Australian PoetryAustralian PoetryThe Noble Hero, the Savage Land The Noble Hero, the Savage Land

and Mateshipand Mateship

The Early PoetsThe Early Poets

In the early European settlement years, the In the early European settlement years, the poets tended to concentrate on poets tended to concentrate on

the differences between Australia and the differences between Australia and their own homelandtheir own homeland

Expressing their thoughts and feelings in Expressing their thoughts and feelings in the same language and form as the the same language and form as the English classical poets English classical poets

Describing rather than narratingDescribing rather than narrating E.g. James Cuthbertson(1851- 1910) E.g. James Cuthbertson(1851- 1910)

“Australian Sunrise”“Australian Sunrise”

James CuthbertsonJames Cuthbertson The Australian SunriseThe Australian Sunrise

    The Morning Star paled slowly, the Cross hung low to the sea, The Morning Star paled slowly, the Cross hung low to the sea,

And down the shadowy reaches the tide came swirling free, And down the shadowy reaches the tide came swirling free, The lustrous purple blackness of the soft Australian night, The lustrous purple blackness of the soft Australian night, Waned in the gray awakening that heralded the light; Waned in the gray awakening that heralded the light; Still in the dying darkness, still in the forest dim Still in the dying darkness, still in the forest dim The pearly dew of the dawning clung to each giant limb, The pearly dew of the dawning clung to each giant limb, Till the sun came up from ocean, red with the cold sea mist, Till the sun came up from ocean, red with the cold sea mist, And smote on the limestone ridges, and the shining tree-tops And smote on the limestone ridges, and the shining tree-tops kissed; kissed; Then the fiery Scorpion vanished, the magpie's note was Then the fiery Scorpion vanished, the magpie's note was heard, heard, And the wind in the she-oak wavered, and the honeysuckles And the wind in the she-oak wavered, and the honeysuckles stirred, stirred, The airy golden vapour rose from the river breast, The airy golden vapour rose from the river breast, The kingfisher came darting out of his crannied nest, The kingfisher came darting out of his crannied nest, And the bulrushes and reed-beds put off their sallow gray And the bulrushes and reed-beds put off their sallow gray And burnt with cloudy crimson at dawning of the day. And burnt with cloudy crimson at dawning of the day.

James Lister Cuthbertson James Lister Cuthbertson

James CuthbertsonJames Cuthbertson Wattle and MyrtleWattle and Myrtle

    Gold of the tangled wilderness of wattle, Gold of the tangled wilderness of wattle,    Break in the lone green hollows of the hills,    Break in the lone green hollows of the hills, Flame on the iron headlands of the ocean, Flame on the iron headlands of the ocean,    Gleam on the margin of the hurrying rills.    Gleam on the margin of the hurrying rills.

Come with thy saffron diadem and scatter Come with thy saffron diadem and scatter    Odours of Araby that haunt the air,    Odours of Araby that haunt the air, Queen of our woodland, rival of the roses, Queen of our woodland, rival of the roses,    Spring in the yellow tresses of thy hair   Spring in the yellow tresses of thy hair. .

( ( When we come to look at the poetry note the language When we come to look at the poetry note the language differences between Cuthbertson and Paterson/Lawson differences between Cuthbertson and Paterson/Lawson even though they were contemporaries)even though they were contemporaries)

The Colonial PoetsThe Colonial Poets As time moved on, a number of the poets began to As time moved on, a number of the poets began to

write narratives, story telling poems and ballads write narratives, story telling poems and ballads telling of the unique features of Australia. The telling of the unique features of Australia. The descriptive and expressive language changed to descriptive and expressive language changed to reflect the simplicity of Australian life. reflect the simplicity of Australian life.

Two of these poets, Banjo Paterson(1864-1941) and Two of these poets, Banjo Paterson(1864-1941) and Henry Lawson( 1867-1922) saw Australia and its Henry Lawson( 1867-1922) saw Australia and its pioneers from different points of viewpioneers from different points of view

Those points of view were shaped by their own Those points of view were shaped by their own upbringing, environment and temperaments and upbringing, environment and temperaments and were expressed in their battles in the pages of “ The were expressed in their battles in the pages of “ The Bulletin” magazineBulletin” magazine

The Discourses of The Noble Hero, Mateship and The The Discourses of The Noble Hero, Mateship and The Savage Land were discourses which they used to Savage Land were discourses which they used to explore the relationships of the Land and its peopleexplore the relationships of the Land and its people

Lawson’s Roaring Days as Lawson’s Roaring Days as envisioned by Pro Hartenvisioned by Pro Hart

..Henry Lawson wrote of:

The savage land

The struggles of the working class

The hardships of the city and bush

The disappearing comrades

The past glories and what might have been

Mateship

Lawson’s short storiesLawson’s short stories

Henry Lawson is also known for his short stories Henry Lawson is also known for his short stories – the most famous being “The Loaded Dog”– the most famous being “The Loaded Dog”

His short stories are snapshots of Australian life His short stories are snapshots of Australian life at the time, with the focus on the characters of at the time, with the focus on the characters of the outback, outback life and bush humour. the outback, outback life and bush humour. Within the stories is a sense of pathos and Within the stories is a sense of pathos and nostalgia for a simpler life. The stories nostalgia for a simpler life. The stories delighted the readers of the time and are just delighted the readers of the time and are just as effective today in painting pictures of ‘turn of as effective today in painting pictures of ‘turn of the century’ Australian life in the bush.the century’ Australian life in the bush.

