Board and Residence by Henry Lawson
The story revolves around a young man who returns to his rural home after years away and struggles with the harsh realities of country life. He finds it difficult to reconcile his romanticized memories of childhood with the poverty, isolation, and hardship that now exist in the community. The narrative explores themes of disillusionment, nostalgia, and the clash between idealism and reality.
By Henry Lawson · First published 1906 · Genre: Realism, Social Commentary, Drama · 2,543 words
First lines
One o'clock on Saturday. The unemployed's one o'clock on Saturday! Nothing more can be done this week, so you drag yourself wearily and despairingly "home," with the cheerful prospect of a penniless Saturday afternoon and evening and the long horrible Australian-city Sunday to drag through. One of the landlady's clutch -- and she _is_ an old hen -- opens the door, exclaims:
"Oh, Mr Careless! " and grins. You wait an anxious minute, to postpone the disappointment which you feel by instinct is coming, and then ask hopelessly whether there are any letters for you.
What this Textopian page supports
Board and Residence is listed on Textopian as a short story by Henry Lawson, dated 1906 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Henry Lawson
- Date: 1906 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Realism, Social Commentary, Drama, Satire, Psychological Fiction
- Length: 2,543 words
- Structure: 1 section, 24 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Board and Residence by Henry Lawson
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Board and Residence?
- How does this short story by Henry Lawson fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Realism first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Ballad Of The Rouseabout by Henry Lawson
- A Prouder Man Than You by Henry Lawson
- The Men Who Come Behind by Henry Lawson
- A Day On A Selection by Henry Lawson
- Steelmans Pupil by Henry Lawson
- The Boozers Home by Henry Lawson
Genres
- Realism — The narrative provides a detailed and unembellished depiction of everyday life and struggles, focusing on the mundane and harsh realities faced by the protagonist.
- Social Commentary — The story critiques societal issues such as unemployment, poverty, and the challenges of urban living, highlighting the protagonist's struggles and the indifference of society.
- Drama — The narrative explores the emotional and psychological turmoil of the protagonist, emphasizing personal conflict and despair.
- Satire — The text uses humor and irony to criticize the social conditions and the behavior of certain characters, particularly the landlady.
Tags
Australian Literature · Short Story Collection · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Working Class Life · Rural Australia · Outback · Poverty · Exploitation · Class Struggle · Labor Movement