Mitchell's Jobs by Henry Lawson
The story revolves around a young man who takes on various jobs to support himself and his family after his father's death. He faces numerous challenges and setbacks, but ultimately learns valuable lessons about perseverance and the importance of hard work. The narrative explores themes of poverty, class struggle, and the Australian outback experience.
By Henry Lawson · First published 1908 · Genre: Humor, Short Story, Slice of Life · 1,904 words
First lines
"I'm going to knock off work and try to make some money," said Mitchell, as he jerked the tea-leaves out of his pannikin and reached for the billy. "It's been the great mistake of my life -- if I hadn't wasted all my time and energy working and looking for work I might have been an independent man to-day."
"Joe! " he added in a louder voice, condescendingly adapting his language to my bushed comprehension. "I'm going to sling graft and try and get some stuff together."
What this Textopian page supports
Mitchell's Jobs is listed on Textopian as a short story by Henry Lawson, dated 1908 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: 1908 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Humor, Short Story, Slice of Life, Autobiographical Fiction, Adventure
- Length: 1,904 words
- Structure: 1 section, 20 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Mitchell's Jobs 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 Mitchell's Jobs?
- How does this short story by Henry Lawson fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Humor first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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- While The Billy Boils by Henry Lawson
- A Sketch Of Mateship by Henry Lawson
- His Country After All by Henry Lawson
Genres
- Humor — The narrative is filled with humorous anecdotes and light-hearted reflections on the protagonist's various job experiences.
- Short Story — The work is structured as a short story, focusing on a single character's experiences and reflections.
- Slice of Life — The story captures everyday experiences and the mundane aspects of the protagonist's life, providing a realistic portrayal of his job history.
- Autobiographical Fiction — The narrative style and personal reflections suggest elements of autobiographical fiction, with the protagonist sharing personal anecdotes.
Tags
Australian Literature · Short Story Collection · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Working Class Life · Rural Australia · Fiction · Realism · Regionalism · Class Conflict · Labor Movement