‘The Loaded Dog’ is a very popular and funny bush yarn told by a laconic observer who describes the potentially dangerous activities of a group of bushmen and their dog. In this story Lawson constructs distinctive characters in an evocative setting to tell us about the larrikin archetype and their challenges and battles. Set in the goldfields, it subtly hints at the empty dreams of the gold diggers and gives us an inkling of the hardships they faced. Humour permeates this story as we learn of the way another bush archetype survives the landscape.

Larrikin Read the definition of a larrikin and look at the visual examples. For each visual justify their larrikin status. Now think of a public figure or someone known to you who fits this description. Give evidence of their larrikin behaviour to support your view.

Larrikin Larrikin: unconventional person: an unconventional or nonconformist person, especially in public life somebody mischievous: a mischievous or playful person lout: somebody regarded as behaving in an unruly or disruptive manner Larrikinism: the name given to the Australian folk tradition of irreverence, mockery of authority and disregard for rigid norms of propriety

Put the following vivid scenes into correct story order.

The yellow dog gets the bomb The Goldfields Lawson highlights life on the goldfields. He hints subtly that life is full of unfulfilled promises of wealth, hard manual labour and the usual hardships of surviving on the land – winter, food supplies, dangerous fish ... all made bearable by their larrikin outlook Dave’s Idea Dave comes up with the idea to, “blow the fish up in the big waterhole with a cartridge.” Andy turns the idea into reality. Jim isn’t interested in their damn silliness The yellow dog gets the bomb the yellow dog and his follower have the bomb. Kaboom! Tommy steals the bomb The retriever pup is young, foolish and enthusiastic. He takes his role as retriever very seriously Tommy tries to play fetch with the boys and the bomb Tommy tries to get each of the men to play fetch. Andy played dead Jim finds a hole and Dave is pursued After the bomb Mayhem, laughter and the jokes on Dave Tommy takes the bomb to the hotel on the creek Tommy tries to play fetch in the bar, goes under the hotel kitchen and loses the cartridge . Andy makes the bomb An elaborate plan: Big enough to blow the bottom out of the river and three times the size of those they used in the rock!

Look at the eight scenes Look at the eight scenes. Think about the other two stories and identify and list the elements of the Australian bush Lawson examines in this story. Now choose three of the vivid scenes – one from each element you identify above. For each go back to the text and reread the scene. Then answer: What is distinctively visual here? Draw up a STEE to record your findings: