Exploring Henry Lawson's Short Stories

Henry Lawson’s collection of short stories

In Henry Lawson's short story "The Loaded Dog," one significant image is the creation of the formidable bomb that Andy constructs to blow up the fish. Lawson provides a detailed description of the making of the cartridge using adjectives, adverbs, and exaggeration to emphasize its danger. For instance, he describes it as being three times the size of rocks used and big enough to blow the bottom out of the river. The suspense builds as Lawson takes his time describing the construction process, such as using stout calico for the inner skin, a six-foot fuse, melted beeswax, sail canvas, and stout fishing line.

This attention to detail adds to the characterization, showing Andy's practicality in turning Dave's ideas into reality while Jim watches and offers critiques. The theme of mateship between the characters is also developed as Andy and Dave want to make sure their bomb is truly formidable. Lawson's thorough description of the materials and process adds authenticity and showcases the miners' skills and craftsmanship.

Get quality help now

KarrieWrites

Verified writer

Proficient in: Free Essays

5 (339)

“ KarrieWrites did such a phenomenal job on this assignment! He completed it prior to its deadline and was thorough and informative. ”

+84 relevant experts are online

Hire writer

By the end of Lawson's depiction, readers can vividly visualize the cartridge and its potential for harm.Tommy's action of putting the lit cartridge inside his mouth heightens our understanding of the seriousness of the situation, leaving us eagerly anticipating the outcome.

In one of Henry Lawson's short stories, the effect of the relationship between context and text on meaning is examined. The specific text being analyzed is 'The Drovers Wife,' in which a woman is left alone in the unforgiving Australian bush to care for her home and children while her husband is away droving sheep.

The main conflict arises when a snake is discovered in the floor slab of their huts, posing a threat to her family's safety. This context adds depth and significance to the story.

The Times reported that in the late 1800’s, most Australians lived in cities, but they were fascinated by the harsh reality of the Australian bush, likely because of its contrast with British landscapes and life. In terms of literary history, Lawson was the first Australian-born writer to portray a realistic view of the Australian bush and its distinct Australian culture. This posed a challenge to writers like Banjo Patterson, who presented a romanticized version of the bush. The drovers wife was published in 1892 in ‘The Bulletin,’ known as the ‘Bushman’s Bible,’ and Lawson's depiction of the harsh realities of life in the Australian bush appealed particularly to the white male-dominated readership. Lawson's own upbringing on a poor selection gave him a deep understanding of his subjects' lives, especially as he lived with his mother after her separation from his father. The cultural themes that dominate 19th-century bush life, prominently seen in Lawson's "The Drovers Wife," include hardship, resilience, loneliness, isolation, loss, and acceptance. The way the text interacts with its context adds meaning.

"The Drovers Wife" is written in a style known as a "sketch-story." Rather than focusing on plot, the writer creates a visual image through characterization and setting. According to Lawson, he believed that the short story was not as challenging as the sketch and that the sketch had to be well-crafted in every aspect to be truly exceptional. The sketch-story style used in "The Drovers Wife" has a serious tone and presents powerful observations of the drover's wife's life. As both the original and current readers engage with the story, they experience a mix of sadness and respect for Lawson's depiction of her tragic but courageous life.

Critically analyze the relationship between language forms and features and meaning in two of Henry Lawson's short stories, "The Drover's Wife." Lawson purposely leaves the protagonist unnamed to represent all women in similar situations. The setting of the story is portrayed through the use of continuous information, highlighting the harshness of the family's existence. This is demonstrated through the repetition of negative descriptions such as "no horizon," "no ranges," and "no undergrowth" when describing the surrounding landscape. The personification of the "sighing" she-oaks indicates that even the bush itself struggles to survive. The bleakness of the setting is further emphasized during the Sunday walk, where Lawson describes how one can walk for miles without being able to fix a point in their mind, unless they are familiar with the bush. The monotonous and stunted trees contribute to a sense of longing to break away from this everlasting sameness. The landscape depicted by Lawson stands in sharp contrast to the romanticized portrayal of the bush in stories by authors like Banjo Paterson. By stating that "the drover, an ex-squatter, is away with sheep. His wife and children are left here alone," Lawson underscores the inevitable isolation faced by the wife and children.Later, we learn that the drought of 1818 had devastating effects on him, leading to the sacrifice of his remaining flock and a return to droving. The drover was initially portrayed as a loving husband who treated his wife like royalty, but this changed when difficult times hit. This highlights the inevitable losses that the harsh bush life inflicted on the drover and his family. The plot of this story centers around a snake that is introduced dramatically when a character exclaims, "Look mother, here's a snake!" The dialogue's short sentences filled with action verbs such as "snatches" and "yells" create a sense of urgency.

The drover's wife is introduced as a protective mother, keeping her children away from the off-limits house where a snake may appear through cracks in the floor. The children, two boys and two girls, are fed and put to bed on the kitchen table. Throughout the night, the drover's wife sits beside them to watch over them. She arms herself with a green sapling cub and brings the dog inside as her weapons. The plot slows down with intermittent information about the background and characters. Late at night, whenever she hears a noise, she grabs the stick. By one or two o'clock, Alligator, the dog, lies down and watches the wall, realizing that it must be near daylight. Despite nothing happening between sunset and daybreak, he becomes greatly interested and urgency returns. The battle between the drover's wife and the snake is vividly portrayed with short sentences and repeated action verbs. The resolution of the plot symbolizes good triumphing over evil with a reference to the original curse from the Bible. The drover's wife watches the snake burn. However, the story concludes by emphasizing the character development of the drover's wife.The drover's wife's characterisation is depicted by Lawson as the house built around the framework of the plot. The omniscient third-party narrator allows us to empathize with the characters as they struggle with themselves. Lawson takes us back in time to key moments in their past, revealing that the drover's wife had once dreamed and aspired like any other young girl. However, those hopes and aspirations have long been dead. Despite this, she doesn't completely abandon her femininity, as symbolized by her reading of the 'Young Ladies Journal'. Additionally, Lawson highlights her ongoing struggle to maintain civility through a powerful image of her Sunday walk where she puts effort into making herself and the children look presentable, just as she would if she were going into the city. However, there is no one to see or meet. Lawson concludes this section by providing an authorial insight into the drover's wife's contentedness despite her loss and continuous battle.

