The Bursting of the Boom
The story revolves around a group of men who have made their fortunes during the gold rush and are now struggling to cope with its aftermath. They are forced to confront the harsh realities of their new circumstances and the emptiness of their lives. Their experiences serve as a commentary on the fleeting nature of wealth and the devastating effects of economic downturns on individuals and communities. The narrative explores themes of disillusionment, desperation, and the search for meaning in a world that has been turned upside down by the collapse of the gold rush economy.
By Henry Lawson · First published 1908 · Genre: Poetry, Social Commentary, Realism · 978 words
First lines
The shipping-office clerks are ‘short,' the manager is gruff -- ‘They cannot make reductions,' and ‘the fares are low enough. ' They ship us West with cattle, and we go like cattle too; And fight like dogs three times a day for what we get to chew. We'll have the pick of empty bunks and lots of stretching room, And go for next to nothing at the Bursting of the Boom.
So wait till the Boom bursts! -- we'll all get a show: Then when the Boom bursts is our time to go. We'll meet 'em coming back in shoals, with looks of deepest gloom, But we're the sort that battle through at the Bursting of the Boom.
What this Textopian page supports
The Bursting of the Boom is listed on Textopian as a novel 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: Novel
- Author: Henry Lawson
- Date: 1908 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Social Commentary, Realism, Satire, Historical
- Length: 978 words
- Structure: 1 section, 11 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Bursting of the Boom by Henry Lawson
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Bursting of the Boom?
- How does this novel by Henry Lawson fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Poetry first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form with a rhythmic and rhyming scheme, characteristic of poetry.
- Social Commentary — The text critiques societal issues such as economic disparity and exploitation, reflecting on the human condition during economic booms.
- Realism — The narrative provides a realistic depiction of life and struggles during an economic boom, focusing on ordinary people's experiences.
- Satire — The work uses irony and exaggeration to criticize the absurdities and injustices of economic booms and societal behaviors.
Tags
Australian Literature · Economic Crisis · Fiction · Historical Fiction · Social Commentary · Realism · Regionalism · Outback · Gold Rush · Boom and Bust · Poverty · Class Struggle