ENG3705
Assignment 2 2025
Unique number:
Due date: July 2025
SECTION A: REFLECTION ON ASSIGNMENT 02: FOE
3 DIFFERENT ANSWERS PROOVIDED
While reading Foe by J.M. Coetzee, I quickly realised it was not just a simple retelling of
Robinson Crusoe. Instead, it questioned power, authorship, and whose stories get told.
The idea of grand narratives stood out for me, those dominant stories that claim to be
the only truth, often told from the perspective of the powerful. In Foe, Coetzee resists
and rewrites these narratives by focusing on characters who are normally left out, like
Susan Barton and Friday. The book challenges the tradition of giving voice only to those
in control. In comparison, the movie version of Robinson Crusoe continues to centre
Crusoe as the hero and civiliser, unlike Coetzee‘s version, where Cruso is weak and
uninterested in storytelling.
DISCLAIMER & TERMS OF USE
Educational Aid: These study notes are intended to be used as educational resources and should not be seen
as a replacement for individual research, critical analysis, or professional consultation. Students are encouraged
to perform their own research and seek advice from their instructors or academic advisors for specific
assignment guidelines.
Personal Responsibility: While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the
information in these study notes, the seller does not guarantee the completeness or correctness of all content.
The buyer is responsible for verifying the accuracy of the information and exercising their own judgment when
applying it to their assignments.
Academic Integrity: It is essential for students to maintain academic integrity and follow their institution's
policies regarding plagiarism, citation, and referencing. These study notes should be used as learning tools and
sources of inspiration. Any direct reproduction of the content without proper citation and acknowledgment may
be considered academic misconduct.
Limited Liability: The seller shall not be liable for any direct or indirect damages, losses, or consequences
arising from the use of these notes. This includes, but is not limited to, poor academic performance, penalties, or
any other negative consequences resulting from the application or misuse of the information provided.
, SECTION A: REFLECTION ON ASSIGNMENT 02: FOE
3 DIFFERENT ANSWERS PROOVIDED
While reading Foe by J.M. Coetzee, I quickly realised it was not just a simple
retelling of Robinson Crusoe. Instead, it questioned power, authorship, and whose
stories get told. The idea of grand narratives stood out for me—those dominant
stories that claim to be the only truth, often told from the perspective of the powerful.
In Foe, Coetzee resists and rewrites these narratives by focusing on characters who
are normally left out, like Susan Barton and Friday. The book challenges the tradition
of giving voice only to those in control. In comparison, the movie version of Robinson
Crusoe continues to centre Crusoe as the hero and civiliser, unlike Coetzee‘s
version, where Cruso is weak and uninterested in storytelling.
Cruso and Friday play a big role in showing the failure of colonial ideals. Cruso does
not reflect the Enlightenment idea of a man driven by logic, progress, and
exploration. He seems empty and without purpose. Friday, who has no tongue,
represents all the people whose voices have been taken by colonial violence. A key
part of the book for me was when Susan tries to tell Friday‘s story but realises she
can‘t. This shows that even when people try to help, they may still speak over others.
Friday‘s silence becomes powerful—it is a refusal to be defined or explained by
others.
This novel changed how I view colonial narratives. It made me think about how
stories are used to control people and how silence can sometimes be a powerful
form of resistance. In real life, we still see colonial thinking in whose histories are
taught, whose voices are heard in the media, and whose experiences are ignored.
One way to challenge this is to make space for different voices, especially those that
are often overlooked or dismissed. We also need to ask who is telling the story and
why.
Reading Foe helped me understand that storytelling is not just about words on a
page—it is about power, identity, and justice. It showed me that silence can be
meaningful, and that challenging dominant narratives is necessary for a fairer world.
OR
Assignment 2 2025
Unique number:
Due date: July 2025
SECTION A: REFLECTION ON ASSIGNMENT 02: FOE
3 DIFFERENT ANSWERS PROOVIDED
While reading Foe by J.M. Coetzee, I quickly realised it was not just a simple retelling of
Robinson Crusoe. Instead, it questioned power, authorship, and whose stories get told.
The idea of grand narratives stood out for me, those dominant stories that claim to be
the only truth, often told from the perspective of the powerful. In Foe, Coetzee resists
and rewrites these narratives by focusing on characters who are normally left out, like
Susan Barton and Friday. The book challenges the tradition of giving voice only to those
in control. In comparison, the movie version of Robinson Crusoe continues to centre
Crusoe as the hero and civiliser, unlike Coetzee‘s version, where Cruso is weak and
uninterested in storytelling.
DISCLAIMER & TERMS OF USE
Educational Aid: These study notes are intended to be used as educational resources and should not be seen
as a replacement for individual research, critical analysis, or professional consultation. Students are encouraged
to perform their own research and seek advice from their instructors or academic advisors for specific
assignment guidelines.
Personal Responsibility: While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the
information in these study notes, the seller does not guarantee the completeness or correctness of all content.
The buyer is responsible for verifying the accuracy of the information and exercising their own judgment when
applying it to their assignments.
Academic Integrity: It is essential for students to maintain academic integrity and follow their institution's
policies regarding plagiarism, citation, and referencing. These study notes should be used as learning tools and
sources of inspiration. Any direct reproduction of the content without proper citation and acknowledgment may
be considered academic misconduct.
Limited Liability: The seller shall not be liable for any direct or indirect damages, losses, or consequences
arising from the use of these notes. This includes, but is not limited to, poor academic performance, penalties, or
any other negative consequences resulting from the application or misuse of the information provided.
, SECTION A: REFLECTION ON ASSIGNMENT 02: FOE
3 DIFFERENT ANSWERS PROOVIDED
While reading Foe by J.M. Coetzee, I quickly realised it was not just a simple
retelling of Robinson Crusoe. Instead, it questioned power, authorship, and whose
stories get told. The idea of grand narratives stood out for me—those dominant
stories that claim to be the only truth, often told from the perspective of the powerful.
In Foe, Coetzee resists and rewrites these narratives by focusing on characters who
are normally left out, like Susan Barton and Friday. The book challenges the tradition
of giving voice only to those in control. In comparison, the movie version of Robinson
Crusoe continues to centre Crusoe as the hero and civiliser, unlike Coetzee‘s
version, where Cruso is weak and uninterested in storytelling.
Cruso and Friday play a big role in showing the failure of colonial ideals. Cruso does
not reflect the Enlightenment idea of a man driven by logic, progress, and
exploration. He seems empty and without purpose. Friday, who has no tongue,
represents all the people whose voices have been taken by colonial violence. A key
part of the book for me was when Susan tries to tell Friday‘s story but realises she
can‘t. This shows that even when people try to help, they may still speak over others.
Friday‘s silence becomes powerful—it is a refusal to be defined or explained by
others.
This novel changed how I view colonial narratives. It made me think about how
stories are used to control people and how silence can sometimes be a powerful
form of resistance. In real life, we still see colonial thinking in whose histories are
taught, whose voices are heard in the media, and whose experiences are ignored.
One way to challenge this is to make space for different voices, especially those that
are often overlooked or dismissed. We also need to ask who is telling the story and
why.
Reading Foe helped me understand that storytelling is not just about words on a
page—it is about power, identity, and justice. It showed me that silence can be
meaningful, and that challenging dominant narratives is necessary for a fairer world.
OR
