My Ántonia

In early American history, people expanded the nation west, creating Westward Expansion. In My Ántonia, details of Westward Expansion and the creating of western American civilization is seen. Many immigrants moved to America in the late 19th Century and early 20th Century, and many of them set out west to make a living for themselves farming or ranching like so many did in My Ántonia. The railroads, just like in the book, brought so many of these immigrants and settlers to the West. Some…

At first glance you might think that My Antonia and The Great Gatsby have nothing in common. One is set in a small town on the great plains in the late 1800 's, while the other is set in the middle of bustling New York during the roaring 20 's. Although these two books are in different settings, they both provide important insight on characters and the effect of the setting on their development. The books both relate the injustice of women 's position in society but then diverge, telling stories…

My Antonia, Willa Cather’s novel starts off by an unknown narrator telling the reader about a friend since childhood named Jim Burden; both had a bohemian friend named, Antonia Shimerda, who Carther wanted to recount their friend, Antonia, but since Burden knew her better, she tells him to write about her. Jim then writes a memoir about Antonia, calling it My Antonia. The story starts by Jim retelling his early life when he meets Antonia and her family. Ten year old Jim who had lost his parents…

now to my memory was “What are your goals for the future?”. I voiced my concerns over asking her if she was married or have children because she might have gone through a bad divorce thus had her children taken away from her. Plus, I also told them with that I feel like that is not what you want to ask someone you don’t know never met. I also had the question of “Are you from Florida” changed to “Are you originally from Florida” because I have people asking me “where I am from” based on my skin…

In Willa Cather's novel My Antonia, Jim learns life lessons through the people he encounters. People today can benefit from the knowledge Jim learns. Jim Burden learns manners and respect from Mrs. Harling. Mr. Shimerda, a Bohemian immigrant, teaches Jim to be open hearted and giving even in the worst of times. Jim’s grandmother teaches him morals and life skills. Therefore in My Antonia Jim Burden’s personality is formed by the people he meets. Mrs. Harling is a woman of many things. One of…

In book one of My Antonia by Willa Cather, Jim Burden moves in with his Grandparents on their farm in Virginia. From Nebraska, he travels across the country because both of his parents had passed away within the same year. Jim takes a train with the help of one of his father’s friend, Jake Marpole, who was in charge of getting Jim to Virginia. As the two of them are approaching Virginia, a man by the name of Otto Fuchs calls for Jim and tells him that he is in charge of driving him to his…

Pioneer Living Conditions in Nineteenth Century Nebraska As depicted in “My Antonia,” many people of the Nebraskan frontier lived in sod houses. Most sod houses had dirt floors while others had wooden planks or carpet. Temperatures in these houses were comfortable year-round because the thick, soil and grass walls kept heat in during the winter and out during the summer. There were persistent issues that came with living in sod houses, such as perpetual dirtiness and roof leaks, but for most,…

In my Opinion, I believe that Jim is the one who learned more from the relationship between Antonia and himself. Jim was an orphaned young boy who came to Nebraska to live with his grandparents. He meet this young girl named Antonia, whom I feel forever changed his life. Jim and Antonia became really close throughout the book. Jim is the narrator of the book so you have insight to his inner most feelings and thoughts. As Jim quoted in the book "This was enough for Ántonia. She liked me better…

My Antonia is a story written in Jim Burden’s point of view, and as such, it is hard to actually see into Antonia’s own thoughts and perspective on him. As the narrator though, it is very clear to the reader to see how much Jim has learned about Antonia through their relationship; that he is, in fact the one who learns more. At the beginning of the book, Jim meets the Shimerda’s and he learns about who Antonia is as a person. He is able to learn that she is free-spirited and that she has strong…

contentious affairs. Two of the most greatly recognized authors of the late nineteenth century, Kate Chopin and Willa Cather, wrote graciously about these issues, accentuating the need for such subjects to be considered. Together, The Awakening and My Ántonia unveil the problems revolving around society in the late 1880s. Written by Kate Chopin and Willa Cather respectively, both novels illustrate the impacts of being confined to society’s standards through a multitude of symbolism. Both novels…