Staff Site Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta ACL2C.

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Unit 6:

Reconsiderations

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Early Twentieth Century

l

January 1, 1901, the colonies of NSW,

Vic., QLD, WA, SA, and TAS federated

into the Commonwealth of Australia with a

Westminster-style system of parliamentary

democracy.

l

This name shows that although there has

always been a strongly-expressed attitude

of independence from Britain, Aust. has

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l

Aust’s loyalties to Britain were confirmed

in Aust’s involvement to defend it in W.W. I

(July 28, 1914—Nov. 11, 1918, mainly

conducted in Europe & the Middle East

between the Triple Entente—GB, France,

and Russia aided by the US, Belgium, and

Japan—and the Central Powers—

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l This war experiences forged a new sense of national identity that was centred on the image of the digger, i.e. the tradition of endurance during the gold rushes & the bravery and could be relied upon during the war. C. E. W. Bean, Aust.n journalist & historian, is

responsible for this national myth-making.

l In Aust. the feeling of patriotism at the same time split the nation and hid the divisions, as it turned into the extreme nationalism of xenophobia. Although this was not represented in literature, the search for a basis of national unity became a major force behind the lit. of the years after the war. The writers were engaged on the process of reassessment of Austn. ideals as a

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Some Writers

l Katherine Susannah Prichard (1883—1969): back to the bush settlements in search of the circumstances that produced community

l M. Barnard Eldershaw (pseudonym adopted by Flora Eldershaw & Marjorie Barnard for their

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l

Frank Wilmot: expressing the reactions of

the war-weary & seeking images of

universal experience in city life

l

The “Vision” (1923—24, a periodical

published in Sydney):

- group of Norman Lindsay, Jack Lindsay,

& Kenneth Slessor

- trying to find the universal by entirely

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Henry Handel Richardson

(1870—1946)

l

Ethel Florence Lindesay Robertson

l

reassessing Austn. & British ideals in her

trilogy of novels which were then

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The Crisis of Belief

l

Austn. writer like Richardson responds to the

crisis of European values and politics: the mass

killing in W.W. I, fascism, liberal democracy &

scientific progress, the influential idea brought

by Nietzsche.

l

Aust. was significantly affected by the war as

many were killed but it was not involved in the

causes of the war, had different hopes &

disillusions which brought about the factors in

the conservatism of Austn. writing between the

wars, and also to restore an old order rather

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l

The problems of society in Aust. was

associated with the greed of unionists or

business, the prostitution & corruption of

politicians or the heedlessness of British

commanders rather than a general

collapse of civilization. Therefore, the

writers, used traditional forms of verse to

establish worlds of natural beauty to

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John Shaw Neilson (1872--1942)

l Born in Penola, S.A.

l He had been nurtured through the Bulletin by Stephens

l Most traditional & modest in aspirations

l Showing neither obvious nationalism nor easy

romanticism in his works compared to his Bulletin contemporaries

l His Australian element coming from the quality of the light, a symbol of love & joy

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Frank Wilmot (1881—1942)

l Born in Collingwood, Melbourne

l Adopted Furnley Maurice as his pseudonym for his works when he established a magazine to attack Stephens, who had declined to publish his work

l A socialist & pacifist publishing a collection entitled To God: from the Weary Nations & The Gully and other Poems

l According to him, “the problems of individual

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Unit 7:

Renaissance and

Revolution

Pp.74

(13)

Technical Terms:

u

u Philist ine: uncult ured person; person w hose Philist ine: uncult ured person; person w hose

int erest s are m at er ial & com m onplace ( Hor nby, int erest s are m at er ial & com m onplace ( Hor nby, 1980: 627)

1980: 627)

u

u Ut ilit arianism : polit ical & m oral t heory t hat t he Ut ilit arianism : polit ical & m oral t heory t hat t he

best role of life is t o aim at t he great est best role of life is t o aim at t he great est

happiness of t he great est num ber / act ions being happiness of t he great est num ber / act ions being considered right or w r ong according as t hey help considered right or w r ong according as t hey help or hinder t he achievem ent of t his aim ( Hornby, or hinder t he achievem ent of t his aim ( Hornby, 1980: 948)

