Analysis Of David Malouf's Fly Away Peter

Written in 1982, David Malouf 's Fly Away Peter tells the story of Jim Saddler, an innocent and self-contained young man with a passion for birds, and his grim journey through World War 1. The novel explores the key messages of national identity, change, the brutality of war and the consequences that arise from such brutality. Through his use of narrative elements including symbolism, setting and characterisation Malouf is able to enhance the reader’s understanding of these key messages that are explored throughout the entire novel.

Set prior to 1914 in Queensland, Australia, Malouf introduces the main characters of the novel into a setting unaffected by war. From within the first page of the novel Jim is positioned in a setting surrounded by nature, immersing the character as well as the reader into tranquility. Malouf creates this sense of utter tranquility as he uses the words “intensely” and “soft” to describe the colour of the mountains, whilst using verbs such as “climbing”, “dipping”, “rolling” and “disappearing" to express elements within the natural setting, creating a feeling of weightlessness and freedom in the reader. By developing the natural setting of the novel around the central theme of tranquility, Malouf is able to build on the connotations of isolation that are associated with a country such as Australia, allowing him to explore the key message of national identity through the narrative element; setting. Malouf

David Malouf uses narrative elements such as symbolism, setting and characterisation, to not only explore the key messages of national identity, change, the brutality of war and the consequences that arise from such brutality. But to fully enhance the readers understanding of these key messages, ensuring that history does not repeat