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In trying circumstances and difficult situations, people are presented with highly influential learning experiences which have the power to teach and change. In the novel, “I heard the owl call my name” by Margaret Craven, the article “Dying to live”, by Cynthia Hickman and the poem, “Barn Owl” by Gwen Harrod, the central characters experience a variety of trying circumstances. The novel focuses heavily on the understanding and appreciation of another culture, while the article centres on learning to appreciate life. ... The three main issues in all these texts, understanding, growth and appreciation all emerge from the experience indulged, all of which centre in some way around death. ...
With experience, brings understanding. Understanding is a major theme throughout the all of the texts, and is especially highlighted in the novel, “I heard the owl call my name”, by Margaret Craven. ... Mark is presented with this experience from the Bishop in the hope he will learn enough about life itself to die. ... “How do you pronounce the name of your tribe? ... Through his attempts to learn the Indians language, it can be seen how Mark, despite his trying circumstances amongst a completely different culture, uses his experience with the Indians to come to understand their language.
Despite the fact that it is the Indians themselves who are one of the initial ‘trying circumstances’ for Mark, they later establish themselves as a prominent source of learning through experience and understanding for Mark. ... This experience which Mark encounters adds to the valuable knowledge which he gains from the tribe during his time there. ... Hickman, on the other hand, also gains an understanding of life through her experience with her mother. ...
Appreciation is most commonly learnt through experience. ... In the novel, “"I heard the owl call my name", Mark Brian not only learns from his trying experiences, but also gains an enhanced appreciation of the Indian culture. ... Marks initial trying experience with the Indians resulted in him learning quite a lot, and gaining a strong appreciation of the simpler life which the Indians live.
In the same context, Hickman in her article “Dying to Live” reveals how she was able to use her trying experience to learn of a greater appreciation of life. ... You begin living in the present…” Although Hickmans ‘trying experience’ does differ to that of Marks, they both have learnt through their experiences, that life is an important and precious gift and to make the most of it. ...
It is though trying circumstances when people encounter difficult experiences that both learning and growth may be undertaken. ...
In a similar manner, the young child in the poem “Barn Owl”, also learns from his trying experience relating to growth. ... “A horny fiend, I crept / out with my fathers gun / let him dream of a child / obedient, angel-mild”. The child, who is seen through the fathers eyes as well- behaved, actually turns out to be quite evil, and has plotted to take his fathers gun, and shoot the owl which comes into their barn regularly. The child is a hunter, “I knew my prize”, and has planned this attack on the owl. The child’s attack on the owl, which the child initially decided to do as a thrill, turns out to be a very trying experience for them.
Approximate Word count = 2600
Approximate Pages = 10.4
(250 words per page double spaced)
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