The Exciseman by Henry Lawson (1892)
The story revolves around a young man who returns to his rural home after serving time in prison for a crime he did not commit. He seeks revenge against the corrupt officials responsible for his imprisonment and the death of his family. The narrative explores themes of justice, morality, and the struggle between good and evil.
By Henry Lawson · First published 1892 · Genre: Short Story, Humor, Australian Literature · 3,225 words
First lines
Harry Chatswood, mail contractor (and several other things), was driving out from, say, Georgeville to Croydon, with mails, parcels, and only one passenger -- a commercial traveller, who had shown himself unsociable, and close in several other ways. Nearly half-way to a place that was half-way between the halfway house and the town, Harry overhauled "Old Jack," a local character (there are many well-known characters named "Old Jack") and gave him a lift as a matter of course.
"Hello! Is that you, Jack? " in the gathering dusk.
What this Textopian page supports
The Exciseman is listed on Textopian as a short story by Henry Lawson, dated 1892 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: 1892 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Short Story, Humor, Australian Literature, Social Commentary, Drama
- Length: 3,225 words
- Structure: 1 section, 64 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Exciseman 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
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Exciseman?
- How does this short story by Henry Lawson fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Short Story first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Short Story — The narrative is concise, focusing on a single incident with a limited number of characters, typical of short stories.
- Humor — The story contains humorous elements, particularly in the interactions and misunderstandings between characters.
- Australian Literature — The setting and characters are distinctly Australian, reflecting the culture and environment of the region.
- Social Commentary — The narrative provides insight into social dynamics and character interactions in rural Australian society.
Tags
Australian Literature · Short Story Collection · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Colonialism · Class Struggle · Working Class · Outback Life · Rural Australia · Law and Order · Corruption