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American Lit. > My Antonia > Flashcards

My Antonia Flashcards

0
Q

desperado

A

(n. ) a bold, reckless criminal or outlaw, especially in the early days of American West
- dangerous bandit
- 9th central

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1
Q

obelisk

A

(n.) a tapering, four-sided shaft of stone, usually monolithic and having a PYRMIDAL apex

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2
Q

dugouts

A

(n.) a rough shelter or dwelling formed by an excavation in the ground, in the face of a bank, in the side of a hill, etc. especially one used by soldiers

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3
Q

Bohemian

A

(Proper adj.) a native or inhabitant of Bohemia (a region that was formerly a kingdom in central Europe; under Hapsburg rule

  • Chech Republic
  • NOT FREE
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4
Q

degraded

A

(adj. ) reduced in rank, position, reputation, or reduced in quality or value; debased; vulgarized
- civilization (in this case)

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5
Q

brandishing

A

(v.) to shake or wave, as a weapon

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6
Q

pommel

A

(n.) the protuberant part at THE FRONT and TOP of a saddle

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7
Q

venerable

A

(adj. ) extremely old or obsolete; ancient worth of reverance
- Worth of respect as a high office or noble character
- Reverred

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8
Q

autocratic

A

(adj. ) tyrannical (unjustly, cruel, harsh, or severe); despotic; domineering; like an ABSOLUTE RULER
- absolute power!!

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9
Q

derision

A

(n. ) ridicule; mockery
- contempt
- superior but not evil

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10
Q

joviality

A

(n. ) the state or quality of being charcterized by a hearty joyous humor or spirit of good- fellowship
- merry, cheerfulness, happiness

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11
Q

solicitious

A

(adj.) anxious or concerned

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12
Q

pickaninny

A

(n.) an offensive term for a black child

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13
Q

inveterate

A

(adj. ) SETTLED or CONFIRMED in a HABIT, PRACTICED, feeling, or the like
- Bad thing b/c you’re unable to change!!!

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14
Q

caustic

A

(adj.) severely critical or sarcastic; it burns and cuts

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15
Q

disapprobation

A

(n.) disapproval; condemnation

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16
Q

commodious

A

(adj. ) spacious convenient; roomy

- accomodating

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17
Q

malady

A

(n. ) any underisable or disorder condition
- illness, physcologic
- mental and physical

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18
Q

gravity

A

(n. ) lowness in pitch, as of sounds

- seriousness, solemnity of expression

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19
Q

elated

A

(adj. ) very happy or proud; in high spirits

- jubulent; estatic; excited

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20
Q

ardor

A

(n.) great warmth or feeling; FERVOR; passion
- entusiaism or passion
- zeal; fierce intensity
So… Antonia’s face was glowing and pink

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21
Q

miserly

A

(adj.) of, like, or befitting a person who lives in wretched circumstances in order to save and hord money

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22
Q

indulgently

A

(adj. ) characterized by or showing the act or practice of yielding to an inclination or desire
- full heartily
- Adverb also!!

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23
Q

countenance

A

(n. ) appearance, especially the look or expression of the face
- facial expression

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24
Q

jaunty

A

(adj. ) EASY and SPRIGHTLY IN MANNER or bearing

- lively, cheerful

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25
Q

duplicity

A

(n. ) an act or instance of such deceitfulness
- doubleness of thought (2-faced)
- trickery

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26
Q

Willa Cather

A

~ 1873-1947
~ “Most of a material a writer works with is acquired before the age of 15”
~ Moved from Virginia to Nebraska at age nine (Jim)
~ Witnessed hostile yet beautiful land and its savage effects on civilized immigrants (Burden family)
~ Immortalized the frontier village of Red Cloud, Nebraska under various names (Black Hawk)
~ 1896- Journalist in Pittsburgh; Taught high school English for 5 years
~ 1906- Became editor of McClure’s Magazine famous for exposes of American institutions
~ 1912- Alexander’s Bridge (first novel)
~ 1918- My Antonia- MASTERPIECE and FIRST POPULAR SUCCESS; nostalgic remembrance of early Nebraska pioneer days
~ 1925- Death Comes for the Archibishop (most famous recreation of history of comtemporary Midwest about two French missionaries in New Mexico after Mexican War
~ She mourned of the passing of the old world she knew and cherished, the world of frontier survival on the Great Plains w/ all the old fashioned values those struggles inspired
- The modern world was dominated by WWI and the Jazz Age with the materialism and moral emptiness associated w/ it
~ Early feminist who thought like a man
- She rejected her generation’s ideas that women should be domestic, passive, and uneducated. She claimed art, and marriage did not mix
~ Her major work comes from her youthful impressions of the West, her reading of the history of its development, and her revisiting relatives and her favorite towns

