Book Report My Antonia

In My Antonia written by Willa Cather the story is told in the form of a memoir despite being fictional. The introduction is Jim Burden talking to a friend about a girl named Antonia that they were both acquainted with. Jim suggests the idea that they both write down every story about Antonia that they can remember and form it into a book. The friend agrees however never writes their half. The book My Antonia is the memories Jim Burden has written about his dear friend Antonia Shimerda. Jim has moved in with his grandparents on a farm in Nebraska. The Shimerda family moves to their own nearby farm around the same time. The Shimerda’s have virtually nothing to work with upon arriving on their new land. They acquaint themselves with Jim’s family. …show more content…
Antonia’s father was found dead in the barn one morning. Antonia was closer to her father than anyone else. Antonia took a big hit from this. She became much more reserved and was no longer her fun loving self. Jim’s grandparents soon moved into town. Jim started going to school but was very restless from being stuck inside all the time. Antonia moved to town as hired work with the Burden’s neighbors. Antonia was greatly loved by the family she worked for. The children loved her stories, she was always good to them, and never complained. However, Antonia was going to the town dances at night like everyone else in town. The father of the family she worked for did not approve of this and told her she had to either stop going to the dances or find new work. Antonia began to work at the hotel in town. Jim didn’t see her as much as he used to because she moved farther away. Jim began going to college in the fall in a different city. Here Jim ran into an old friend from his grandparents’ town, Lena Lingard. Lena had become a very successful tailor in the big city. Jim had lost touch with Antonia for a long time when he began going to