THE DROVER’S WIFE by Henry

LawsonMUNIRAH NURJANNAH BINTI ALIAMIRAH HUSNA BINTI ABDULLAH

HENRY LAWSON ( 1867-1922)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Born 17th June 1867 in Grenfell, New South Wales, Australia

Eldest son of Peter and Louisa Lawson

At the age of 9, went partially deaf as a result of ear infection

By age of 14 he became totally deaf, rarely attend classes

1883, his mother left his father and he moved to Sydney with her

At the age of 20, travelled to Melbourne in order to be treated

Being told that his condition was permanent and nothing could be done

After that, he began to write poetry Became a published poet in 1887 with

his poem “A Song of the Republic” “The Drover’s Wife” was written after

he return to Sydney and is one of his greatest work

In 1896, married Bertha Bredt and had two children

Was an unsuccessful marriage and they separated, Lawson started to drink heavily

During his late years, he became physically and mentally ill and stayed in mental hospitals and rehabilitation sanatoriums

He died on 2nd September 1922 at the age of 55

ABOUT THE STORY

The Drover’s Wife

Published in 1892

Henry Lawson’s most celebrated work

Has some similarities with his background

This story is his acknowledgement to women who suffers hardship in life

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE TITLE

Has direct meaning of what the story is about

Mainly about the drover’s wife who is alone with her children while her husband went droving

SYNOPSIS

The drover’s wife is left all alone to take care of her children, while her husband goes droving to earn a living. She has four young children to take care. A snake enters the house and the drover’s wife has to be extra careful and kill the snake before it causes any harm to her family. Snakes are known to have caused deaths to both animals and humans. The drover’s wife needs to protect her children at all time, as the snake is hiding in the house.

LITERARY CRITICISM

SOCIAL LITERARY CRITICISM bushman family of the native

Australians lives far away from civilisations nearest house is located nineteen miles

away house built of round timber slabs and

stringy bark stunned, rotten native apple trees

around hardly communicate with other people

CULTURAL LITERARY CRITICISM still practice normal western culture take a walk on Sundays get dressed and tidies her children reads Young Girls Journal and thinks

about fashion

GENDER LITERARY CRITICISM a woman survive taking care of her

children without the presence of her husband

manage to protect her children from the big snake

proved of a woman’s bravery that is at par of a man

HISTORICAL LITERARY CRITICISM Henry takes his own history to this story hardship of his mother left alone while

his father was away working story sets in Australia, place where

Henry grew up and lived in