Here you will get the detailed summary of IGNOU MEG 19 Block 8 -Contemporary Novel (2).
We have provided the summary of all units starting from unit 1 to unit 3.
Introduction
IGNOU MEG-19 Block 8, titled Contemporary Novel (2), examines the evolution and diversification of the Australian novel in recent decades, with a special focus on women novelists, literature for young readers, and emerging literary trends. It highlights how contemporary fiction in Australia has become increasingly inclusive, dynamic, and reflective of the nation’s multicultural and postcolonial identity. This block also addresses how literary forms have adapted to new audiences and global contexts.
Unit 1 – Contemporary Australian Women Novelists
This unit explores the significant contributions of Australian women writers to contemporary fiction.
Key Writers Discussed:
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Helen Garner – known for her realism and focus on domestic and moral complexities.
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Kate Grenville – engages deeply with Australia’s colonial past (e.g., The Secret River).
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Gail Jones – noted for lyrical style and themes of memory, trauma, and communication.
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Charlotte Wood – explores power, gender, and societal constraints (The Natural Way of Things).
Common Themes in Their Work:
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Gender and power
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Family, relationships, and identity
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Historical revisionism – revisiting Australia’s colonial, Indigenous, and feminist narratives
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Psychological realism and interiority
These novelists not only challenge patriarchal narratives but also reshape the Australian literary canon through innovative narrative forms and socially engaged themes.
Unit 2 – Fiction for Children and Young Adults
This unit focuses on the growth of children’s and young adult (YA) literature in Australia, an area that has gained both literary and cultural prominence.
Key Features:
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Strong tradition of illustrated books, fantasy, and realistic fiction
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Often tackles complex themes such as:
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Bullying
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Identity and adolescence
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Environmental concerns
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Migration and racism
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Indigenous culture and reconciliation
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Notable Authors:
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John Marsden – Tomorrow series explores war and survival.
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Sonya Hartnett – known for dark, emotionally complex YA fiction.
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Morris Gleitzman – blends humour and pathos, especially in Holocaust-themed novels like Once.
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Shaun Tan – acclaimed for visual storytelling (e.g., The Arrival).
The unit highlights that children’s and YA fiction in Australia is both literary and socially conscious, reflecting changing attitudes and expanding readerships.
Unit 3 – The Australian Novel: Recent Trends
This unit provides a critical overview of the most recent trends in Australian fiction.
Key Trends:
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Transnationalism – Writers increasingly address global themes and settings.
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Postcolonial narratives – Continued engagement with Australia’s colonial history, Indigenous rights, and reconciliation.
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Eco-criticism – Exploration of environmental degradation, land, and climate change.
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Genre hybridity – Blending of historical fiction, speculative fiction, memoir, and magical realism.
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Multiculturalism – Greater inclusion of migrant and refugee experiences.
Emerging Authors:
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Melissa Lucashenko – Indigenous voice in contemporary fiction (Too Much Lip).
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Christos Tsiolkas – continues to explore race, sexuality, and class.
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Michelle de Kretser – known for lyrical, politically aware fiction.
This unit concludes that the contemporary Australian novel is no longer confined by national borders or conventional realism. It is diverse, experimental, and deeply responsive to both local and global sociopolitical currents.