Australian literary representation and the construction of home

Abstract

Literary representation has been one of the significant pathways for Australians to seek national identity and build a sense of home. From the arrival of white settlers in Australia to the end of the 20th century, the literary representation of this land by Australian writers has undergone a transformation from rural to urban areas and from a singular to a pluralistic approach. During the colonial period, Australian literary representation was primarily focused on the unique natural environment of Australia, yet it was regarded as an" other" on the periphery. In the period of nationalism, the representation was of the bush, which had distinct Australian characteristics. After World War II, the focus of representing Australia began to shift towards the cities, ultimately leading to a successful portrayal of Australia. The evolution of the main subjects of Australian literary representation mirrors the cultural development of Australians from being subordinate to Britain and experiencing confusion and inferiority, to becoming independent and confident in representing Australia and constructing their spiritual home.