is introduced device of reminisce
  the mature Lewis enters in the clothes given to
  him by Dulcie though we only know that at the
  end.

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Split scene

• Narrator
• Makes reference to the infertility of the land
• Metaphor for his own development
• Creates a scene of a barren landscape where he
  felt out of place

• Dulcie and Lewis
• Innocence of youth
• Juxtaposition of Lewis cluelessness and Dulcies
  sexually charged behaviour.
• Dulcie tries to tempt Lewis with her sexuality to
  make a connection with him Is that all she
  knows? suspense dramatic technique. The
  audience wonders why she is like this.

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Summer of the AliensAct 1, Scene 2

• Lewis family is introduced...
• Setting Back veranda crickets sound device
  to convey an instantly identifiable Australian
  scene.
• Scene begins with narrator explaining the effect
  his upbringing has had on him land of women
  ideas are emphasised by the image of Lewis
  combing his grandmothers hair.
• Explain the effect of these two sources of
  information on the audience?
• This is followed by Grandmothers desperate
  attempt to give Lewis an identity
• Bevs apparent normality at this point is used as
  a point of comparison with Lewis odd behaviour.

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Summer of the Aliens Act 1, Scene 3

• Theatrical device Transistor/radio
• Brings the outside world in context and
  exposition. Pressures of the outside on the
  suburban world lead to fear and aggression.
• Cuban crisis - http//www.youtube.com/watch?v5ZYm
  CQu5oykfeaturerelated
• How is Stans character shown by his actions at
  this early part of the scene? Explain this using
  the concept of subtext what is said and what is
  meant.
• Character introductions continue. These
  characters are not real or rounded as they
  reflect the limited view of the 14 year old
  even if they are reconstructed by an adult.
• Stan is reduced to a beer drinking bigot and
  Mrs. Irvin is reduced to a relic clutching
  religious zealot who prays for a child to bring
  love to their unhappy marriage.

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Summer of the Aliens Act 1, Scene 4

• Crossroads theatrical symbol of adolescent
  journey/turning points also a place where they
  mistakenly feel free of the parents control.
• The scene has an undercurrent of Dulcies fear of
  Stan shown through her desire not to be home.
  The sense of uneasiness this creates is
  supported/emphasised by the dictionp.12 and her
  odd comments
• Then her bigoted comments reflect the taking on
  of Stans views the power of the abuser over a
  child.
• Two more characters both immigrants
• 1. Beatrice victim of war subjected to
  horrible insensitivity and violence product of
  adolescence or Australian culture.

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Summer of the Aliens Act 1, Scene 4 2

• 2. Brian reinforces the struggle for identity
  who am I ? Questions about his race/heritage and
  his assault on women are juxtaposed with his
  statement
• just be normal, Lewis.
• This scene ends with an important quote and a
  surreal image Japanese girl. This device
  reminds that this is a reconstructed image that
  is not necessarily fact, that recent events can
  muddy the distant past and creates a sense of
  fluid time patterns

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Summer of the Aliens Act 1, Scene 5

• Dulcie too wants to escape remember Lewis plea
  for a UFO to land and take him away her image
  is of flying away as an angel.
• Pay particular attention to Lewis missed clues
  here. Dulcie sprinkles cries for help throughout
  this scene and Lewis misses them all. This shows
  that Dulcie and Lewis are both ill equipped to
  deal with adult problems the problems created
  by the aliens. Dulcie is unable to ask for help
  and Lewis is unable to pick it up. full
  understanding of subtext comes with age?
• Page 17 juxtaposition sacred and profane
  angel and prostitute.