Paterson wrote of the nobler Paterson wrote of the nobler side of life in the bushside of life in the bush

The noble heroThe noble hero The LarrikinThe Larrikin The beauty ofThe beauty of the bushthe bush The ugliness ofThe ugliness of the citythe city Mateship at itsMateship at its finestfinest The heroic idea ofThe heroic idea ofAustralia at the turnAustralia at the turnOf the centuryOf the century

City v. BushCity v. Bush One common aspect in the work of both poets One common aspect in the work of both poets

was their loathing for the city life - Paterson was their loathing for the city life - Paterson saw the bush life as predominantly noble – saw the bush life as predominantly noble – while Lawson was much more ambivalent – he while Lawson was much more ambivalent – he struggled with the harshness of bush life and struggled with the harshness of bush life and at times privileged the discourse of the savage at times privileged the discourse of the savage land. Both men, however, spent the major land. Both men, however, spent the major part of their lives in the city.part of their lives in the city.

Poems such as Faces in the Street( Lawson) Poems such as Faces in the Street( Lawson) and Clancy of the Overflow ( Paterson) and Clancy of the Overflow ( Paterson) exemplify the division between bush and city exemplify the division between bush and city life.life.

Faces in the StreetFaces in the Street

“ “ The human river dwindles when 'tis past the hour of The human river dwindles when 'tis past the hour of eight,eight,

Its waves go flowing faster in the fear of being late; Its waves go flowing faster in the fear of being late; But slowly drag the moments, whilst beneath the dust But slowly drag the moments, whilst beneath the dust

and heat and heat The city grinds the owners of the faces in the street The city grinds the owners of the faces in the street

Grinding body, grinding soul, Grinding body, grinding soul, Yielding scarce enough to eat Yielding scarce enough to eat Oh! I sorrow for the owners of the Oh! I sorrow for the owners of the faces in the streetfaces in the street.”.”

Here Lawson is scathing of the effects of city Here Lawson is scathing of the effects of city lifelife

Clancy of the OverflowClancy of the Overflow

So, too, is PatersonSo, too, is Paterson……““I am sitting in my dingy little office, where a stingyI am sitting in my dingy little office, where a stingy Ray of sunlight struggles feebly down between the houses Ray of sunlight struggles feebly down between the houses

tall,tall, And the foetid air and gritty of the dusty, dirty cityAnd the foetid air and gritty of the dusty, dirty cityThrough the open window floating, spreads its foulness over Through the open window floating, spreads its foulness over

all all

And in place of lowing cattle, I can hear the fiendish rattle Of And in place of lowing cattle, I can hear the fiendish rattle Of the tramways and the buses making hurry down the street, the tramways and the buses making hurry down the street,

And the language uninviting of the gutter children fighting,And the language uninviting of the gutter children fighting,Comes fitfully and faintly through the ceaseless tramp of feet. Comes fitfully and faintly through the ceaseless tramp of feet.

““

Images of Henry LawsonImages of Henry Lawson

Rare first edition paid for by his Rare first edition paid for by his mother, Louisamother, Louisa

Death mask Hand of Lawson

Lawson’s pen

And

manuscript

Images of Banjo PatersonImages of Banjo Paterson

Manuscript for Walzing Matilda

www.naa.gov.au/.../ treasures/treasures.html

The BushThe Bush What is it about 'the bush' that is so special to What is it about 'the bush' that is so special to

Australians? Australians? For the best part of two centuries the bush has For the best part of two centuries the bush has

been analysed, criticised and romanticised. It has been analysed, criticised and romanticised. It has inspired poets, painters, filmmakers and inspired poets, painters, filmmakers and television producers; preoccupied the nation's television producers; preoccupied the nation's politicians; and fixated our social commentators. politicians; and fixated our social commentators. It has evoked both love and terror, and fascinated It has evoked both love and terror, and fascinated generations of Australians. generations of Australians.

There is no doubt that the bush has an iconic There is no doubt that the bush has an iconic status in Australian life and has featured strongly status in Australian life and has featured strongly in any debate about national identity. Indeed, it in any debate about national identity. Indeed, it has been revered as a source of national ideals has been revered as a source of national ideals by the likes of by the likes of Henry Lawson and Banjo Paterson.

The BushThe Bush How real is the bush myth?How real is the bush myth? Those who saw the bush as integral to Australian identity Those who saw the bush as integral to Australian identity

were very much urban-based. Lawson and Paterson were were very much urban-based. Lawson and Paterson were city dwellers, and so were the city dwellers, and so were the painters of the of the Heidelberg School - the likes of Tom Roberts and Fredrick - the likes of Tom Roberts and Fredrick McCubbin. McCubbin.