The text describes the drover's wife and her experiences in the Australian bush. It mentions that she is accustomed to the loneliness and would feel strange without it. Although she is glad when her husband returns, she does not make a fuss and appears content with her life. The author uses flashbacks to build admiration for the drover's wife. These flashbacks include incidents such as a bushfire, flood, pleuro-pneumonia, and a mad bullock. Through these events, Lawson demonstrates how the harshness of the bush challenges gender roles. For example, during the bushfire, the drover's wife takes on a masculine role by wearing her husband's trousers and working hard. However, when four bushmen arrive, they rescue her from the fire. This highlights her vulnerability in the absence of her husband. The loss of the dam also emphasizes her limitations as a bushwoman. Despite these challenges, Lawson portrays the drover's wife with empathy by showing glimpses of emotion through her tears. He also introduces the Australian habit of laughing at misfortune as a coping mechanism. The remaining flashbacks illustrate her resourcefulness and success in conquering challenges such as a mad bullock, crows, eagles, and a swagman. The dialogue in the text further develops the narrative.The limited conversation between the bushwoman and her children serves to develop the characters. The oldest son, eager to protect his mother, confidently exclaims, "Stop there, mother! I'll take care of him. Step aside, I'll handle the beggar." Tommy's colloquial and coarse speech, such as his remark "I'd like to screw their blanky necks," also contributes to the genuine Australian bush atmosphere of the story. The story's resolution primarily revolves around the characters, and it is appropriately and powerfully portrayed. Perhaps the most significant dialogue in the story is Tommy's firm declaration, "Mother, I will never go drovin', damn me if I do!" Tommy desires to be his mother's guardian, and their bond is evident as "she embraces him tightly against her weary chest and kisses him." The mention of her "weary chest" symbolizes the toll that the bush has taken on her, while the kiss represents a rare display of affection that signifies she still retains a "feminine" side despite the hardships she has endured in the bush.

THE LOADED DOG: Style and Purpose: This is a short story that follows the traditional structure of orientation, structure, and resolution. Lawson's goal is to entertain the reader by using a clever plot and humor. The characters are briefly introduced but the focus is more on the plot development and humor rather than on the details of the setting and characters. Meaning: The meaning of The Loaded Dog is conveyed through the language, interactions, and actions of the characters rather than their characterization. The setting may belong to a past time period, but the comical Australian nature of this story resonates with the expectations of 19th-century audiences who wanted to be told a good story. The sarcastic humor still appeals to modern-day Australians. Analysis:

(i) The story is narrated in the third person, allowing us to observe Dave, Jim, Andy, and Tommy. (ii) The main characters are introduced with their full names, suggesting their specific roles in the plot. Dave is the "ideas" man, Andy is the practical one who implements Dave's ideas, and Jim Bentley is the sensible one who is not interested in their nonsense. Tommy, the lovable "overgrown pup," is characterized as someone who takes life as a joke and closely observes Andy. On the other hand, the Nasty Yellow Dog is portrayed as the typical villain. He is introduced later in the story, and we feel no attachment towards him. But when we discover that he previously harmed Tommy for no reason, we can enjoy Tommy's escape and laugh at the yellow dog's demise. (iii) The varying pace in Lawson's storytelling adds entertainment value to the narrative.

The description of the bomb emphasizes its destructive power as it is described as a "formidable bomb" that is "wedged into Tommy's broadest silliest grin." This evokes a sense of danger. The pace of the text quickens when there is exclaimed dialogue and short sentences, such as when someone shouts "Run, Andy! Run!" However, the pace slows down again to provide a humorous depiction of different running styles and speeds. It is mentioned that Dave and Jim are good runners, with Jim being the best for short distances, while Andy is slow and heavy. The panic felt by the characters is contrasted with the joy expressed by Tommy's dog, who capers around him as if on a frolic. The live fuse of the bomb is personified as it is described as swishing, hissing, spluttering, and stinking. The story continues to take humorous turns, culminating in Dave entering the bar and Tommy leaving the cartridge with a vicious yellow mongrel cattle-dog. The dog sniffs at the cartridge twice before the sentence is abruptly interrupted, marking a slowdown in the pace of the story to reflect the aftermath of the explosion. Humor plays a central role in this short story. The understatement of fact following the explosion showcases Lawson's use of dark Australian humor. Instead of focusing on the fate of the dog, it is simply stated that "It was very good blasting powder—and the cartridge had been excellently well made." Overall, hyperbole is also utilized in this story to emphasize certain elements and add to its comedic effect.Lawson continues his use of exaggerated language when he states, 'Bushmen say that that kitchen jumped off its piles and on again.' This hyperbolic statement showcases the distinct Australian slang and jargon present in The Loaded Dog. The story remains true to its Australian roots through its characterization, setting, humor, and language. It is fitting for Lawson to end the story with a typical Australian banter between friends, using an authentic 'lazy drawl' intertwined with a slight nasal twang, as he says, ''El-lo, Da-a-ve! How's the fishin' getting on, Da-a-ve?"