1980: 948)

u

u Bolshevism : t he principles or pract ices of Bolshevism : t he principles or pract ices of

ult raradical socialist s or polit ical ult raradicals ult raradical socialist s or polit ical ult raradicals generally ( Delbridge,1991: 199)

generally ( Delbridge,1991: 199)

u

u Vit alism : t he doct rine t hat phenom ena are only Vit alism : t he doct rine t hat phenom ena are only

part ly cont rolled by m echanical forces and t hat part ly cont rolled by m echanical forces and t hat t hey are in som e m easure self

t hey are in som e m easure self-- det er m ining ( opp. det erm ining ( opp. t o

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After the First World War

u

u The end of W.W. I brought about t he nat ion in The end of W.W. I brought about t he nat ion in

division: division:

u

u separat e & conflict ing st ream s in t he radical separat e & conflict ing st ream s in t he radical

nat ionalist t radit ion by em phasizing m at eship and nat ionalist t radit ion by em phasizing m at eship and bush independence

bush independence

u

u conflict bet w een Cat holics & Prot est ant s in t he conflict bet w een Cat holics & Prot est ant s in t he

labour m ovem ent labour m ovem ent

u

u conflict bet w een ret urned ser vicem en & bet w een conflict bet w een ret urned ser vicem en & bet w een

t he ser vicem en and ot hers t he ser vicem en and ot hers

u

u conflict ing st ream s in t he conser vat ives bet w een conflict ing st ream s in t he conser vat ives bet w een

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u

u This t hreat of social disint egrat ion & t he This t hreat of social disint egrat ion & t he

aggressive m at er ialism of capit al result ed in aggressive m at er ialism of capit al result ed in

recreat ing t he European renaissance in Aust . by recreat ing t he European renaissance in Aust . by renew ing t he im age of a w or ld hospit able t o t he renew ing t he im age of a w or ld hospit able t o t he expression of hum an passion & em ot ion but

expression of hum an passion & em ot ion but producing paradoxical effect of em phasing t he producing paradoxical effect of em phasing t he unique nat ure of Aust . w hile denying it s realit y. unique nat ure of Aust . w hile denying it s realit y.

u

u This paradox m arks t he w or k of t hose associat ed This paradox m arks t he w or k of t hose associat ed

w it h

w it h VisionVision like Norm an and Jack Lindsay:like Norm an and Jack Lindsay:

u

u “ seeking t o produce a renaissance in Aust by “ seeking t o produce a renaissance in Aust by

freeing it s cult ure sim ult aneously from t he freeing it s cult ure sim ult aneously from t he narrow ing t hrall of nat ionalism , from t he narrow ing t hrall of nat ionalism , from t he ut ilit arian & m at er ialist values of t heir

ut ilit arian & m at er ialist values of t heir surrounding societ y, & from European surrounding societ y, & from European decadence”

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-- This effor t s pr ov ided a possibilit y of

This effor t s pr ov ided a possibilit y of

denying realism & nat uralism

-- Their w or ks w ere flaw ed at it s source

Their w or ks w ere flaw ed at it s source

by t he belief t hat art ist s could free

t hem selves com plet ely from societ y

& creat e a self

& creat e a self-- sust aining w or ld of

sust aining w or ld of

t heir ow n

-- I nst ead of offering social crit icism ,

I nst ead of offering social crit icism ,

t heir w rit ings w ere m erely a form of

ent ert ainm ent & escape

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Vision

Vision (1923

(1923—

—24)

24)

u

u A periodical edit ed by Jack Lindsay, A periodical edit ed by Jack Lindsay,

Kennet h Slessor & Frank C. Johnson Kennet h Slessor & Frank C. Johnson

u

u Published in Sydney & last ing only four Published in Sydney & last ing only four

issues issues

u

u Looking forw ard t o a ‘Renaissance’ of Looking forw ard t o a ‘Renaissance’ of

‘creat ive passion’ beginning in Aust ., ‘creat ive passion’ beginning in Aust .,

opposing bot h European m odernism & t he opposing bot h European m odernism & t he nat ionalist st rain in Aust ’n w rit ing by

nat ionalist st rain in Aust ’n w rit ing by

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Hugh McCrae (1876

Hugh McCrae (1876—

—1958)

