I love Australia. I love the weather, the buildings, the people and just the life here. Although both my parents were born in Greece, I was born here, and so therefore I'll always consider myself as Australia and proud despite my Greek background. On the other hand, if you make me read a paragraph of Australian literature, whether it be a poem, story or anything else, I assure you i'll be asleep by the end of the first sentence. There is just something about Australian literature that bores me to death! And i'm sure that im not the only one.
Having said that, there are many people out there absolutely despises English literature ( I shudder at the thought). When it comes to the battle (if there even is one) between Australian and English literature, I believe English Lit dominates Australian Lit.
So what exactly is the difference between the two apart from of course the country of origin?
Well, Australian literature was first introduced after the Europeans came to the country, therefore, many of the different themes that are explosed in it include settler identity, alienation and exile. Novelists and poets were able to give valuable insights into thecolonies which helped form the country and also the early rural settlements. Another huge part of Australian literature is the indigenous community (The Aborigines). Here's a bit of trivia:
Australia’s first novel was called 'Quintus Servinton: A Tale founded upon Incidents of Real Occurrence' and was written and published in Tasmania in 1831. Pretty sweet huh?
Also, In 1838 the first book published by a woman in Sydney was called 'The Guardian:' and was written by Anna Maria Bunn. It was the first Australian novel printed and published in mainland Australia and the first Australian novel written by a woman. It is a Gothic romance (o0o0oh...who doesnt love gothic romances?)
English Literature on the other hand refers to literature written in the English language, including literature composed in English by writers not necessarily from England. For e.g. Edgar Allan Poe was American (and is one of my favorite poets of all time!)
Wikipedia describes English literature as "diverse as the varieties and dialects of English spoken around the world" and I couldn't agree more.
The way English Literature has evolved could be seen by several different stages:
Old English, Middle English literature, Renaissance literature, Early Modern period (Elizabethan Era), Jacobean literature, Caroline and Cromwellian literature, Restoration literature, Augustan literature, 18th century, Romanticism, Victorian literature, Modernism, Post-modern literature.
Who knew there could possibly be so many different types of literature over the ages?
If you are still torn between which makes better literature then just think of it this way....If you were given a choice on whether to read Jane Austen or Henry Lawson which would you choose?
Men may shy away from the choice of reading Jane Austen for obvious reasons, but perhaps the sheer intencity of the boredom which surrounds Australian Literature is enough to push them to read 'Pride and Prejudice' no matter how misogynistic they are.
Having said that, there are many people out there absolutely despises English literature ( I shudder at the thought). When it comes to the battle (if there even is one) between Australian and English literature, I believe English Lit dominates Australian Lit.
So what exactly is the difference between the two apart from of course the country of origin?
Well, Australian literature was first introduced after the Europeans came to the country, therefore, many of the different themes that are explosed in it include settler identity, alienation and exile. Novelists and poets were able to give valuable insights into thecolonies which helped form the country and also the early rural settlements. Another huge part of Australian literature is the indigenous community (The Aborigines). Here's a bit of trivia:
Australia’s first novel was called 'Quintus Servinton: A Tale founded upon Incidents of Real Occurrence' and was written and published in Tasmania in 1831. Pretty sweet huh?
Also, In 1838 the first book published by a woman in Sydney was called 'The Guardian:' and was written by Anna Maria Bunn. It was the first Australian novel printed and published in mainland Australia and the first Australian novel written by a woman. It is a Gothic romance (o0o0oh...who doesnt love gothic romances?)
English Literature on the other hand refers to literature written in the English language, including literature composed in English by writers not necessarily from England. For e.g. Edgar Allan Poe was American (and is one of my favorite poets of all time!)
Wikipedia describes English literature as "diverse as the varieties and dialects of English spoken around the world" and I couldn't agree more.
The way English Literature has evolved could be seen by several different stages:
Old English, Middle English literature, Renaissance literature, Early Modern period (Elizabethan Era), Jacobean literature, Caroline and Cromwellian literature, Restoration literature, Augustan literature, 18th century, Romanticism, Victorian literature, Modernism, Post-modern literature.
Who knew there could possibly be so many different types of literature over the ages?
If you are still torn between which makes better literature then just think of it this way....If you were given a choice on whether to read Jane Austen or Henry Lawson which would you choose?
Men may shy away from the choice of reading Jane Austen for obvious reasons, but perhaps the sheer intencity of the boredom which surrounds Australian Literature is enough to push them to read 'Pride and Prejudice' no matter how misogynistic they are.
