REPRESENTASI IDENTITAS NASIONAL AUSTRALIA DALAM SEVEN LITTLE AUSTRALIANS KARYA ETHEL TURNER = REPRESENTATION OF AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL IDENTITY IN ETHEL TURNER'S SEVEN LITTLE AUSTRALIANS

Culture shapes national identity through shared values, but its sustainability relies on unity, especially in the face of globalization. Nonetheless, it is possible to cultivate national values and promote nationalism through a fun and engaging media, as proven by the success of Turner’s Seven Little Australians in shaping the Australian national identity. The research aims to analyze the values contributed by Ethel Turner as the author and the representation of Australian national identity through the characters in Seven Little Australians using the sociology of literature approach. The method used is descriptive qualitative method, with the novel Seven Little Australians as primary data and various data taken outside the literary work as secondary data. The research finds Australia was fraught with social ostracism especially against Indigenous people, convicts, and migrants, causing depopulation and protests from the society. Inspired by her life experiences in Australia, Ethel Turner published Seven Little Australians, immediately receiving positive reviews for being a children’s literature with an authentic portrayal of Australia as a nation, particularly through the characterization of children connected with Australian history and elements by portraying rebellion against the unjust authority, therefore resonating with Australian readers. The research concludes that children’s literature may be involved in the formation of national identity. Research on children’s literature and its role in the formation of national identity is limited, thus future research using this topic with different literary work is recommended to attain further understanding of the concept and its potential.

Keyword : Culture; National identity; Sociology of literature; Children’s literature; Globalization.