1958)

u

u Born MelbourneBorn Melbourne u

u an out st anding poet in his eraan out st anding poet in his era u

u Maj or w orks: Maj or w orks: Sat yrs and Sunlight : Sat yrs and Sunlight :

Silvarum Libri

Silvarum Libri ( poet ry, 1909) , addressing ( poet ry, 1909) , addressing a life of t he senses in a w orld of passion & a life of t he senses in a w orld of passion & beaut y, soaring aw ay from t he everyday beaut y, soaring aw ay from t he everyday life;

life; Creat ive Effort : an Essay in Creat ive Effort : an Essay in Affirm at ion

Affirm at ion ( essay, 1920) , view ing t he ( essay, 1920) , view ing t he art ist as a visionary

art ist as a visionary

u

u Writ ing Aust n nat ure t hrough im ages Writ ing Aust n nat ure t hrough im ages

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Norman Lindsay (1879

Norman Lindsay (1879—

—1969)

1969)

u

u Born in Cresw ick on t he Vict orian goldBorn in Cresw ick on t he Vict orian gold-- fields providing fields providing

t he set t ing for his novels t he set t ing for his novels

u

u His w or ks deal m ainly w it h t he m ale search for His w or ks deal m ainly w it h t he m ale search for

pleasure, part icularly food, drink, & w om en, & is in pleasure, part icularly food, drink, & w om en, & is in effect m er ely t he reverse im age of t he societ y he effect m er ely t he reverse im age of t he societ y he rej ect s

rej ect s

u

u Maj or w or ks Maj or w or ks The Magic PuddingThe Magic Pudding ( 1918) , show ing t he ( 1918) , show ing t he

larrikin spirit in w hich t he rules of t he adult w or ld are larrikin spirit in w hich t he rules of t he adult w or ld are rej ect ed by t he children w ho im pose t heirs, inst ead, rej ect ed by t he children w ho im pose t heirs, inst ead,

Redheap

Redheap ( 1930) , t alking about t he im m ort alit y , ( 1930) , t alking about t he im m ort alit y ,

Sat urdee

Sat urdee ( 1933) , on t he sources of t he larrikin spirit in ( 1933) , on t he sources of t he larrikin spirit in his nat ive t ow n & it s surrounding bush,

his nat ive t ow n & it s surrounding bush, A Curat e in A Curat e in Bohem ia

Bohem ia ( 1913) his first novel, ( 1913) his first novel, Creat ive Effor tCreat ive Effor t, his , his philosophy he developed in his essay, &

philosophy he developed in his essay, & Room s and Room s and Houses

Houses ( 1968) , his aut obiographical novel( 1968) , his aut obiographical novel

u

u He view s life as am bivalence: t o learn t o underst and He view s life as am bivalence: t o learn t o underst and

life is t o free oneself from life & t rue freedom is only life is t o free oneself from life & t rue freedom is only enj oyed by t hose w ho have t o accept t heir

enj oyed by t hose w ho have t o accept t heir responsibilit y for t hem selves

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Jack Lindsay (1900

Jack Lindsay (1900—

—))

u

u Born in Melbourne & brought up in Born in Melbourne & brought up in

Brisbane, son of Nor m an w ho j oined him Brisbane, son of Nor m an w ho j oined him in est ablishing

in est ablishing Vision Vision

u

u Producing aut obiographical t rilogy, Producing aut obiographical t rilogy,

part icularly valuable as socio

part icularly valuable as socio-- cult ural cult ural hist ory of Aust . in t he 1

hist ory of Aust . in t he 1stst _{t hree decades of}_{t hree decades of}

t he 20

t he 20t ht h _c:_c:_{Life Rarely Tells}_{Life Rarely Tells} _{( 1958) ,}_{( 1958) ,}_The_The

Roaring Tw ent ies

Roaring Tw ent ies ( 1960) , & ( 1960) , & Fanfrolico and Fanfrolico and Aft er

Aft er ( 1976)( 1976)

u

u Recreat ing his Aust ralia from European Recreat ing his Aust ralia from European

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Kenneth Slessor (1901

Kenneth Slessor (1901—

—71)

71)

u

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Robert David FitzGerald (1902

