A Bridge to Wisemans Cove Essay

We read the novel a bridge to Wiseman’s cove and we have to write how two families where portrayed in the novel. I’m using abbreviation in my draft ☺

Families can either be functional or dysfunctional, this can be demonstrated through the act of the Duncan’s parents and the Matt’s guardian. (which parents? You should introduce the text and characters you are referring to). ABTWC written by James Moloney demonstrated both functional and dysfunctional families through the different levels of trust, respect and discipline. Techniques, which help portray these characteristics, include the use of relationships to help portray these families. Two diverse families shown in the book ABTWC have explained the different characteristics of a functional family. This distinctive difference in families is highly reflected on the parents or guardians in charge. The Duncans well known as the functional family in ‘Wattle Beach’ are completely different to the Matt family. As the Duncans displayed a great level of respect, discipline and trust, the Matt family has a lot to learn and shown in the novel the trust was one of the most desired. Your introduction is a little repetitive in stating what is portrayed. Your introduction also needs to identify HOW they are portrayed in this way. So, you need to mention the use of techniques as you would need to use these to analyse your examples.

Members of a family must be trustful to each other to live in a functional family. As shown in the novel ABTWC the Duncan’s represented the family with the high level of trust, the Matt family lacked this trust, which caused many problems. Sarah, Carl and Harleys sister told Beryll their aunt, “ill put them on the bus where you’re their to pick them up or not,” (p.10) The techniques used in this quote is the relationships between Aunt Beryll and Sarah where she cannot fully trust Beryll to be at the bus stop. (You should include analysis instead of explaining what the quote says. So, to do this you need to identify the techniques used in the quote and their effect in conveying the mistrust). Another poor example shown by the Matt family was when Beryll chained Harley up because he couldn’t be trusted to do the right thing, Harley said to Carl, “Beryll couldn’t stand me so she took off. Only came back at lunchtime.” (p.96) This shows that the relationship between Harley and Beryll is not trustworthy because she had to leave him chained up at home while she left.(what does this show and how?) The Duncan’s however are far from the Matt family and shown through the display of parents and guardians from each family one must be functional with the high levels of characteristics. Include examples and analysis to back up this idea. Also, your paragraph needs to conclude with a sentence tying back to your overall question.

Respect is the Holy Grail of functional families. All people in the family, brothers to sisters, mothers to