Literary Nationalism: Australian National Identity
Literary nationalism is the late 19th century construction of Australian national identity through fiction. The literary nationalist movement provided Australians with a sense of unity. Australian writers and poets were establishing an Australian identity via their writing. In this essay I will analyse literary nationalism through setting, characterization and society in iconic Australian novels. All the treated topics refer to the image of “the Australian”. Literary nationalism is defined as the period of the 1880s and 1890s. During this time a solid sentiment of nationalism started arising and after establishing colonial governments an independence of England grew and guided to Australian Federation in 1901. This changes influenced the …show more content…
“Poets and novelists such as Banjo Paterson, Miles Franklin, EJ Brady and Barbara Baynton, among others, were inspired by the experiences of Australians living and working in the bush.” (Wells, 2015) Therefore, the early pieces of Australian literature were mostly about the rural Australian lifestyle. (Ltd., 2015) The bush was valued as a source of national ideals. “Bush songs devised by ordinary, everyday people are a record of the people's experiences of living, surviving and dying in the bush, as well as the colourful slang of bush life.” (Wells, 2015) In 1895 Banjo Paterson wrote his poem “Waltzing Matilda” which is known as a bush ballad and has been considered as the country's “unofficial national anthem”. “The story is a universal one – a conflict between poor and rich, in which the poor man loses but defiantly keeps his pride.” (Council, …show more content…
A romanticised view of the hardworking bushman was the typical description of “the Australian”. This was catching the true nationalist spirit of society that time. (Ltd., 2015) The bushman’s nature was mainly compound by independence, levelling, egalitarian collectivism and the concept of mateship. But also, they were described as wanderer and swearer and not hiding these attitudes towards policemen. (Ward, 1989) The literary and general imagination saw the bushmen as the “culture-heroes”. Many Australians saw them as role models and wanted to achieve their characteristics as their attitudes. (Hodges,
Essay On Australian Identity
976 Words | 4 PagesFrom the 1970’s Australians have been viewed as bush people as they were seeming as heroic and brave. Never the less, internationally, Australians have been showcased as vulgar, racist that have strong pride for their country. Consequently, Australia has also been viewed as an alcoholic nation as companies continuously push the stereotype to market their products. In turn, Australian’s collective identity is made up of multiple other stereotypes that have been fed into. Despite being incorrectly portrayed; the Australian identity has a positive effect on Australian culture.
John Brack: Unique Australian Art
546 Words | 3 PagesJohn Brack was not only one of Australia’s most notorious artists through the artwork in which he created, but was also a pioneer for many art forms today, that embody everyday elements of the Australian people in a modern artistic form. One of the biggest takeaways I got from learning about Brack was his participation and movement of the antipodean art group. The antipodeans were a group of seven modern Australian painters who included Charles Blackman, Arthur Boyd, David Boyd, Robert Dickerson, John Perceval, Clifton Pugh and John Brack. Their artwork stressed the importance of figurative art and protested against standard abstract expressionism. Their underlying motive and art trend favored the embracement of “unique Australia”, based
Fly Away Peter Essay
816 Words | 4 PagesThe strong patriotism of Australians is seemingly shown in a positive context by Malouf,
Second World War's Effects On Australian People Essay
788 Words | 4 PagesDuring World War 2 (1939 – 1945), Australia had a variety of impacts on both its government and its people. The war had a great effect on the place of indigenous people in Australia as indigenous men and women joined services throughout the country. The Aboriginal Australians, both the men and the women had contributed in the second Great War. Meanwhile, when the Aboriginals of Australia had jobs during World War 2, Australia’s economy boomed with the help of the war as many Australian troops had gone out to fight for the British. The economy had boomed during the period of the Second World War as Australian products could be produced as well.
Symbolism In Tom Wright's Black Diggers
1316 Words | 6 PagesBlack Diggers is a play written by Tom Wright about the indigenous Australians who fought in World War II and their previously forgotten stories. The Ideas and themes involved in the text circle around two main points. The first is the inferiority of non-indigenous Australians in the play which can be seen by all the non-indigenous characters who aren’t called by their names. The second is the injustice shown towards non-indigenous soldiers due to discrimination and violence throughout the play. These arguments are evident in the old soldier’s monologue which was set in 1956.
Australia Day Persuasive Speech
989 Words | 4 PagesAustralia Day is one of the most unique national day’s in the world throughout history, celebrating the day of when our ancestors first arrived on the borders of Australia, in 1788. Rather than unite people as one whole though, the spirited outcome of this event isn’t what as anticipated by everyone and has divided the Australian society for good. And so it should be held at an alternative date, where Australian citizens feel worthy of their identity and not cheated by it. However, the celebration shouldn’t be adapted to like that of other commemorations like ANZAC day. Essentially, this day will always be a tragic memory for the indigenous and be viewed as the invasion of their homeland.
Australian Identity In Peter Goldsworthy's Maestro
410 Words | 2 PagesAustralian identity and what constitutes Australian culture are prominent ideas explored by Peter Goldsworthy’s Maestro. Throughout the novel, there is a strong sense of cynicism towards Australian culture as it is painted as ambiguous and indefinite. This is established through the analogy of Paul representing Australian society and his parents representing the British influence on Australian culture. Goldsworthy also explores the European influence on Australia through Kellar’s character. Goldsworthy’s broader message is that Australian identity is in fact quite complex and open to interpretation due how culturally diverse it is.
