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JOSHUA DE LA COUR

The ballad ‘The man from snowy river’ written by Banjo Patterson conveys many attitudes, values and representations of Australia and Australian bushmen, one is how the land is tough and unforgiving so a bushman needs to be tough to survive. He uses these ideas in his descriptions of characters and terrain: “those hills are far too rough for such as you” this is also shown through reputation or feats of strength and control: “For never horse could throw him while the saddle girths would stand”. Even in the dialogue the characters are talking about how tough the horse is and whether or not he can survive in their slang. A representation of Australia is through the slang Patterson uses to write the ballad. He used words that no one would use in formal or casual language today, or undescriptive and to the point sentences: “There was Harrison, who made his pile when pardon won the cup” this is even used in the descriptions of the scenery to solidify the idea of the Australian slang: “And upward, ever upward, the wild horses held their way, Where the mountain ash and kurrajong grew wide” and this also creates a more believable atmosphere. Another important thing in the ballad is the horses. They are not just seen as produce to sell but a way of life and the people in the ballad have become very familiarized with them: “a race horse undersized, with a touch of Timor pony – three parts thoroughbred at least” there is also trust and acceptance that they are intelligent creatures that need to be out smarted as well as over powered: “But the man from Snowy river let the pony have his head” this can be seen as a trusting friendship between the rider and horse.

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