The Shearer's Dream by Henry Lawson
A struggling family of shearers and their wives face financial ruin due to a series of unfortunate events, including the death of their sheep and a failed shearing contract. The father's pride and stubbornness exacerbate the situation, leading to a confrontation with his wife that ultimately ends in tragedy.
By Henry Lawson · First published 1892 · Genre: Short Story, Australian Literature, Realism · 1,738 words
First lines
Mitchell and I rolled up our swags after New Year and started to tramp west. It had been a very bad season after a long drought. Old Baldy Thompson had only shorn a few bales of grass-seed and burrs, so he said, and thought of taking the track himself; but we hoped to get on shearing stragglers at West-o'-Sunday or one of the stations of the Hungerford track.
What this Textopian page supports
The Shearer's Dream 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, Australian Literature, Realism, Adventure, Social Commentary
- Length: 1,738 words
- Structure: 1 section, 31 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Shearer's Dream by Henry Lawson
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Discussion starters
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Similar titles
- Black Joe by Henry Lawson
- A Rough Shed by Henry Lawson
- Past Carin by Henry Lawson
- Stragglers by Henry Lawson
- The Union Buries Its Dead by Henry Lawson
- A Day On A Selection by Henry Lawson
Genres
- Short Story — The work is a concise narrative focusing on a specific incident or theme, typical of short stories.
- Australian Literature — The setting, characters, and themes are deeply rooted in Australian culture and landscape.
- Realism — The narrative style and depiction of everyday life and struggles reflect the principles of realism.
- Adventure — The story involves a journey and the challenges faced by the characters, characteristic of adventure tales.
Tags
Australian Literature · Short Story Collection · Rural Life · Sheep Shearing · Outback · Poverty · Hardship · Working Class · Social Realism · Regional Australia · Isolation · Loneliness