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Summer of the Aliens Act 1, Scenes 6 and 7

• Scene 6 begins with narrator Lewis talking to
  grandma. What is the effect of this breaking of
  the illusion?
• What follows is a bleak look at domestic life
  the short interction between man and woman is
  usually not performed. Why do you think that is
  the case?
• Note the juxtaposition of the bitter reality and
  the Hollywood musical.
• Scene 7 Crossroads again scene of the
  Brian/Dulcie /Lewis prostitution and torture
  adolescent insensitivity - real suffering
• Dulcies emotional suffering makes the physical
  suffering of the magnifying glass burn seem
  insignificant. You couldnt hurt me
• The image/action is both unpredicted and shocking
  leaving the audience speechless followed by
  the lets play cricket line! What picture of
  adolescent sexuality/morality is this scene
  painting?

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Summer of the Aliens Act 1, Scene 8

• The sterile environment is refernced again. This
  is becoming a motif. What does that mean?
• Play reflects Australias adolescence in its
  dealing with difference sexual and cultural
• Lewis uncle is a product of his time is Lewis?
• Note the fluidity of the memory this is all
  reconstructed and therefore represents only what
  was memorable for a 14 year old.
• Note the trouble he gets into because of his
  actions at the crossroads. What have the
  crossroads become to these adolescents? What
  happens there? This furthers the idea of the
  environment not being nurturing. Explain with
  quotes.

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Summer of the Aliens Act 1, Scene 8 2

• Cultural Assumptions What assumptions does
  Richard make about Western women? Asian women?
• What is this scene suggesting about man in the
  1960s?
• Note the narrowness of Lewis memory of the
  Japanese woman. What does he remember?
• How is Lewis affected her beauty? What does it
  lead to?
• How does this affect the theme of difference and
  belonging?
• What does the narrators final line suggest?

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Summer of the Aliens Act 1, Scene 9

• Explain why you think Dulcie wants all those
  pillows? Hint They are filled with feathers
• Explore the line People didnt make sense at
  all
• Why is he so happy to see an alien? Where else
  does he see an alien?
• To answer this question you need to consider the
  concept of alienation the concept of not
  feeling at home or not feeling you belong. Find
  quotes that show that Lewis doesnt feel that he
  belongs? Why do you think he feels lie an alien?

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Act 1 Subtext

• There are a number of conversation in the first
  few scenes where what is said is not exactly what
  is meant. Choose a short conversation between
  Dulcie and Lewis and one between Mr Irvin and
  Lewis and complete the following activity.

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Summer of the Aliens Act 2 Scene 1

• The scene begins with Lewis addressing the
  audience as if we a re in his class listening to
  his show and tell. What does this add to the
  ideas of alienation and belonging. How does this
  position the audience?
• Why is it important that we get a real
  explanation for the UFO sighting? Do you believe
  Grandma? Explain what it means for the play if
  Lewis is right? What does it mean if Grandma is
  right?

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Summer of the Aliens Act 2, Scene 2

• Brians scene!
• 3 Key ideas
• Brian
• a. Thinks women are devious -Quote
• b. Is obsessed with sex -Quote
• c. His father is depressed and violent. -Quote
• Can you see a connection between these three
  ideas? Explain.
• Both Lewis and Brian share a need for an escape.
  How do they differ in what they choose as their
  escape into fantasy? Remember to quote and
  explain a device.
• Hint Characterisation is a technique!

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Summer of the Aliens Act 2, Scenes 3

• Dulcie ugly scene
• Nowra confronts the audience with the profanity
  swearing to create discomfort and to emphasise
  the effect of abuse on the victims self esteem.
  Lewis enters and his role as the naive observer
  is stressed but we are positioned to feel as
  helpless and clueless as he is.
• Why does Dulcie want to be sent to a home?
• Foreshadowing reference to the pillows
  something special youll see.
• Doll symbol Quote. Does Dulcie want to be ugly
  or does she feel the abuse makes her ugly? At
  this pint we dont know the full extent of the
  abuse but we have a fair idea.
• Aliens Dulcie is pleased to here that aliens
  possess humans. Why does she like the idea that
  Stan could be possessed by an alien?
• Then her status as an alien is mentioned the
  knife is a symbol of her desperation He is
  coming you had better go

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Summer of the Aliens Act 2, Scene 4 and 5

