Dossing out" and "Camping
The story revolves around a group of men who are struggling to survive in the harsh Australian outback. They are forced to live off the land and scrounge for food, leading to a breakdown in their social norms and values. As they descend into chaos, the men's behavior becomes increasingly erratic and violent. The narrative highlights the effects of poverty, isolation, and desperation on human nature. The story is a commentary on the harsh realities of life in rural Australia during the late 19th century, where men were often forced to live off the land with little support or resources. Through the characters' struggles, the narrative explores themes of masculinity, community, and the human condition.
By Henry Lawson · First published 1901 · Genre: Realism, Social Commentary, Short Story · 1,610 words
First lines
At least two hundred poor beggars were counted sleeping out on the pavements of the main streets of Sydney the other night -- grotesque bundles of rags lying under the verandas of the old Fruit Markets and York Street shops, with their heads to the wall and their feet to the gutter. It was raining and cold that night, and the unemployed had been driven in from Hyde Park and the bleak Domain -- from dripping trees, damp seats, and drenched grass -- from the rain, and cold, and the wind. Some had sheets of old newspapers to cover them-and some hadn't. Two were mates, and they divided a _Herald_ between them. One had a sheet of brown paper, and another (lucky man! ) had a bag -- the only bag there. They all shrank as far into their rags as possible -- and tried to sleep. The rats seemed to take them for rubbish, too, and only scampered away when one of the outcasts moved uneasily, or coughed, or groaned -- or when a policeman came along.
What this Textopian page supports
Dossing out" and "Camping is listed on Textopian as a short story by Henry Lawson, dated 1901 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: 1901 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Realism, Social Commentary, Short Story, Australian Literature, Naturalism
- Length: 1,610 words
- Structure: 1 section, 16 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Dossing out" and "Camping by Henry Lawson
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Dossing out" and "Camping?
- 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
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Genres
- Realism — The narrative provides a detailed and unembellished depiction of the harsh realities faced by the homeless and unemployed in Sydney, focusing on their struggles and the societal indifference towards them.
- Social Commentary — The text critiques societal structures and the treatment of the poor, highlighting the disparity between the lives of the homeless and the more affluent city dwellers.
- Short Story — The work is structured as a short narrative, focusing on specific characters and events to convey its themes.
- Australian Literature — The setting and cultural references are distinctly Australian, reflecting the social and economic conditions of the time in Sydney.
Tags
Australian literature · Short stories · Humor · Satire · Social commentary · Poverty · Homelessness · Camping · Dossing · Vagrancy · Working class life · Rural Australia