This course, one of 16 sequential courses comprising phase one of a part-time Bachelor of Arts degree program in Australian Studies, uses Australian literary and documentary writings of the 19th century to examine the formation of the proposition that the Australian national character is based on rural life. The course is designed for independent study combined with tutorial sessions. Chapter 1 is an introduction to the course and its study objectives. Chapter 2, "Defining the Argument: Some Key Terms and Oppositions," deals with myths and legends, texts and contexts, literature as reflection versus literature as production, indigenous culture versus imported culture, and city versus country. Chapter 3, "The Australian Legend Debate," covers both the thesis of Russel Ward's "The Australian Legend," and critiques of it. Chapters 4, 5, and 6 examine Australian independence from an historical perspective, independence from a literary perspective, and women and the bush. The first tutorial covers course materials and readings in the first chapters. The second tutorial is designed to recapitulate key issues in the course, practice literary analysis, and provide advice on the assessment item. Also included are lists of required readings, additional readings, a bibliography, self-assessment questions, and a glossary of literary terms. (IS)