Skrzynecki’s Crossing the Red Sea is a poem which depicts the traumatic journey of migration and human triumph over adversity. It discusses the post holocaust emotions felt by the refugees who fled from suffering, war and dislocation as they watched the familiar shorelines disappearing. The religious conations used in the poem help to create a direct link to the famous 40 year journey where Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt to the Promised Land. The biblical allusions ‘exile’, ‘offering’ and ‘mercy’ underline the notion that the immigrants are at the mercy of God. The reference to Lazarus, who was raised from the dead, is suggestive of new life and

In a very different idea of a journey, Kenneth Graham’s Wind in the Willows discusses the emotional and intellectual considerations prior to taking a journey, not by ship or train, but in a gypsy caravan. The extract behins with a vivid image of the caravan’s appearance, which emphasises the significances of a splendid mean of transportation romanticises the journey. In the story, the toad, who was emotionally driven, imagines the rewards that can be gained through a journey that is full of positive promises. Through his words of excitement, he enthuses that the journey will allow them to experience ‘real life’ by travelling on the ‘open road’ to a new life rich in possibilities. Rat on the other hand was intellectual driven as he expresses discomposure and mistrust. Unimpressed by Toad’s expansive ravings, he snorts in contempt. Graham concisely explains that even when a splendid means of a journey is available, it depends on the traveller whether to take on the journey or not. Through the text, he also expressed the hopes and concerns that confronts someone prior to undertaking a journey.

a better future for the immigrants. The red imagery represents pain, hardship and blood in the old communist country where they had to ‘mock salute’ to red banners, being bound to the ‘shackles’ and was tired with ‘sunken eyes’. The travellers left their homeland for a place of unknown, on a ship where communication was only through hand gestures as ‘shreds of dialogue hung from fingertips’. Despite the bleak imagery in the poem, there is a glimmer of hope as the immigrants gave thanks to God for their chance of new life. The poem is presented in several sections where each part is a separate snapshot which functions to recreate a string of memory. This enables the reader to have a more personal relationship with the storyteller. The poem shows the human triumph over adversity in a difficult journey. A journey is often involuntary, and is only made to escape from death and misfortune.

Some topics in this essay:
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