,ENG2614 Assignment 1 (COMPLETE ANSWERS)
Semester 1 2025 - DUE 2 May 2025; 100% correct solutions
and explanations.
Question 1
Two Essays Provided
Title: A Musical Warning: Unpacking the Narrative and
Style of “Don’t Laugh in Bungelos Street”
Introduction
Andrea Kaczmarek’s short story “Don’t Laugh in Bungelos
Street”, illustrated by Sergii Shkoliar and published on
Storyberries, offers a darkly imaginative retelling of the famous
Pied Piper of Hamelin legend. More than just a simple
children’s story, it carries a chilling warning about the
consequences of broken promises and the power of the unseen.
The story is rich with vivid imagery, symbolic elements, and
memorable characters, all working together to present a timeless
moral lesson. Through its strong narrative structure and well-
crafted language, the story holds the reader’s attention and
encourages reflection. This essay explores the story’s basic
narrative elements—setting, characterisation, point of view, and
plot—before analyzing its deeper theme and stylistic features.
Figurative language such as symbolism, imagery, and
personification, along with atmospheric illustrations, help
reinforce the story’s eerie and cautionary tone.
Setting
, The story takes place in the old European town of Hamelin,
which is under siege by an overwhelming infestation of rats. The
setting is carefully described to create a mood of discomfort and
anxiety. Kaczmarek introduces Hamelin as a place where people
are no longer safe in their own homes, food is constantly stolen,
and peace is a distant memory. This chaotic, almost dystopian
environment builds tension and sets the stage for the magical
intervention of the mysterious piper.
The rats “swarmed everywhere, eating everything,” a phrase that
immediately conjures images of disorder and destruction. The
reader feels the townspeople’s desperation. This grim setting is
essential in making the arrival of the piper seem like a miracle—
one that must be accepted, even if his terms are unusual. The
town of Hamelin becomes more than just a location; it serves as
a symbol of human neglect and dishonesty, which will be
important later in the story when the theme of betrayal unfolds.
Characterisation
The story’s characters are few but significant. The townspeople
represent a collective group driven by fear and self-interest.
Their pleas for help are sincere at first, but when the danger has
passed, their true nature emerges. The mayor, in particular, plays
a pivotal role. He is initially portrayed as a concerned leader,
eager to solve the town’s crisis. However, after the rats are gone,
he becomes arrogant and dismissive, breaking the promise made
to the piper.
The piper is arguably the most complex character. He enters the
story as a stranger with unusual powers and a peculiar
demand—payment for playing his magical flute to rid the town
Semester 1 2025 - DUE 2 May 2025; 100% correct solutions
and explanations.
Question 1
Two Essays Provided
Title: A Musical Warning: Unpacking the Narrative and
Style of “Don’t Laugh in Bungelos Street”
Introduction
Andrea Kaczmarek’s short story “Don’t Laugh in Bungelos
Street”, illustrated by Sergii Shkoliar and published on
Storyberries, offers a darkly imaginative retelling of the famous
Pied Piper of Hamelin legend. More than just a simple
children’s story, it carries a chilling warning about the
consequences of broken promises and the power of the unseen.
The story is rich with vivid imagery, symbolic elements, and
memorable characters, all working together to present a timeless
moral lesson. Through its strong narrative structure and well-
crafted language, the story holds the reader’s attention and
encourages reflection. This essay explores the story’s basic
narrative elements—setting, characterisation, point of view, and
plot—before analyzing its deeper theme and stylistic features.
Figurative language such as symbolism, imagery, and
personification, along with atmospheric illustrations, help
reinforce the story’s eerie and cautionary tone.
Setting
, The story takes place in the old European town of Hamelin,
which is under siege by an overwhelming infestation of rats. The
setting is carefully described to create a mood of discomfort and
anxiety. Kaczmarek introduces Hamelin as a place where people
are no longer safe in their own homes, food is constantly stolen,
and peace is a distant memory. This chaotic, almost dystopian
environment builds tension and sets the stage for the magical
intervention of the mysterious piper.
The rats “swarmed everywhere, eating everything,” a phrase that
immediately conjures images of disorder and destruction. The
reader feels the townspeople’s desperation. This grim setting is
essential in making the arrival of the piper seem like a miracle—
one that must be accepted, even if his terms are unusual. The
town of Hamelin becomes more than just a location; it serves as
a symbol of human neglect and dishonesty, which will be
important later in the story when the theme of betrayal unfolds.
Characterisation
The story’s characters are few but significant. The townspeople
represent a collective group driven by fear and self-interest.
Their pleas for help are sincere at first, but when the danger has
passed, their true nature emerges. The mayor, in particular, plays
a pivotal role. He is initially portrayed as a concerned leader,
eager to solve the town’s crisis. However, after the rats are gone,
he becomes arrogant and dismissive, breaking the promise made
to the piper.
The piper is arguably the most complex character. He enters the
story as a stranger with unusual powers and a peculiar
demand—payment for playing his magical flute to rid the town
