Belonging and Identity: An Analysis of 'The Simple Gift' and Beyond

This essay delves into the multifaceted concept of belonging, exploring its significance in human experience and its representation in literature. The analysis centers on the narrative poem "The Simple Gift" by Stephen Herrick, examining how characters like Billy Luckett, Caitlin, and Old Bill grapple with themes of rejection, homelessness, and the search for identity. The essay connects these literary explorations to broader concepts, such as the "Early years' Educational Agenda" and the importance of belonging in child development. It scrutinizes the characters' struggles and their evolving relationships, particularly the formation of a sense of community and acceptance. Through this analysis, the essay highlights the profound impact of belonging on individual well-being and the challenges faced by those who experience a lack of it.

Outline
Belongingness refers to the person’s emotional choice to be an acknowledged member within
a team of persons. Whether it happens to be a classroom surrounded by students and teacher,
family associates, networks of friends and known individuals, co-workers, a spiritual persuasion,
or a sort of gathering for discussion, consultation, conferences on any specified themes, there
tends a characteristic desire to have its place in the minds of others (Connor, 2012).. This refers
to the sense of “belonging” that signifies an imperative measure of a little superior feeling. This
infers an affiliation that is impressive than humble acquaintance or understanding. The necessity
to belong stands as the desire to give and accept consideration to as well as from other
individuals (Chen, 2014).
Actions and thoughts
The exposure of “Early years’ Educational Agenda” envisages the reflection of “Belonging
plus Being in addition to Becoming”. Youngsters’ attention triggers with ‘belonging’ amid their
contests and community setup. A person’s intelligence develops all-out in the foremost three
years. All over this stage, the superiority of the child’s involvements plus interactions will
generate a feeling of
 Self-dependence and Consciousness within the child’s sensitive development:
 The further, the motivation, contributions and communications, the sophisticated
procedures of expansion remains over all the domains of evolution
(www.education.nt.gov.au, 2019).
"The Simple Gift", establishes the fundamentals of “belonging” as well as recognition over the
agony and distress of refusal, “homelessness” besides 'dealing by death' through the characters
“Billy, Caitlin plus Old Bill”. It stands as a narrative poem of Stephen Herrick. The central
character - Billy Luckett undertakes the venture; leaving family on his individual resolution.
Billy discloses himself as a discarded thief; as well as a bothered character who banned a
preventive, restricted inappropriate learning system. The source of his estrangement seems to be
physical plus psychosomatic exploitation from his dad, want of concern from his institute and his
neglected community with its “truck static on blocks” uncultivated grass, “broken windows”
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besides which he mockingly mentions as “each deadbeat no hoper sh-thole lonely downtrodden
house in Long lands Rd, Nowheresville”--- All the signs direct to a terrible, dilapidated,
miserable situation (www.stevenherrick.com.au, 2019).
The school correspondingly accepts a gust from Billy’s fatal pen. Most institutes would have let
down two hours before, all the same the rest part of the verse charms real as Billy rings the view
on a breezy and showery daytime through the Principal’s badly maintained car driving smoke.
The nonsense spotted mysterious man, Mr. Cheetam records on Japan just before 26 uninterested
pupils and Billy self-outlined as some blessed bastard confessing to have taken the lipstick
wished-for for his “graffiti”. He reflects an indirect description: "Billy Luckett rhymes with..."
enlightening his frustration over a loss of falling out (www.amazon.com, 2019).
Billy faces numerous challenges for accommodation and nourishment. An ancient “train
carriage” turns out to be the guy’s new space where his tussle for discarded foodstuff at
McDonalds clips the responsiveness of Caitlin. Caitlin becomes an oddball in her wealthy
society as feels uncomfortable in her educational, foundation, the uniform plus her deluxe home
as a result of a uttering in her cognizance that everything is fabricated, apparent, and pretentious.
Hence she quests for perceptible ideologies to exchange the simulated elements of life. In a
different situation, Billy as well as Old Bill settled 'a relationship as well as sense of solidarity
since he look at Old Bill as per his “father figure”. "I like the kid...I like his company" compares
the absence of love plus rapport among Billy and the actual father (www.stevenherrick.com.au,
2019).
Implication
Belonging signifies a robust and adamant feeling that survives in human mind. To be precise or
not to mix can become apparent as a result of “one's nature, or the choosing of others. Not the
whole world has the equivalent life as well as interests; therefore not every person feels right to
the similar object or individual. Without “belonging”, the persons cannot classify them as
markedly; hence they seem to face problems in interconnecting with as well as linking to their
environments.
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References
Chen, F. (2014). Parents'perezhivaniesupports children's development of emotion regulation: a
holistic view. Early Child Development And Care, 185(6), 851-867. doi:
10.1080/03004430.2014.961445
Connor, J. (2012). The early years learning framework professional learning program:
Becoming literate. EYLLFPLP e_Newsletter. [e-newsletter]. Retrieved from
http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/nqsplp/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/
EYLFPLP_ENewsletter_No18.pdf
www.amazon.com (2019). The Simple gift Retrieved from https://www.amazon.com/Simple-
Gift-Steven-Herrick/dp/0689868677
www.education.nt.gov.au, (2019). Literacy Literature for Evidence Based Practices Framework
Retrieved from:
http://www.education.nt.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/11398/LiteratureReviewLiter
acy.pdf
www.stevenherrick.com.au. (2019). The Simple gift Retrieved from
http://www.stevenherrick.com.au/gift.htm
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