Our Pipes by Henry Lawson (1900)
The story revolves around a group of Australian bushmen who are struggling to survive during the drought. The narrator describes their hardships and the effects of the drought on their lives. He also portrays the men's resilience and resourcefulness in the face of adversity.
By Henry Lawson · First published 1900 · Genre: Realism, Short Story, Australian Literature · 1,496 words
First lines
The moon rose away out on the edge of a smoky plain, seen through a sort of tunnel or arch in the fringe of mulga behind which we were camped -- Jack Mitchell and I. The timber proper was just behind us, very thick and very dark. The moon looked like a big new copper boiler set on edge on the horizon of the plain, with the top turned towards us and a lot of old rags and straw burning inside.
What this Textopian page supports
Our Pipes is listed on Textopian as a short story by Henry Lawson, dated 1900 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: 1900 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Realism, Short Story, Australian Literature, Adventure, Humor
- Length: 1,496 words
- Structure: 1 section, 37 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Our Pipes 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 Our Pipes?
- 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 Iron Bark Chip by Henry Lawson
- Remailed by Henry Lawson
- An Incident At Stiffners by Henry Lawson
- A Sketch Of Mateship by Henry Lawson
- Mitchells Jobs by Henry Lawson
- A Vision Of Sandy Blight by Henry Lawson
Genres
- Realism — The narrative focuses on everyday life and ordinary characters, depicting realistic experiences of swagmen in the Australian bush.
- Short Story — The work is a concise narrative that centers around a specific incident or theme, typical of the short story format.
- Australian Literature — The setting, characters, and cultural references are distinctly Australian, reflecting the country's landscape and social conditions.
- Adventure — The story involves a journey and the challenges faced by the characters as they travel through the bush.
Tags
Australian Literature · Short Stories · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Working Class Life · Rural Australia · Poverty · Class Struggle · Labor Movement · Fiction · Realism