Robert David FitzGerald (1902--

--1987)

1987)

u

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Katharine Susannah Prichard

(1883

(1883--

--1969)

1969)

u

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Unit 8:

War: the Changing

Response

Pp.92

(25)

u

u The novels about W.W. I appeared 10 years The novels about W.W. I appeared 10 years

aft er t he w ar w as over w hen t he peace aft er t he w ar w as over w hen t he peace seem ed lost t hrough divisions in Aust . & seem ed lost t hrough divisions in Aust . &

t hrough grow ing disput es abroad. Therefore, t hrough grow ing disput es abroad. Therefore, t he w rit ers not only looked back at t he w ar t he w rit ers not only looked back at t he w ar

but also narrat ed t heir disenchant m ent during but also narrat ed t heir disenchant m ent during t he post

t he post -- w ar. w ar.

u

u Over t he next 50 years Aust n w rit ers’ st art ing Over t he next 50 years Aust n w rit ers’ st art ing

t o drop t heir im agining w orld reflect t he t o drop t heir im agining w orld reflect t he changes occurring in t he societ y & Aust n changes occurring in t he societ y & Aust n perceived relat ionship w it h Brit ain.

perceived relat ionship w it h Brit ain.

u

u The problem present ed by t he w ar w as The problem present ed by t he w ar w as

responded t hrough poet ry by t hose w ho responded t hrough poet ry by t hose w ho

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u

The w ork s t o response t he w ar

experiences appeared in 2 form s: a)

t he English w rit ers using fict ionalized

m em oirs and b) Aust n w rit ers using

docum ent ary novels.

u

Such nov els t urn out t o be

dist inct ively Aust n qualit y as t hrough

t his for m t he w rit ers discover t he

pat t ern or m eaning of t he event s not

by experience but by observat ion of

t he ordinary infant rym an w ho is

isolat ed from t he civilians and even

from his officers.

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Frederic Manning (1882

Frederic Manning (1882—

—1935)

1935)

u

u Born in Sydney, had a lim it ed educat ion, Born in Sydney, had a lim it ed educat ion,

but lived in England from t he age of 15 & but lived in England from t he age of 15 & served as an ordinary soldier in t he Brit ish served as an ordinary soldier in t he Brit ish arm y.

arm y.

u

u Maj or w ork Maj or w ork The Middle Part s of Fort unat eThe Middle Part s of Fort unat e

( 1929) , t old from t he point of view of a ( 1929) , t old from t he point of view of a Privat e Bourne w ho is based on his life Privat e Bourne w ho is based on his life--experiences.

experiences.

u

u For Manning, w ar is a night m are w it hin For Manning, w ar is a night m are w it hin

w hich he can learn w hat he is & w hat life w hich he can learn w hat he is & w hat life is.

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Leonard Mann (1895

Leonard Mann (1895—

—1981)

1981)

u

u Born in Melbourne, w orked as a clerk in t he Born in Melbourne, w orked as a clerk in t he

public service before serving in France in t he public service before serving in France in t he First World War

First World War

u

u Maj or w ork Maj or w ork Flesh in Arm ourFlesh in Arm our ( 1932) , set in ( 1932) , set in

t he bat t le fields in France, overem phasizing t he bat t le fields in France, overem phasizing t he rem arkable qualit ies of t he Aust n

t he rem arkable qualit ies of t he Aust n

‘digger ’: t he careless appearance, cynical ‘digger ’: t he careless appearance, cynical about aut horit y, & superbly disciplined in about aut horit y, & superbly disciplined in act ion; t he essent ially dem ocrat ic arm y as act ion; t he essent ially dem ocrat ic arm y as show n by t he easy relat ions bet w een t he show n by t he easy relat ions bet w een t he m en and t he officers.

m en and t he officers.

u

u Like Manning’s, Mann describes t he lives of Like Manning’s, Mann describes t he lives of

m en set apart from t heir com m anders, t heir m en set apart from t heir com m anders, t heir pre

pre-- w ar past & t heir civilian felloww ar past & t heir civilian fellow --count rym en

(29)

Frank Dalby Davison

(1893

(1893—

—1970)

1970)

u

u Born in Glenferrie, Vict oria, enlist ed in Born in Glenferrie, Vict oria, enlist ed in

