Who was Judith Wright?
Judith Wright was an Australian poet, critic, and short-story writer, who published more than 50 books. Wright was a person who fought for human rights and for the environment. She believed that the poet should be concerned with national and social problems. At the age of 85, just before her death, she attended a march in Canberra for reconciliation with Aboriginal people.
Judith was born on the 31st May 1915, in Armidale, New South Wales. However, she spent most of her childhood in Brisbane and Sydney.
Judith’s mother, Ethel, died when she Judith was 12 years old. Her grandmother then took care of her, and taught her too. At the age of 14, Judith Wright went to New England Girls' School as a boarder.
In 1934, Judith enrolled at Sydney University. Here she studied philosophy, history, psychology and English, but did not complete a degree.
Judith started to go deaf in her 20’s. In 1937-38, she traveled to Britain and Europe.
At the beginning of World War 2, Judith returned to Australia to help her father on his property. (There was little help on the farms as so many men went to war.)
This served as the turning point in her life. She developed a great attachment to the land and its people. This love for the country was visible in her works as well.
From the 1944 to 1948, she worked at the University of Queensland as a statistician (someone who takes care of numbers). In 1946, she published her first book of poetry 'The Moving Image‘.
Judith met J.P. McKinney when she was 30 years old. She was attracted to him even though this philosopher (thinker) was 26 years older.
Wright moved to Mount Tamborine with him in 1950. In the same year, Judith and J.P. had a daughter, named Meredith, and soon after they married. In 1966, McKinney died and Judith moved to NSW.
Judith’s meeting with J.P. McKinney and moving to Queensland, was the best thing for her career. She wrote her greatest works in the mountains of South East Queensland.
The Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts in Brisbane is named in her honour.
Judith was born on the 31st May 1915, in Armidale, New South Wales. However, she spent most of her childhood in Brisbane and Sydney.
Judith’s mother, Ethel, died when she Judith was 12 years old. Her grandmother then took care of her, and taught her too. At the age of 14, Judith Wright went to New England Girls' School as a boarder.
In 1934, Judith enrolled at Sydney University. Here she studied philosophy, history, psychology and English, but did not complete a degree.
Judith started to go deaf in her 20’s. In 1937-38, she traveled to Britain and Europe.
At the beginning of World War 2, Judith returned to Australia to help her father on his property. (There was little help on the farms as so many men went to war.)
This served as the turning point in her life. She developed a great attachment to the land and its people. This love for the country was visible in her works as well.
From the 1944 to 1948, she worked at the University of Queensland as a statistician (someone who takes care of numbers). In 1946, she published her first book of poetry 'The Moving Image‘.
Judith met J.P. McKinney when she was 30 years old. She was attracted to him even though this philosopher (thinker) was 26 years older.
Wright moved to Mount Tamborine with him in 1950. In the same year, Judith and J.P. had a daughter, named Meredith, and soon after they married. In 1966, McKinney died and Judith moved to NSW.
Judith’s meeting with J.P. McKinney and moving to Queensland, was the best thing for her career. She wrote her greatest works in the mountains of South East Queensland.
The Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts in Brisbane is named in her honour.
Hunting Snake
Judith's poetry was really for an older audience.
One of Judith's poems that is a bit more interesting is called Hunting Snake. It is presented in the following video, which helps us to understand the more adult-like writing.
One of Judith's poems that is a bit more interesting is called Hunting Snake. It is presented in the following video, which helps us to understand the more adult-like writing.
Did you like the poem?
Have you ever seen a snake while you have been out walking?
What did you do?
How did you feel?
Share some experiences with the class group.
Do you think Judith's poem describes what it is like to come across a snake unexpectedly?
Can we ever admire a snake and think that it is a splendid thing?
Have you ever seen a snake while you have been out walking?
What did you do?
How did you feel?
Share some experiences with the class group.
Do you think Judith's poem describes what it is like to come across a snake unexpectedly?
Can we ever admire a snake and think that it is a splendid thing?
Activity
Give out the two sheets to the students. They are copied below so that they can be used for class discussion.
The first sheet is some questions about the poem. Feel free to work through the questions as a whole class, explaining to the children what is meant by each question as you go.
The second sheet, should be easier once the first one has been done and there has been discussion. The children need to draw a picture to illustrate what is happening in each verse.
The files can be downloaded here. There's an answer sheet for teachers too!
The first sheet is some questions about the poem. Feel free to work through the questions as a whole class, explaining to the children what is meant by each question as you go.
The second sheet, should be easier once the first one has been done and there has been discussion. The children need to draw a picture to illustrate what is happening in each verse.
The files can be downloaded here. There's an answer sheet for teachers too!
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