Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
Past the Shallow Character's theme ralated, Harry Curren, Miles…
-
Harry Curren
Quotes
Water that was always there. Always everywhere. He knew the way he felt about the ocean would never leave him now.
Harry’s opinion on the ocean.
The opening chapter introduces key motifs such as the ocean’s dark, dangerous power and the close but fraught relationships within the Current family. Harry’s vulnerability and the looming sense of loss foreshadow the tragic events to come, including his death.
The ocean itself serves as both a literal and metaphorical force, setting the stage for the novel’s exploration of human fragility.
“He let the tooth go. He stared down at Harry. “She was leaving, because of him. Because of you”
Implication that Harry is Uncle Nick’s biological son, truncated sentence, anaphora
Harry’s relationship with George contrasts starkly with Dad’s neglect, showcasing Harry’s yearning for love and protection within a fractured family dynamic.
Harry picked up an abalone shell]. Felt it. This place. Felt the people who had been here before. People who were dead now. Long gone.
-
Harry understood it, right down in his guts, that time ran on forever and that one day he would die.
Technique: foreshadowing
This highlights Harry’s trust and innocence, emphasizing the betrayal and his eventual acceptance of death as freedom from his struggles.
-
-
The dark water of Lune River was moving with a silent speed that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up.
The negative human experience of violence and death through the image of the “dark water”. She contrasts this with the image of ‘To somewhere warm. To somewhere new.’
Despite the sorrow and violence of the story, the novel’s conclusion is imbued with hope. The imagery of moving “to somewhere warm” and “to somewhere new” suggests a fresh start for Miles and Joe. This optimism leaves the reader with a sense of closure and the belief that healing is possible, even after profound loss.
It nearly made Harry cry now, the way Miles eyelid was all purple, coming up real bad.
Harry's emotional fragility at Miles' swollen eye. mirrors the boys' vernacular and reinforces their youth and vulnerability in the harsh environment they inhabit.
Pathos: The scene evokes sympathy from the reader by highlighting Harry’s emotional response to Miles’ suffering. The phrase "It nearly made Harry cry now" emphasizes Harry's sensitivity and the bond between the brothers.
-
Miles Current
Quotes
“Don’t you get stuck here with your dad,You’re too young to be out there working”
Technique: Dialogue, truncated sentence, imperatives.
-
Miles let the rip that ran with the bluff carry him. He enjoyed the ride, felt his hands slipping through the cool water, body floating free.
-
It had made it this far, battling its siblings, killing and feeding off them. Waiting. It would have been born strong, ready to hunt, ready to fight.
-
He listened to Joe talk about all the places they would go, the big bright lights of new cities, the free open space of the ocean.
Technique: Hope, visual imagery
The final chapter is told from Miles’ perspective. This choice allows the reader to experience his emotional resolution firsthand and underscores his central role in the story’s themes of survival, memory, and hope.
And he knew that Joe was going to take him with him, now.
Technique: Definitive language
Foreshadowing: Suggests future action and creates a sense of hope or anticipation.
Internal Monologue: Provides insight into Miles’ thoughts and emotions.
“Past the shallows” symbolises venturing beyond the familiar and safe, into the unknown depths of life’s challenges and possibilities. It captures both the risk and the promise of forging a new path.
A shark’s tooth, cold and sharp – a perfect blade, everything that a shark rotted and disappeared, everything but its jaw and its teeth. That was all a shark could ever leave behind
Symbolism, foreshadowing, allegory for Dad’s behaviour.
Cloudy bay: There was only this vastness, the swing of a giant pendulum—water receding then flooding back. And he was part of it. Part of the deep water, part of the waves. Part of the rocks and reefs along the shore.
Technique: anaphora, symbolism of the sea.
Miles and Joe collect all Harry’s found objects from their surf outings and take them back to Cloudy Bay with George and Jake.
This creates a circular structure because Cloudy Bay is where the novel began. The end is positive for 3 brothers, but for Harry it is just the way that we don’t expect. But the end is the opening for a very positive opening, and is also a goodbye for Joe and Miles for Harry.
Vivid imagery: Vividly depicts the action, emphasizing the connection to nature and shared moments.
Symbolism: The collected objects may symbolize the boys’ shared experiences and the importance of preserving memories.
Like the ocean he fishes, he is wild and unpredictable.
-
-
Geroge Fuller
Quotes
"This is for you. For luck" he said and put the tooth in Miles' hand. "You found him. Harry" Miles looked up at George, his eyes full of tears.
The shark tooth necklace is a symbol of protection, resilience, and memory. Initially given to Miles by Uncle Nick “for luck,” it reappears at the end, tying past and present together.
George giving it back to Miles suggests a passing of strength and the enduring bonds between those who care for one another.
They seemed to have an understanidng, George and Harry. One that didn’t need words.
George offers a warmth and understanding the boys haven’t found elsewhere. This unspoken bond, formed “without words,” contrasts with the guarded, detached interactions with Aunty Jean and underscores the emotional support that George quietly provides.
Subtext: Suggests a deep, unspoken connection between the characters, emphasizing their bond.
Minimalism: The simplicity of the sentence reflects the purity of their relationship.
-
The place was neat and ordered, clean, the walls painted white against the dark wood ceiling and supporting beams.
Contrast: Highlights the calm, ordered setting in contrast to the emotional turbulence in the characters' lives.
Visual Imagery: Appeals to the senses to create a clear picture of the environment.
-
George was up ahead. George, waving from the top of the hill.
The author demonstrates this through the descriptive language and motifs, creating a vision of serenity as Harry joins George and Jake in the vast beauty of nature.
This reflects Harry’s happiness in death, and he is not alone as Geroge is accompanying him. This moment contrasts the violence of his life with the tranquillity of his passing, evoking a sense of bittersweet emotions in the reader.
George’s presence symbolises reconciliation with the community, while Jake, the loyal dog, underscores the enduring presence of love and connection.
Parrett brings these characters together to highlight the importance of companionship in moving forward.
Joe shook George’s hand goodbye and when Mile went to do the same, George grabbed him up quickly, pulled him in tight.
Kinaesthetic Imagery: Describes physical movement to convey the depth of George’s affection.
Characterization: Demonstrates George’s warm and protective nature.
-
Aunty Jean
Quotes
I grew up in that House, Miles. Don’t I deserve something?
Rhetorical Question: Highlights Aunty Jean’s personal struggles and sense of entitlement, inviting reflection on fairness and legacy.
Tone of Resentment: Suggests lingering bitterness and unresolved emotions.
"She was kind, Harry. You’re just like her."
Direct Characterization: Links Harry to his mother’s qualities, reinforcing themes of family legacy.
Dialogue: Adds emotional depth and insight into Harry’s identity.
-
-
-
-