Big World

1. How has Tim Winton adapted the conventions of a European and American form of writing and made it distinctly Australian?

Tim Winton has adapted the conventions of a European and American form of writing to some extent and has made it distinctly Australian by modifying the language, structure and context of a short story, which can be seen in his story Big World. Winton has adapted some of these features from European and American writers such as Anton Chekov, Earnest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald in order to present Australian landscape and culture.

Unlike European writer, Anton Chekov, Winton displays a simplistic style of writing in which he does not amend Chekov’s elusiveness or European perspective that upholds themes on life in an aristocratic society.   Instead, Winton adapts the technique of elaborating on actions and events that occur throughout the narrative.   The main character in Winton’s Big World, recaptures past moments and events as he and his friend drive through the wilderness of Western Australia.

We buzz north through hours of good farm country. The bug, neat paddocks get browner and browner and drier all the while and the air feels thick and warm. Biggie drives. He has the habit of punctuating his sentences with jabs on the accelerator…
It is clearly evident that Winton gives detail about the setting of the story using figurative language. He displays the characters actions and their intentions. Instead of writing the character’s actions in this way: As Biggie drives he pushes on the accelerator violently, Winton writes He has the habit of punctuating his sentences with jabs on the accelerator.   Therefore this gives an insight into why the character acts in a certain way. Winton adapts these features from European writer Chekhov to display Western Australian landscape and to create interest in the reader.

Winton approaches a realistic form of writing which has been adapted from American writing such as the works of Earnest...