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The Anzac Legend

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Question How well does the Anzac legend tell the story of individual Australian soldiers during World War One? Response The Anzac Legend is a significant component of the Australian legacy as it tells of the Australian troops in Gallipoli. The Anzac Legend emphasises and illustrates the Australian soldiers to have been gallant, patriotic and determined in the mists of a warzone. However, this great legend encompasses and creates the idealistic image of each Australian soldier and conforms the story of each individual soldier to fit within the values and views upheld by the Anzac Legend. Henceforth, the true essence and stories of individual soldiers and their personalities are choked by the expectations created as result of the Anzac legend. These stories form a stereotype that can come across as somewhat bias, this stereotype will never portray or capture the true story of an individual Australian soldier at the time of World War One. The Anzac soldiers displayed their endurance from the minute they landed on the shores of what is now known as Anzac Cove. The Anzacs were faced with a vast range of inconveniences and obstacles that posed numerous disadvantages. Yet, the Anzacs were prepared and able to make the best of what they had as many of the Australian soldiers upheld the admirable values of bravery, humour, resilience and mateship. Thus, many stories referring to Gallipoli present a bias representation of the soldiers by centring on the positive attributes of the men, rather than the undisciplined and mischievous nature of the Anzacs. This is evident in source 1: Charles Bean on the Anzac spirit. This source depicts and explains the endurance of the Anzac solider as inspiring. Even though the soldiers were confronted by death and many obstacles they sought to see it through till the end. The men maintained a strong mentality, even though everything around them as falling into ruins, "When the whole world seemed to crumble and t

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