My Antonia

... used to think of the tone in which poor Mr. Shimerda, who could say so little, yet managed to say so much when he exclaimed, "My Antonia!." Patrick W. Shaw comments on these defied gender conventions, "Jim is but nominally masculine, a condition which Cather unconsciously emphasizes by surrounding him with ... challenges the view of lesbians in society. Cather became successful as a writer and was able to quit her job from the success of My Antonia. Cather's own story of the rise of her career can be seen to mirror Lena's business success. Although there is no overt female ... "read again...

• Word Count: 2062
• Approx Pages: 8
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... just as hard as any of the guys were. Grandmother had said, "Heavy field work'll spoil that girl. She'll lose all her nice ways and get rough ones- (My Antonia 99). The drive to succeed also showed up when she got jobs in town as a hired girl. Jim said, "I was thinking, as I watcher her, how little it mattered "about ... her teeth, for instance. I know so many women who have kept all the things that she had lost, but whose inner glow has faded. Whatever else was gone, Antonia had not lost the fire of life- (My Antonia 250). She worked very hard to please her bosses, and the bosses grew ...

• Word Count: 1625
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

... late nineteenth century witnessed unprecedented levels of immigration from central Europe, which in turn ignited equally unprecedented social and political tensions in the United States. My Antonia, a novel written by Willa Cather, is about the historical period during which the American Frontier closed. Throughout the novel, immigrants start to ... Cather, one can see that the novel feeds off of immigration and would not be the same if the protagonist, Antonia Shimerda, were not an immigrant. My Antonia explores the lives of immigrants on the United States frontier in the second half of...

• Word Count: 1322
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... of his parents death, finds himself in Nebraska living with his father's parents. This is where he meets Antonia. This novel, written by Willa Cather, is a story of Jim's experiences and memories relating to Antonia. Through Antonia Shimerda, and other characters throughout the novel, My Antonia, including Lea Lingard, Jim's Grandparents and Mrs. Harling, Jim Burden learns important lessons that enrich his life ... and shape him to become the man he is at the end of the novel, who is able embrace Antonia's country family. Lena Lingard, a country girl about ... have ended up like, had s...

• Word Count: 763
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... but now he has become much more analytical. This points to the problems with Jim, once an easy going lad he is having trouble forgiving Antonia for foolishness that isn't even her fault. Leaving Nebraska will change Jim and it definitely is not for the better. This is common for many ... people, they grow up and forget how golden childhood is and look at individuals having fun as immature and unfocused. " Do you know, Antonia, since I've been away I think of you more often than of anyone else in this part of the world. I'd have liked to have you for a ... a part of my mind; you influen...

• Word Count: 1081
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

Traits of feminist masculinity have never been so exemplified in women as they are in Willa Cather's masterpiece, "My Antonia". The book, which was written as both a novel and a statement, has themes such as the strength of the mind during hard times ... seaweeds when they are first washed up." The country-pioneer environment gives room for an unconventional life away from civilization. This allows the character of Antonia to evolve away from the traditional roles of women in society. During the late 19th century women were expected to be fragile and elegant, serving ... and perhaps even as...

• Word Count: 821
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

My Antonia The book My Antonia is about a young boy named Jimmy and his long time friend Antonia. Jimmy's parents had died so he was to move to Nebraska to live with his grandparents Mr. And Mrs. Burden. At the sane time a Bohemian family moves near his grandparents place on the out skirts of Black Hawk, Nebraska. Antonia was ... them eat prairie dogs. They see the conditions in which they have been living in and are disgusted. (Chapter X, Book 1) On January 22, Jimmy finds that Antonia's father; Mr. Shimerada had killed himself during the night. (Chapter XIV, Book I) Unfortunately, the stor...

• Word Count: 719
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

My Antonia is a heartwarming story about Jim Burden and Antonia Shimerda's experiences that they shared together throughout their lives. Through thick and thin both characters remained good friends for life. Antonia and Jim grew up a lot from the beginning till the end of the story. Jim gained a valuable education to help him throughout life, and Antonia married a man named Antone Cuzak. The circle of life has ... taken it's own course for both characters. Antone Cuzak is the better suited husband for Antonia, compared to Jim Burden. Because both he and Antonia are from the same homeland of B...

• Word Count: 282
• Approx Pages: 1
• Grade Level: High School

In the novel My Antonia by Willa Cather, the symbolism illustrates strength of spirit. First, the symbolism represents the strength or spirit that one finds within oneself. Second, the symbolism illustrates the ... that one can find strength from within. The symbolism within the novel shows that one is able to draw strength from others. To illustrate, Jim Burden finds strength within Antonia's eyes. Jim says, "they were big and warm and full or light, like the sun shining on brown pools in the wood." Jim finds his spirit is stronger ... when he looks into Antonia's eyes that are so full of l...

• Word Count: 468
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School