Critical Analysis Of My Mother The Land By Phill Moncrieff
728 Words | 3 PagesThe poem My Mother The Land by Phill Moncrieff poetically describes the struggles the aboriginal people faced at the hands of the European people and colonisation throughout history. The fact that the author based the poem on accurate historical events adds to the authenticity of representations and engages the reader in an emotional journey with the struggles the aboriginal people faced with the somewhat loss of their country, culture, identity, people and place. The author uses a variety of language features and text structures to create this view point, for instance the author uses several language features and text structures throughout verse one to demonstrate the loss of culture and people. The poet uses effective language features throughout the poem to describe the loss that the narrator feels in their country, culture, identity, people
Oodgeroo Noonuccal's An Appeal
549 Words | 3 PagesThe nation (Australia), as a whole, tries to find a way to overthrow the bad people of their society. An important asset that needs to be used for the public - there is a sense of ‘standing up for what is right’. Noonuccal emphasises on the effect of the nation, in an attempt to arouse a hopeful feeling towards them from the reader through the use of a cliché in ‘be on our side’. The use of onomatopoeia and imperative in ‘beat’ demonstrates that there is an uprising and that there is a ‘whole-hearted’ need to change. Therefore, Noonuccal’s poem delves into the result of the public and how they feel a sense of ‘standing up for
Australian Identity In Away By Michael Gow
1823 Words | 8 PagesWhat does it really mean to be Australian? Is Australia really just: bushland, hot sunny beaches, native animals and having to have a laid back attitude? These are just common stereotypes about the ‘land down under’. With Australia settled by the British colony many of its inhabitants were the leftover convicts from Europe. After world war 2 boat people and asylum seekers arrived in Australia hoping for a new life.
Deadly Unna Quotes
677 Words | 3 PagesAustralia is the land of the fair go for a very select number of demographics, while the other 90% of people experience Australia as anything but. People who cannot experience Australia as the land of the fair go are people that have to deal with abusive fathers, discrimination, being subjected to racism and being part of poor large families. Australia may have been dubbed as the land of the fair go, but Australia is no such
Racism In Jasper Jones
748 Words | 3 PagesThe novel ‘Jasper Jones’ by Craig Silvey is centred around a young man named Charlie Bucktin living in the little Australian town of Corrigan in the late 1960 's. Charlie is presented with the issues of racial prejudice, shamefulness, and moral dishonesty. He is tested to address the idealism of right from wrong and acknowledges that the law doesn 't generally maintain equity. The thoughts are depicted through Silvey 's utilization of story traditions which are to either challenge or reinforce our values, states of mind and convictions on the issues brought before us. The 1960 's was an extremely dull period for numerous individuals whose race was recognizably unique - different to that of the “white” population.
Essay On Australia's Response To Ww2
834 Words | 4 PagesAustralia’s experiences of World War II were significant for Australia and impacted on the shaping of our national identity. Australia 's response to entry into World War II in 1939 differed from Australia 's entry into World War I in 1914. Reasons for this includes attitudes towards war changing after gaining the knowledge and experiencing consequences of World War I, the conditions and lead up to World War II as well as Australia’s strong support for Britain. Firstly, the attitude of Australians changed due to World War 3I proving that war was not glamourous or exciting like it was assumed. During the lead up to World War II Australians had already struggled to survive through the depression and were now required to survive at war.
Aboriginal Identity Essay
1190 Words | 5 PagesThis state of being part aboriginals has driven their identity in crisis. Indeed they have possessed a unique Aboriginal consciousness that have made them to reclaim their lost voice. Their literature has been used as a platform
Gellner's Theory Of Nationalism
1518 Words | 7 PagesThe Warwick debate provides approaches to the study of nationalism. It laid the foundation for the development of two approaches to the study of nationalism. The first approach is Smith’s primordial approach and the other is Gillnets modernist approach. Smith’s argument begins with the definition of nationalism and the difference between a state and a nation.
More about Literary Nationalism: Australian National Identity
Essay On Australian Identity
976 Words | 4 PagesJohn Brack: Unique Australian Art
546 Words | 3 PagesFly Away Peter Essay
816 Words | 4 PagesSecond World War's Effects On Australian People Essay
788 Words | 4 PagesSymbolism In Tom Wright's Black Diggers
1316 Words | 6 PagesAustralia Day Persuasive Speech
989 Words | 4 PagesAustralian Identity In Peter Goldsworthy's Maestro
410 Words | 2 PagesCritical Analysis Of My Mother The Land By Phill Moncrieff
728 Words | 3 PagesOodgeroo Noonuccal's An Appeal
549 Words | 3 PagesAustralian Identity In Away By Michael Gow
1823 Words | 8 PagesDeadly Unna Quotes
677 Words | 3 PagesRacism In Jasper Jones
748 Words | 3 PagesEssay On Australia's Response To Ww2
834 Words | 4 PagesAboriginal Identity Essay
1190 Words | 5 PagesGellner's Theory Of Nationalism
1518 Words | 7 Pages