Seminar paper from the year 2011 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature, grade: 1,0, University of Bamberg, course: Literature Down under- Literature in Australia, language: English, abstract: British colonist, Irish immigrant, Aborigine...the list of different groups that define themselves as Australians is endless. Since Australia's society can be seen as a puzzle consisting of European and Asian immigrants living together with Aborigines, the indigeus Australians, there is unique culture. In other words, there is one shared story, essential Australian identity. Australia's understanding of national identity to answer the question of who we (as Australians) are is and has always been an important part of literature, too. To get an insight into the Australian way of life it is important to investigate how literature constructs and shapes the understanding of a national identity. Just by analysing texts, including writings that have [...] been igred or excluded during the process of canization (Assmann 23) we are able to reconstruct the understanding of a national identity. Thus, although Australia, due to its heterogeneity, does t have a shared story, literature is able to design one. One important class of literature that is essential to trace down shared values of a nation, a story that unites all members of a group, are legends. According to the Oxford dictionary, a legend, also called a myth, is defined as a story from ancient times about people and events that may t be true [.