The Bath by Henry Lawson (1906)
The story revolves around a man who returns to his hometown after years away and reflects on the changes that have taken place. He recalls a childhood incident involving a bath and how it has shaped his perception of himself and others. The narrative explores themes of identity, community, and the complexities of human relationships.
By Henry Lawson · First published 1906 · Genre: Short Story, Humor, Domestic Fiction · 2,273 words
First lines
The moral should be revived. Therefore, this is a story with a moral. The lower end of Bill Street -- otherwise William -- overlooks Blue's Point Road, with a vacant wedge-shaped allotment running down from a Scottish church between Bill Street the aforesaid and the road, and a terrace on the other side of the road. A cheap, mean-looking terrace of houses, flush with the pavement, each with two windows upstairs and a large one in the middle downstairs, with a slit on one side of it called a door -- looking remarkably skully in ghastly dawns, afterglows, and rainy afternoons and evenings. The slits look as if the owners of the skulls got it there from an upward blow of a sharp tomahawk, from a shorter man -- who was no friend of theirs -- just about the time they died.
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Genres
- Short Story — The work is a brief narrative focusing on a single incident, characteristic of short stories.
- Humor — The story contains elements of irony and comedic mishaps, particularly in the protagonist's failed bath attempt.
- Domestic Fiction — The narrative revolves around everyday life and domestic settings, highlighting ordinary events.
- Realism — The story presents a realistic portrayal of life, focusing on mundane details and character experiences.
Tags
Australian Literature · Short Story · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Class Conflict · Working Class · Poverty · Struggle · Survival · Resilience · Irony
What this Textopian page supports
The Bath 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: Short Story, Humor, Domestic Fiction, Realism, Moral Tale
- Length: 2,273 words
- Structure: 1 section, 28 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Bath 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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