Here you will get the detailed summary of IGNOU MEG 19 Block 2 – From Colony to Federation.
We have provided the summary of all units starting from unit 1 to unit 3.
Introduction
IGNOU MEG-19 Block 2, titled From Colony to Federation, explores the transitional phase in Australian literature, capturing the shift from colonial consciousness to a developing national identity. This block focuses on the period surrounding the Federation of Australia in 1901, examining how literary narratives mirrored and shaped the socio-political changes of the time. Special attention is given to Miles Franklin’s My Brilliant Career, a foundational text in Australian literary history, particularly regarding gender, class, and national identity.
Unit 1 – The Australian Novel of the Federation Period
This unit discusses how novels written around the time of Australia’s Federation (1901) reflect the changing political and cultural atmosphere.
Key highlights include:
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The literature begins to move away from colonial dependence and embrace themes of nationhood, identity, and autonomy.
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Bush realism and rural settings continue to dominate, symbolizing the nationalist imagination of Australia as a rugged, egalitarian society.
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Focus shifts to:
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The Australian “character” – independent, resilient, and egalitarian
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Gender roles in shaping or resisting nationalist discourse
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Urban-rural tensions and the portrayal of a uniquely Australian social fabric
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Important authors and features:
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Novels of this period show increasing concern with social reform, education, and women’s roles, anticipating modernist themes to come.
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This unit sets the context for reading Miles Franklin, a key literary figure of this era.
Unit 2 – Miles Franklin: My Brilliant Career
This unit introduces Miles Franklin (1879–1954) and her seminal work, My Brilliant Career (1901), published when she was just 21.
Key insights:
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Miles Franklin was one of the earliest Australian women writers to gain both national and international recognition.
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Her novel is semi-autobiographical, centering on Sybylla Melvyn, a young girl growing up in the bush with ambitions of becoming a writer.
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The novel is significant for its:
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Early feminist themes
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Critique of marriage and domesticity
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Challenge to traditional gender roles
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Use of first-person narrative, giving voice to a strong female consciousness
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Biographical context:
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Franklin was influenced by rural hardship, women’s suffrage, and literary nationalism.
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The novel’s publication was both controversial and revolutionary, as it broke with expectations of romantic or colonial literature.
Unit 3 – My Brilliant Career: Themes and Concerns
This unit offers a detailed thematic exploration of My Brilliant Career, highlighting its literary and socio-political significance.
Major themes:
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Female Autonomy and Identity
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Sybylla’s refusal to marry and her desire for an independent life challenge patriarchal expectations.
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Class and Social Mobility
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The novel contrasts wealth and poverty, education and ignorance, ambition and resignation.
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The Australian Landscape
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The bush is portrayed both as beautiful and oppressive, shaping Sybylla’s struggles and aspirations.
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Conflict between Duty and Desire
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Sybylla’s personal ambitions clash with family responsibilities and societal norms.
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Literary concerns:
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Narrative voice is central – assertive, ironic, and introspective.
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The novel reflects a tension between romantic ideals and realist observation.
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It critiques the idealization of bush life commonly seen in male-authored nationalist fiction.