In My Antonia, Cather uses symbols from nature to express the essential aspects of the lives of the characters. Some symbols are of the land: the prairie, the grass, winter, etc. Other symbols are animals: badgers, wolves, rattlesnakes, larks, etc. Choose three symbols and discuss how they convey information about the daily lives of the characters, how the characters relate to each other and/or how Cather views life.
In My Antonia, by Willa Cather, there are multiple examples of symbolism. Mr. Shimerda’s Grave, the plough, and light are all physical things mentioned throughout the story that represent different things.
Mr. Shimerda’s grave symbolizes the times of the prairie when it was at its best, and also Antonia and Jim’s longing for …show more content…
When Jim sees Antonia for the first time he says, “her eyes are like the sun” and that her cheeks are glowing. As Jim and Antonia’s childhoods come to an end, they watch the lightning from a storm together on a roof at the end of book one. At the end, when Jim leaves Antonia for good, he wanders the prairie roads in the “slanting sunlight”, reflecting on his past without Antonia. “As I went alone over that familiar road, I could almost believe that a boy and girl ran along beside me, as our shadows used in to do, laughing and whispering to each other in the grass.” (Cather, Book 4, Chapter 4). The symbolism between the light and Jim and Antonia’s relationship is supported here because as he ponders the past while walking the roads of the prairie, he sees a shadow that reminds him of his days with …show more content…
While it is said that Jim was supposed to teach Antonia, as stated in the text, “He placed this book in my grandmother's hands, looked at her entreatingly, and said with an earnestness which I shall never forget, "Te-e-ach, te-e-ach my Án-tonia!"’ (Cather, Book 1, Chapter 3), I believe they both learned equally from each other.
An example of when Jim teaches Antonia is where Jim kills the snake, this teaches Antonia bravery and courage. I believe Antonia becomes such a powerful woman because she saw Jim do this. “I never know you was so brave, Jim,” she went on comfortingly. “You is just like big mans; you wait for him lift his head and then you go for him. Ain’t you feel scared a bit? Now we take that snake home and show everybody. Nobody ain’t seen in this kawn-tree so big snake like you kill.” (Cather, Book 1, Chapter VII).
A time when Antonia teaches Jim is when he realizes the multiple traits Antonia possesses such as strength, imagination, and power. He becomes inspired by these traits and uses them in life to be a better
In My Antonia, by Willa Cather, there are multiple examples of symbolism. Mr. Shimerda’s Grave, the plough, and light are all physical things mentioned throughout the story that represent different things.
Mr. Shimerda’s grave symbolizes the times of the prairie when it was at its best, and also Antonia and Jim’s longing for …show more content…
When Jim sees Antonia for the first time he says, “her eyes are like the sun” and that her cheeks are glowing. As Jim and Antonia’s childhoods come to an end, they watch the lightning from a storm together on a roof at the end of book one. At the end, when Jim leaves Antonia for good, he wanders the prairie roads in the “slanting sunlight”, reflecting on his past without Antonia. “As I went alone over that familiar road, I could almost believe that a boy and girl ran along beside me, as our shadows used in to do, laughing and whispering to each other in the grass.” (Cather, Book 4, Chapter 4). The symbolism between the light and Jim and Antonia’s relationship is supported here because as he ponders the past while walking the roads of the prairie, he sees a shadow that reminds him of his days with …show more content…
While it is said that Jim was supposed to teach Antonia, as stated in the text, “He placed this book in my grandmother's hands, looked at her entreatingly, and said with an earnestness which I shall never forget, "Te-e-ach, te-e-ach my Án-tonia!"’ (Cather, Book 1, Chapter 3), I believe they both learned equally from each other.
An example of when Jim teaches Antonia is where Jim kills the snake, this teaches Antonia bravery and courage. I believe Antonia becomes such a powerful woman because she saw Jim do this. “I never know you was so brave, Jim,” she went on comfortingly. “You is just like big mans; you wait for him lift his head and then you go for him. Ain’t you feel scared a bit? Now we take that snake home and show everybody. Nobody ain’t seen in this kawn-tree so big snake like you kill.” (Cather, Book 1, Chapter VII).
A time when Antonia teaches Jim is when he realizes the multiple traits Antonia possesses such as strength, imagination, and power. He becomes inspired by these traits and uses them in life to be a better