THE MEN OF THE OPEN SPACES Identity is a very important part of being Australian; it is a feeling of being associated with a national group, defined by a common heritage, which may be based on many attributes, including race, territory, language and history. "The Men of the Open Spaces", written be Will H. Ogilvie addresses these issues of Australian identity, constructing a powerful representation of the Australian 'bush' culture. The text uses past views …showed first 75 words of 874 total…

…showed last 75 words of 874 total…groups, foregrounding working class perspectives to create a pictorial image of the Australian identity. The poem also depicts Australia as a very open and isolated place and the harsh natural environment that 'Aussie battlers' have had to endure, which are all emblematic of the national identity. In conclusion, with the use of gaps and silences, traditional views and aspects of the Australian identity are constructed by reinforcing the values and beliefs that underpin the text.