The document discusses Australian and Canadian literature in the context of whether they can be considered national or international. It analyzes works by Leonard Cohen and Alice Munro from Canada, finding their themes to be universal rather than distinctly Canadian. Australian works by David Malouf and A.D. Hope are found to focus more on postcolonial and identity issues, making them more representative of national literature. Overall, Canadian literature can be seen as both national in developing culture and international in its audience, while Australian literature more directly addresses issues of national identity formation.

1. Examine Australian and Canadian Literature in the light of the statement that ‘English literatures
outside Britain have been considered as individual, national enterprises forming and reflecting
each country’s culture’. You should discuss the work of two writers.
Mehdi Hassanian esfahani (GS22456)
Australian and Canadian Literature (BBL5304)
Lecturer: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Malachi Edwin Vethamani
UPM, April 2009.
Discussing and differentiating between national literature and international literature is a
controversial issue. When I was first reading about postcolonial literature, I don’t remember
where, a critic has said that winning international prices (such as The Nobel prize) or selling
worldwide is a sign of internationality. Whether we agree with it or not, there are still other
factors, more concerned about the text itself, which may predict if a book is going to be accepted
internationally or not? In the following, I will analyze Cohen’s poems and Munro’s stories from
Canada, and Hope’s poems and Malouf’s novel from Australia in a comparative study with a
more detailed analysis of Canadian authors.
Literature of Canada covers a vast range of topics, mostly from a universal point of view.
Kröller in her book ‘The Cambridge Companion to Canadian Literature’ suggests that for many,
Canada is considered a part of, or another state of the United States, and the influence of
American Literature is obvious here. In this sense, she categorizes works of contemporary
Canadian authors as international books, although she claims that there are some particularly

2. Canadian features in them. According to her, only some forms and genres have been discussed
here and Canadians have experienced limited range of forms. But even though, if for example
Canada has less history, it has more than enough nature. ‘Fresh wilderness of outside setting’ is
particularly connected to Canada’s landscape, and it helps to enrich the text other than distancing
it from international readers. In other words, it seems that literature of Canada doesn’t solely
address Canadians.
Reading poems and lyrics of Leonard Cohen, there are different social issues he talks
about. They may refer to the current society of Canada, but also fit into the modern life of human
beings, anywhere outside the country. He may doubt about religion and question the faith, or
sing a love song like ‘Dance me to the end of love’ and spread happiness around. Even his
skeptical view that apparently questions fidelity narrates a universally common theme. He has
some political poems, but according to globalization, there is no border for political
considerations and they may not be considered local poems too. Cohen doesn’t write of a
Canadian event; what he speaks of are universal issues. This is, perhaps, the keyword that makes
him an internationally recognized figure in literature (aside from his voice). ‘Hey, that's no way
to say goodbye’ includes a monologue by a lover who faces their separation. It talks of love and
pain. As he says that ‘yes, many loved before us, I know that we are not new / in city and in
forest they smiled like me and you’ the theme is not a unique one either. It is something
experienced through ages and does not belong only and solely to Canadians. The same thing
happens in other poems, like ‘Bird on the wire’ or the famous ‘Suzanne’.
Cohen’s poems have almost no connection to Canadian culture in particular, and if he
uses Canada and its landscape it is just to create the setting. Munro’s short stories follow the
same custom; although the setting is Ontario, what she tells is more universal. Her words seem
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3. like a gossip, according to Howells, what she narrates is an ordinary story that may happen for
every single woman anywhere on the Earth. If she talks of Canada, it doesn’t have a privilege to
other places. Even the setting of place may be claimed to be universal in her stories, as Ontario
doesn’t play a role in the story.
The very first reason for internationality of themes may be the fact that Canadian society
is multi-cultural and populated more by immigrants from all over the world, than natives. As a
result, to talk of a common experience for all, author may be forced to ignore native and Indian
issues or repeat a particular universal theme. Correspondingly, Munro talks of girls or women
who encounter challenges and struggle within a patriarchal society, but she never tell us a story
unique for Canadians. What she depicts may happen in the society outside. The story she
narrates, though mostly happens in Canada’s landscapes, can be repeated anywhere around the
world. Even the reaction of protagonist is not unique to present a particularly Canadian lifestyle.
Based on the sample texts we read from Canadian literature, they go beyond national
literature. Although they present the culture and storytelling style of Canadians, they use an
international language and display familiar happenings. As a result, their audience and their
topics are not limited.
However, it is different when we read Australian literature. For example, Malouf’s novel
is identity centered, as if the author is preoccupied with racist issues and the matter of identity for
both natives and Europeans who have migrated there. He writes the whole novel to depict these
two communities, and the problems they face living together. ‘Remembering Babylon’ discusses
a man, who has lived with black natives and has learnt a lot from them, but still feels a lack
inside. He is in search of his identity and enters the white’s camp to find his roots, although he
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4. would get disappointed and leave them soon. Malouf’s story is deliberately about difficulties of
first settlements / natives of Australia
Amazingly, the poetry of Australia is the same, as if Australian people are more
preoccupied with postcolonial concepts of seeking identity and finding their own voice in late
1900s. A. D. Hope writes especially for / about Australian audiences, although he talks of
universal issues as well. In ‘Imperial Adam’, as an example, he uses a conventional style to
imply a sin committed due to lack of knowledge. His elevated language is unique. His
contribution to Australia leads to a poem called ‘Australia’, in which he criticizes the country but
also claims his sense of belonging by calling it ‘home’.
A. D. Hope is an internationally recognized poet from Australia. Being educated in the
UK, he shows concerns regarding international issues, including his homeland’s, i.e. Australia’s,
problems. He is critical and watchful toward the society. It is common between Australian
writers. Comparing these two authors, David Malouf is more involved into ‘Australian writing’
and the tradition of such a local literature. Male identity is a repeated theme on his stories.
Examining Canadian and Australian literature, based on the above examples studied in
this course, the latter one is more easily recognizable as a national literature perhaps due to its
theme; mostly dealing with postcolonial issues and aboriginals’ situation. For Australians,
national literature was a part of building the country. It was the account of Australian’s culture,
society and lifestyle. But for Canadians, it was a little different.
What Canadian critics asked for was a rebirth of literature; a new prospective to literature
which was more suitable to Canadians’ needs. McGee, introduced by Ballstadt as 'a prophet of
Canadian Literature' was among the people who encouraged writers to write about their own
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5. people. In this way, he chose the motto "no literature, no national life" as his basic premise. He
presented many genres to Canadian literature and enriched their traditions by emphasizing on a
kind of Canadian overlook to the world outside.
McGee’s effort to establish and improve national literature and other critics demand for
such a thing resulted in a national tradition and style of storytelling between Canadian writers,
followed and observed by many contemporary authors such as Atwood. To make a long story
short, Canadian literature can be observed as a distinctive national literature presenting national
culture and historical heritage of Canada, glorifying the country and praising its people, although
it is introduced internationally to people outside the borders of Canada, too. The reason for such
a universally acceptance of Canadian Literature may be rooted to the multi-cultural society of
Canada.
Works Cited
Ballstadt, Carl. "Thomas D'Arcy McGee as a Father of Canadian Literature". Studies in
Canadian Literature. April 15th, 2009 <http://www.lib.unb.ca/Texts/SCL/bin/
get.cgi?directory=vol1_1/&filename=ballstadt.htm>.
Howells, Coral Ann. Alice Munro. USA: Manchester UP, 1998.
Kröller, Eva-Marie. The Cambridge Companion to Canadian Literature. UK: Cambridge UP,
2004.
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