Two Sundowners by Henry Lawson
The story revolves around a group of Australian outcasts who gather at the local pub to drink and socialize. The protagonist, a rough-around-the-edges man, befriends a young woman who has been ostracized by society due to her illegitimate child. As they spend more time together, the protagonist's rough exterior begins to soften, and he starts to see the world from a different perspective. However, their budding relationship is threatened when the woman's past catches up with her, and she is forced to confront the consequences of her actions. The story explores themes of loneliness, redemption, and the struggles of the working class in rural Australia during the late 19th century.
By Henry Lawson · First published 1918 · Genre: Realism, Adventure, Humor · 4,796 words
First lines
Sheep stations in Australia are any distance from twenty to a hundred miles apart, to keep well within the boundaries of truth and the great pastoral country. Shearing at any one shed only lasts a few weeks in the year; the number of men employed is according to the size of the shed-from three to five men in the little bough-covered shed of the small "cockatoo," up to a hundred and fifty or two hundred hands all told in the big corrugated iron machine shed of a pastoral company.
What this Textopian page supports
Two Sundowners is listed on Textopian as a short story by Henry Lawson, dated 1918 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: 1918 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Realism, Adventure, Humor, Social Commentary, Drama
- Length: 4,796 words
- Structure: 1 section, 84 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Two Sundowners 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 Two Sundowners?
- How does this short story by Henry Lawson fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Realism first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Past Carin by Henry Lawson
- The Cambaroora Star by Henry Lawson
- The Romance Of The Swag by Henry Lawson
- A Rough Shed by Henry Lawson
- The Rovers by Henry Lawson
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Genres
- Realism — The narrative provides a detailed and authentic depiction of the lives of itinerant workers in Australia, focusing on their struggles and interactions.
- Adventure — The story follows the journey and experiences of two sundowners as they travel across the Australian outback, encountering various challenges.
- Humor — The interactions between the characters and their cunning schemes are portrayed with a sense of irony and wit.
- Social Commentary — The text critiques societal norms and the economic conditions faced by itinerant workers, highlighting issues of class and survival.
Tags
Australian Literature · Short Story Collection · Outback Fiction · Rural Life · Poverty · Social Realism · Working Class · Labor Movement · Farming Community · Isolation · Loneliness · Desperation