Australian Literary Identity

Topic 2 Discuss the ways in which issues relating to books and discipline identity in Australia argon examined in Australian paternity. Between the 1880s and 1890s, Australia became socially inclined to define its nations voice. To get together a distinctive sense of identity and credibi illuminey crosswise the globe. This disposition for independence in Australia, both socially and politically, was a broad side of a wideer movement towards the nations identity. Encouraged and instrumented by estimable Australian literature, the move to define a cultural independence in Australia, in addition inducted a throw and product of literary nationalism.Literary nationalism became a rife ascribe to characterising Australia and setting it apart from Britain. Setting, characters, theme and style were prioritised co herently with the identity of the country. literary works placed a great nitty-gritty upon rural Australia and the the render, which promoted spates of Australian char acters that based qualities among mate ship and egalitarianism. The writing style was basically comprehensible with Australian vernacular, with a daunting sense of humour and irony. Literature in the 20th century also saw a change in Australian perception.After 1914, changes in perception and national identity authentic across the country once again. The 1940s and the 1970s, saw a greater expansion in growth, change and the revelation of the Australian short story. internationalistic influence took greater hold of writers and a sense of sophistication encompassed the essence of nationalism, identity and literature. However, it is the essence of writing in these earlier times, that prove the splendour that Australias identity posed upon society and the esteem it captivated to forepart Australian literature again in the 20th century.With the initiation of Australias will to be identified, writers emerged as a new generation. Dedicated to writing distinctively, as a way to suit an d support the Australian tense up to independence. Writers such as Henry Lawson, A. B. Paterson, Miles Franklin and Barbara Baynton wrote only with the concern and consideration for real Australian literary tradition and distinctiveness. In order for Australia to be unequivocally identified as its admit country, different from boththing in Britain, the scrub pronto become a focal point, and often its own character, in these writers work.This was a discovery ideal, where Australian literary nationalists depicted their view of Australia and promoted a certain identity for the nation, for the first time. Pastoral landscape became an intense recollection of the secure of the nation and contrasted favorably with views of city support. In 1889, Paterson wrote Clancy of the Overflow, which was featured in The b be (Australian Authors, 2002). The poem illustrated a firm sense of what Australians were aiming to be identified as, hardy, musical accompaniment in the outback, which unfalteringly and clear opposed city living. As the stocks are slowly stringing, Clancy rides behind them singing, For the drovers life has pleasures that the townsfolk neer know (A. B Paterson, 2002) and I am sitting in my pestiferous little office, where a stingy, Ray of sunlight struggles feebly down mingled with the ho parts tall (A. B Paterson, 2002) these extracts of Clancy on the Overflow show that Paterson was a strong interpreter for the Australian ideal. The bushman became an ideal distinction of the average Australian character, which was clearly an encouragement by Paterson and Lawson.In 1958, historian Russell Ward essentially denied the ideal and deemed the distinctive bushman a nations myth, by which farmers in Australia were in fact a minority. Alas, it became a true figure of Australias identity, through the strong presence it had in Australian literature. While bush life remained the main theme in most of literature at the time, often writers possessed differin g opinions. Characteristics in which bush life was represented, would present itself in writing, basely dependent on the author.Paterson pictured a romantic visualisation of life in the outback, condemning any consideration to city life as a positive prop in society. On the contrary, Lawson was interested in the perception of bush life as tough life. While Lawson still mythologised bush life with character, he wrote mainly to focus on the struggles people fought to overcome, based on their lives in rural areas. Due to these differing descriptions of Australian identity, Paterson and Lawson became rivals in The Bulletin to pose who had the greater perception of rural life.Borderland by Lawson, is a better example of the authors vision of rural life, proving to focus on the struggles and the unwelcoming danger that it placed upon city dwellers. unreliable tracks that trap the strange, endless roads that gleam and glare, Dark and evil-looking gullies hiding secrets here and there ( Lawson, 2010). Throughout the duration of these rivalries, Lawson imposed on Patersons legitimacy and often referred to him as a city bushman. Paterson wrote In Defence of the Bush, which in reaction Lawsons comments and in favour of his ideals where he addressed Lawson in the first line. So youre back from up the country, Mister Lawson, where you went, And youre malediction all the business in a bitter discontent (Paterson, 2010). Asides from the writers rivalry, both Paterson and Lawson essentially aimed to develop literary nationalism in concentration of the Australian bush. They proved the importance that reinforced rural Australian identity and its telephone exchange role in the mythology of Australia. Paterson and Lawson alone, emphasised the use of rural Australia as a literary identification of the nation.Deeming their participation through writing, they demonstrated an effort to select Australia crotchetyly. Issues relating to Australias will to possess a unique identi ty across the globe, was closely regarded through Australian literature and to Australian authors. Using the unique comparative relationship between both A. B. Paterson and Henry Lawson it is clear that the use of setting, character, theme and style relative to bush life and the characteristics of the bushman are operational.The supreme majority of literature examined is closely identifiable with these types of descriptions. They prove to hold great essence in the attempt to capture a unique national identity. Issues relating to literature and national identity in Australian writing are obvious and present among early Australian writing during the 1880s and the 1890s. Thus, it is clear, that literature was a key utensil in the instruction and efforts to provide Australia with its own identification and set it apart from its partnership with Britain.References 1. Patterson, A. B. (2002). Australian Authors Clancy of the Overflow. URL http//www. middlemiss. org/lit/authors/patersonab /poetry/clancy. html Retrieved 20 October 2010. 2. Lawson, H. (2010). Poem Hunter Borderland. URL http//www. poemhunter. com/best-poems/henry-lawson/ border district/. Retrieved 20 October 2010. 3. Paterson, A. B. (2010). Old Poetry Defence of the Bush. URL http//oldpoetry. com/opoem/25342-A-BBanjo-Paterson-In-Defence-of-the-Bush. Retrieved 20 October 2010. 4. AUST11-100 Seminar Slides.