• Narrator explores the normality of Lewis dreams
  cricketer and his pre occupation with the weird
  events of the summer. - quote
• Mr Pisano sent mad by his unfaithful wife Bev
  makes another comment to increase the battle
  between the sexes quote
• Their Dad returns singing a song as if he had
  just returned from the shops which, technically
  in terms of the plot, he has! Note the stage
  directions They are happy
• Narrator makes reference to his 14 year old self
  hearing them fight later that night - that scene
  is played out.
• Scene 5 Eric manages to wrangle his way back in
  p 40-41
• He tries two different approaches explain them
  with quotes. What devices does the character use
  to be persuasive?

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Summer of the AliensAct 2, Scene 6

• CROSSROADS
• Note the use of humour to explore a serious issue
  Black humour.
• Language barrier a persons inability to
  explain themself is construed as stupidity.
  Beatrice is stupid because she doesnt understand
  the language and Lewis and Brian play cruel jokes
  on her even though she is trying to make friends.
  Metaphor for the Australian treatment of new
  arrivals.
• Brians Dad the suicide joke -Quote
• Lewis and Brian are normal boys ...like females
  arent human caught in an abnormal environment
  both meanings of the word.
• Burning the paddocks explain why this is an
  appropriate symbolic action for Brians Dad.
  What does it achieve?
• Brians fathers feeling of powerlessness is
  momentarily conquered by his act of powerful
  destruction.

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Summer of the AliensAct 2, Scene 7 and 8

• Scene 7 Eric and Lewis under the House -
  Tunnel imagery
• Discussion of the differences between men and
  women. What is erics view of Richard? How does
  this add to Lewis confusion?
• Dramatic irony problems with his story make us,
  the audience, very suspicious. Retells scenes
  from a famous novel/film The Great Escape.
• Strong sense that his discussion of prisoners
  reflects his attitude to domestic/married life -
  Quote
• He seems an unreliable role model for his son.
• Scene 8 Lewis, Dulcie and Mrs Irvin.
• Conflict between mother and duaghter to be
  resolved by Stans stern hand - clues missed by
  Mrs Irvin If he comes into my room again
• Explore why we as the audience clearly get the
  implication but Mrs Irvin chooses to miss it ?
• What is Dulcie actually afraid of? Quote!!

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Summer of the AliensAct 2, Scene 9 and 10

• Stealing Soil
• Nowra uses action to convey character. Find and
  explain what Eric does in this scene to show he
  is a bully and a bigot!
• Explain the quote Unnatural to have women
  around
• Eric continues his unreliable recounts of his
  time what is the clue that he is lying about
  his time at the Snowy - Quote
• Note his cruel treatment of Grandma his action
  here reveals his character more than any of his
  words. -Quote. Note the use of Black Humour
  again.
• Juxtaposition the comic bitterness of Scene 9
  is quickly followed by real melancholy of Grandma
  feeling she is going crazy.
• If you are really clever you will see the link
  Intertextuality between this event and Greek
  Tragedy. It is ironic that Eric makes ignorant
  references to this tradition, while Gran
  experiences the reality of losing her mind
  something truly epic in scale and common to Greek
  Tragedy.

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Summer of the AliensAct 2, Scene 11

• RSL Club note the sound effect of breaking
  glass.
• Then they enter dressed as angles in a club
  drinking scotch symbol of innocence corrupted.
• Stans billiard table why does she do what
  she does? Why is it so base couldnt she have
  just ripped it?
• Storm in the background suggests a moment of
  upheaval Shakespearean!
• Dulcie wants to trash the RSL club Why?
• Explain the significance of the quote I saw
  angles in the RSL Club it was angles that
  destroyed it.
• Examine Dulcies angle speech What does the
  Angel say? Why doesnt Lewis know? What does she
  do next ? And he still doesnt get it!
• Dulcie claiming to be an alien to gain Lewis
  interest? Lewis says he is one two!
• We are here ! The aliens are here!

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