Payable Gold by Henry Lawson (1907)
The story revolves around a prospector who returns to his hometown after years of searching for gold. He brings with him a small amount of gold dust and a sense of disillusionment with the harsh realities of life in the outback. Upon his return, he is met with skepticism and resentment by the townspeople, who view him as a failure. The prospector's experiences have left him bitter and cynical, and he struggles to adjust to the comforts and conventions of small-town life. As he navigates this new reality, the prospector must confront the harsh realities of his own past and the consequences of his choices. Through his story, the novel explores themes of identity, community, and the human cost of pursuing one's dreams.
By Henry Lawson · First published 1907 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Adventure, Drama · 2,471 words
First lines
Among the crowds who left the Victorian side for New South Wales about the time Gulgong broke out was an old Ballarat digger named Peter McKenzie. He had married and retired from the mining some years previously and had made a home for himself and family at the village of St. Kilda, near Melbourne; but, as was often the case with old diggers, the gold fever never left him, and when the fields of New South Wales began to blaze he mortgaged his little property in order to raise funds for another campaign, leaving sufficient behind him to keep his wife and family in comfort for a year or so.
What this Textopian page supports
Payable Gold is listed on Textopian as a short story by Henry Lawson, dated 1907 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: 1907 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Adventure, Drama, Family, Realism
- Length: 2,471 words
- Structure: 1 section, 30 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Payable Gold 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
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- How does this short story by Henry Lawson fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Historical Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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Genres
- Historical Fiction — The narrative is set during the Australian gold rush, providing a historical backdrop that influences the characters and plot.
- Adventure — The story follows the protagonist's journey and struggles in the pursuit of gold, embodying themes of exploration and risk.
- Drama — The emotional and personal challenges faced by the protagonist and his family are central to the narrative.
- Family — The protagonist's motivation is deeply tied to his family, and their well-being is a recurring theme.
Tags
Australian Literature · Short Story Collection · Gold Rush Era · Outback Fiction · Realism · Social Commentary · Working Class Life · Poverty · Exploitation · Corruption · Moral Ambiguity · Human Nature