Welcome to Your Study Journey: The Bone People
Hello! Today, we are diving into a truly unique and powerful novel: The Bone People by Keri Hulme. This book is a staple for the Society and the Individual theme in your Pearson Edexcel AS Level course. It explores how three "broken" people—who don't quite fit into the rules of normal society—try to build their own version of a family.
Don’t worry if this book feels a bit different or "heavy" at first. It uses a lot of unique language and switches between different characters' thoughts. Think of it like a puzzle: we are piecing together how these individuals survive in a world that often ignores or hurts them. By the end of these notes, you’ll have a clear grip on the characters, the language, and how it all fits the exam theme!
Section 1: The Core Theme—Society vs. the Individual
In this curriculum, Society and the Individual looks at how people behave when they are alone versus when they are part of a group. In The Bone People, our three main characters are all "outsiders."
1. Isolation: The Individual Choosing to be Alone
The character Kerewin Holmes is the ultimate example of an individual rejecting society. She lives in a literal Tower. Analogy: Imagine Kerewin like a person who deletes all their social media and moves to a cabin in the woods because they are tired of everyone else’s drama.
- Why? She feels like an outsider because she is an artist, she is wealthy (from a lottery win), and she has become distant from her Whānau (family).
- Key Point: Society expects people to be part of a family, but Kerewin chooses to be a "hermit."
2. The "Misfit" Family
Society usually defines a family as a mother, father, and children. However, the trio in this book—Kerewin, Joe, and Simon—creates a "found family."
- Joe Gillayley: A Maori man who is struggling with grief and uses violence as a way to "discipline" his foster son.
- Simon: A young, mute (he cannot speak) boy who was washed up from a shipwreck. He doesn't have a known past or a "place" in society.
Quick Review: The Theme
Key Takeaway: The novel shows that individuals who are "broken" by society’s standards can only heal by coming together and forming their own unique community.Section 2: Language and Literary Devices
Since this is a Language and Literature course, you need to look at how Keri Hulme writes, not just what she writes. Hulme uses a style called Stream of Consciousness.
1. Lexis and Semantics: Maori Language
Hulme includes many Maori words (like Whānau, Iwi, and Kaimoana) without always translating them. Did you know? This is a political choice! By using these words, Hulme forces the reader to enter a Maori worldview, rather than staying in a purely Western or English-speaking one.
2. Discourse and Grammar: Fragmented Sentences
Sometimes the sentences in the book are short. Broken. Like this. Example: "Silence. The tower. Cold." Why do this? It mirrors the psychological state of the characters. Because Kerewin, Joe, and Simon are emotionally "broken" or traumatized, the language itself becomes "broken" to match their feelings.
3. Pragmatics: Communicating Without Words
Because Simon is mute, the characters have to communicate through Pragmatics (the meaning behind actions rather than words).
- Simon uses touch, drawings, and facial expressions.
- Common Mistake to Avoid: Don't assume Simon has nothing to say just because he doesn't speak. His "voice" is found in his actions and his impact on Kerewin and Joe.
Memory Aid: The "Three S's" of Hulme's Style
Spiral (The shape of the story and Kerewin's art)
Silence (Simon’s lack of speech and Kerewin’s isolation)
Stream of Consciousness (The way we see inside their messy thoughts)
Section 3: Key Symbols (The "Hidden Meanings")
To get those higher marks, you need to talk about Symbols. These are objects that represent bigger ideas about society.
1. The Tower
Kerewin’s home represents Self-Isolation. It is a stone fortress that keeps the world out. However, it is also a prison. For an individual to grow, they eventually have to leave their "tower" and rejoin the "people."
2. The Spiral (Koru)
The spiral is a common Maori symbol. It represents growth and life. In the novel, the characters' lives don't move in a straight line; they go around in circles, getting closer to the truth each time. Analogy: Think of a spiral staircase. You are going in circles, but you are also moving upward.
3. The Maeroero (Shadow People)
These are mythical "wild people" from Maori legend. They represent the parts of ourselves that are wild, unloved, or rejected by society. Both Joe and Simon are often treated like "wild things" by the world around them.
Quick Review: Symbols
Key Takeaway: Symbols like the Tower and the Spiral show the transition from being a lonely individual to being part of the "Bone People" (the foundation of society).Section 4: Social Context—New Zealand and Identity
You cannot understand this book without looking at the Context (the world the author lived in).
1. Post-Colonialism
New Zealand has a history of conflict between the Maori (indigenous people) and the Pakeha (European settlers).
- Joe represents the Maori struggle to keep traditions alive in a modern world.
- Kerewin is mixed-race, representing the "in-between" individual who doesn't feel they belong to either society perfectly.
2. Child Abuse and Taboos
The novel includes scenes where Joe beats Simon. This is very difficult to read. In the 1980s (when the book was written), society was starting to talk more openly about domestic violence. Important: In your essays, explain that Hulme isn't saying this is "okay." Instead, she is showing how trauma is passed down through generations in a society that is hurting.
Section 5: Final Exam Tips and Strategies
When you are writing your response for Component 2, keep these steps in mind:
- Start with the Theme: Always link your point back to "Society and the Individual." (e.g., "Kerewin’s tower is a physical representation of an individual rejecting the pressures of society.")
- Zoom in on Language: Mention a specific linguistic level. Talk about the Lexis (the Maori words) or the Syntax (the broken sentence structures).
- Use "Step-by-Step" Analysis:
- Point: Hulme uses the character of Simon to show how society treats those who are different.
- Evidence: Simon is mute and has no known family.
- Analysis: Because he cannot speak, he is often misunderstood or treated as a "thing" to be fixed rather than an individual.
- Link: This shows the conflict between an individual’s needs and society’s expectations.
Quick Review Box: Common Student Pitfalls
- Don't ignore the Maori terms: They are central to the book's identity. Mention them!
- Don't just summarize the plot: The examiner wants to know how the language works.
- Don't forget the "Bone People" meaning: The title refers to the ancestors and the people who are the "skeleton" or "core" of the land.
Final Encouragement: This book is complex because humans are complex! Don't worry if the characters' choices confuse you—they are meant to. Just focus on how their individual struggles represent the wider society they live in. You've got this!