They defined the Australian landscape from afar and They defined the Australian landscape from afar and imposed meaning on it. imposed meaning on it.

A homespun mythologyA homespun mythology Lawson believed that an Australian identity must emanate Lawson believed that an Australian identity must emanate

from its own soil, not from the safe green fields of the from its own soil, not from the safe green fields of the mother country, Britain. He was not alone in this view. mother country, Britain. He was not alone in this view.

Poets and novelists such as Banjo Paterson, Miles Franklin, Poets and novelists such as Banjo Paterson, Miles Franklin, EJ Brady and Barbara Baynton, among others, were EJ Brady and Barbara Baynton, among others, were inspired by the experiences of Australians living and inspired by the experiences of Australians living and working in the bush. Australian artists such as Tom working in the bush. Australian artists such as Tom Roberts, Charles Condor, Hans Heysen and Arthur Streeton Roberts, Charles Condor, Hans Heysen and Arthur Streeton began to paint Australian images and helped create the began to paint Australian images and helped create the Australian bush legend.Australian bush legend.

Lawson Discourses PatersonLawson Discourses Paterson

The savage land The struggles of

the working class The hardships of

the city and bush The disappearing

comrades The past glories

and what might have been

Mateship

The noble heroThe noble heroThe LarrikinThe LarrikinThe beauty ofThe beauty of the bushthe bushThe ugliness ofThe ugliness of the citythe cityMateship at itsMateship at its finestfinestThe heroic idea ofThe heroic idea ofAustralia at the Australia at the turnturnOf the centuryOf the century

THE TEAMS by Henry Lawson ( Identify the THE TEAMS by Henry Lawson ( Identify the discourse)discourse)

A cloud of dust on the long white road, And the teams go creeping on

Inch by inch with the weary load; And by the power of the greenhide goad

The distant goal is won.

With eyes half-shut to the blinding dust, And necks to the yokes bent low,

The beasts are pulling as bullocks must; And the shining tires might almost rust

While the spokes are turning slow.

THE TEAMS by Henry Lawson ( Identify the THE TEAMS by Henry Lawson ( Identify the discourse)discourse)

With face half-hid 'neath a broad-brimmed hatWith face half-hid 'neath a broad-brimmed hat That shades from the heat's white waves, And That shades from the heat's white waves, And

shouldered whip with its greenhide plait,shouldered whip with its greenhide plait, The driver plods with a gait like thatThe driver plods with a gait like that

Of his weary, patient slaves……..Of his weary, patient slaves……..

And thus- with glimpses of home and rest-And thus- with glimpses of home and rest-Are the long, long journeys done;Are the long, long journeys done;

And thus –’tis a thankless life at the best!-And thus –’tis a thankless life at the best!-Is Distance fought in the mighty WestIs Distance fought in the mighty West

And the lonely battle wonAnd the lonely battle won . .

E. Banathy Year 11E. Banathy Year 11

A bullock teamA bullock team

Clancy of the Overflow – Paterson ( Identify the Clancy of the Overflow – Paterson ( Identify the Discourse)Discourse)

In my wild erratic fancy visions come to me of Clancy In my wild erratic fancy visions come to me of Clancy Gone a-droving "down the Cooper" where the Gone a-droving "down the Cooper" where the

Western drovers go;Western drovers go; As the stock are slowly stringing, Clancy rides As the stock are slowly stringing, Clancy rides

behind them singing, behind them singing, For the drover's life has pleasures that the townsfolk For the drover's life has pleasures that the townsfolk

never know.never know. And the bush hath friends to meet him, and their And the bush hath friends to meet him, and their

kindly voices greet him kindly voices greet him In the murmur of the breezes and the river on its In the murmur of the breezes and the river on its

bars, bars, And he sees the vision splendid of the sunlit plains And he sees the vision splendid of the sunlit plains

extended, extended, And at night the wond'rous glory of the everlasting And at night the wond'rous glory of the everlasting

stars. stars.

The DroverThe Drover

Perceptions of the poetry of Perceptions of the poetry of Paterson and LawsonPaterson and Lawson

Do you agree/ disagree with these comments?Do you agree/ disagree with these comments? ““trite”trite” ““doggerel”doggerel” ““nostalgic and sentimental”nostalgic and sentimental” ““magnificent images of life at the time”magnificent images of life at the time” ‘‘presenting images of a growing awareness of presenting images of a growing awareness of

bush “bush “ ““the poetry of tortured souls”the poetry of tortured souls” ““romanticised images”romanticised images” ““bleak, exaggerated images “bleak, exaggerated images “

ExerciseExercise

Select one of the Select one of the Paterson or LawsonPaterson or Lawson poems poems and:and:

What does the poem reflect about the What does the poem reflect about the society for which was written?society for which was written?