W.W. I and served w it h t he Brit ish cavalry W.W. I and served w it h t he Brit ish cavalry in France & ret urned t o Aust . in 1919.

in France & ret urned t o Aust . in 1919.

u

u Maj or w ork, Maj or w ork, The Wells of BeershebaThe Wells of Beersheba

( 1933) , having com m em orat ed t he ( 1933) , having com m em orat ed t he exploit s of t he m en and horses of t he exploit s of t he m en and horses of t he

Aust ralian Light Horse in Palest ine in t he Aust ralian Light Horse in Palest ine in t he w orld’s last great cavalry charge in 1914 w orld’s last great cavalry charge in 1914—— 18

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Martin Boyd (1893

Martin Boyd (1893—

—1972)

1972)

u

u Born in Sw it zerland, but spent his early Born in Sw it zerland, but spent his early

years in Vict oria years in Vict oria

u

u I n W.W. I , he j oined an English regim ent & I n W.W. I , he j oined an English regim ent &

served in France in 1915

served in France in 1915——18, first in t he 18, first in t he infant ry and t hen in t he flying corps. The infant ry and t hen in t he flying corps. The experience had a perm anent effect on his experience had a perm anent effect on his at t it udes t o w ar & Brit ain’s governing

at t it udes t o w ar & Brit ain’s governing classes, det erm ining his ant i

classes, det erm ining his ant

i--aut horit arianism & com m it m ent t o a aut horit arianism & com m it m ent t o a ‘qualified pacifism ’.

‘qualified pacifism ’.

u

u For Boyd, w ar is an int egral part of a For Boyd, w ar is an int egral part of a

societ y t hat has lost it s grasp of hum an societ y t hat has lost it s grasp of hum an values.

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u

u Maj or w orkMaj or w ork Lucinda BrayfordLucinda Brayford ( 1946) , ( 1946) ,

novel of social hist ory t racing t he hist ory novel of social hist ory t racing t he hist ory of fam ilies t orn bet w een England & Aust . of fam ilies t orn bet w een England & Aust . but t he 1st World War is t he event t hat but t he 1st World War is t he event t hat reveals t he precarious qualit y of

reveals t he precarious qualit y of

civilizat ion in Aust & Brit ain. The bat t les in civilizat ion in Aust & Brit ain. The bat t les in France and t he parallel m obilizat ion in

France and t he parallel m obilizat ion in England represent t he ult im at e denial of England represent t he ult im at e denial of t he hum an values t hat a societ y searches t he hum an values t hat a societ y searches t o be realized.

t o be realized. When Blackbirds SingWhen Blackbirds Sing

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Contemporary Novels of the First

World War

u

1915: a Novel

( 1979) and

Fly Aw ay

Pet er

( 1981) are t w o recent novels

dealing w it h W.W.I . They int erpr et

t he w ar by reconst ruct ing t he

im m ediacy of experience rat her t han

by put t ing t hem int o a par t icular

hist orical cont ext .

(33)

Roger McDonald (1941

Roger McDonald (1941—

—))

u

Born & educat ed in Sydney

u

I n 1915 w hile living in Canberra, he

w or ked on

1915

, about t he Gallipoli

experience published in 1979,

w inning t he

Age

Book of t he Year

Aw ar d & t he SA governm ent ’s

Biennial Lit erat ure Aw ar d.

(34)

David Malouf (1934

David Malouf (1934—

—))

u

u Born in Brisbane of Lebanese and English Born in Brisbane of Lebanese and English

parent s, living in Europe in 1959

parent s, living in Europe in 1959——68 68

u

u Maj or w ork Maj or w ork Fly Aw ay Pet erFly Aw ay Pet er, set in , set in

Queensland before t he First World War Queensland before t he First World War cent ralizing on t he crucial event s of t he cent ralizing on t he crucial event s of t he life of a dedicat ed bird

life of a dedicat ed bird-- w at cher nam ed Jim w at cher nam ed Jim Saddler w ho becom es draw n int o t he w ar. Saddler w ho becom es draw n int o t he w ar.

u

u Malouf & MacDonald are concerned t o Malouf & MacDonald are concerned t o