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27
Q

Biographical Aspects of My Antonia

A

Black hawk = Red Cloud, Nebraska
Jim Burden = Cather who arrived by train and rode the rest of the way in a straw-covered bes of farm wagon
Jim’s grandparents’ house = Cather’s grandparents’ house
Jim’s friends = Cather’s friends and immigrant neighbors
Shimerda family = Sadileks from Bohemia
Mr. Shimerda = Mr. Sadilek, a musician who shot himself
Antonia = Annie, his daughter
Harlings where Antonia worked = Harling family where Annie worked

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28
Q

Prominent Themes

A

~ Man’s relationship with Nature
~ People’s connections to the past
~ The struggle for the American Dream

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29
Q

Contribution to Literature

A

~ Cather is regarded as a major literary figure of the 20th century
- She was the first to write of pioneer farming in Nebraska and missionaries in the Southwest
~ The structure and form of MyAntonia was unorthodox and controversial for its time
- It is considered a modernist novel w/o a true plot, climax, or resolution; the work consists of series of vignettes or episodes centering on the main character from a variety of perspectives
~ Characterized by simplicity and lyricism
- Cather’s style includes descriptive passages and carefully selected details w/o verbosity; her skillful use of symbols adds richness to the novel
~ The characters in Cather’s fiction are ordinary men and women who are memorable and realistic
- They exhibit Hemingway’s definition of courage: “grace under pressure”; they are rugged souls who struggle not only to endure but to thrive despite hardships; in her best works, she illustrates her unflinching faith in the human race

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30
Q

The Difficulties being an immigrant (8x)

A 
~ SICKNESS
~ LEARNING THE LAGNUAGE
~ FOOD
~ HOMESICKNESS
~ WEATHER CONDITIONS
~ NOTHING THERE
~ NOT UNDERSTANDING CURRENCY
~ PREJUDICE
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31
Q

Prominent Themes: Man’s relationship with Nature

A

Description of grass and how it gives peace to Jim. How beautiful the world is
Man lives with nature

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32
Q

Prominent Themes: People’s connections to the past

A

The past is the foundation of the person now
Can’t repeat the past, only remember and love it
i.e. Blind d’Arnault, Jim, Antonia

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33
Q

Prominent Themes: The struggle for the American Dream

A

It’s about spirit, not money.
Happiness = family (i.e. Harling, Burdens, and Cuzaks
Life is unpredictable, but keep going on

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34
Q

Xenophobia

A

Fear od strangers (foriegners in this case)

35
Q

Theme of American Dream (6x)

A

~ Not about money, it’s about happiness
- Love of families, worth ethic (working hard), charitable (taking care of others), pride, nature (it’s as much beautiful as it is an obsticle) soo… Respect and willingness of nature!
- Families aren’t what it is now! (i.e. Dinner)
~ Past is a connection to us now
~ Enjoy life! (“Optima dies… Prima fugit” Virgil)
~ Xenophobia (i.e. we shy away from new kids!)
~ Life is unpredictable, but keep on going!
~ Girls can do just as well as guys

36
Q

Symbols: Plow

A

End of their youth; after trying to conquer nature, it beats man b/c nature always win

37
Q

Symbols: Rattlesnake

A

~ Adulthood (handling snakes is being an adult, not child

~ Dangers pf life in the (praries) plains

38
Q

Symbols: Mr. S’s violin

A

His connection to the old world; nostolgia of him

39
Q

Symbols: Antonia

A

~ Struggling and hardworking immigrants who was successful. Indepent woman
- Mrs. Harling also!
~ Innocent (that’s why she got pregnant and was w/ the Cutters)

40
Q

Style

A 
~ Word choice
~ Tone
~ Degree of formality
~ Figurative Language
~ Rhythm
~ Grammatical structure
~ sentence length
~ Organization
~ Everyone feature of a writer's use of symbolism, imagery, irony, humor, dialogue/dialect are also elements of a particular writer's style
42
Q

Cather’s style

A

~ Informal dialogue (laid-back)
~ Imagery (Antonia’s features and the farm)
~ Symbolism (Fruit cave)
~ Descriptive language (description of Antonia and the family)
~ Informal tone, nostalgic
~ Point of View (Jim 1st person)
- It shows his love of his life
~ Slow pace (refer to Nostalgic)
~ Dialect
- Everyone has different one!
~ Modern format reflecting their themes (breaks) it shows another perspective of immigrants
~ Humor (a little) light hearted
~ mood- reflective mood (refer to nostalgic)
~ Foreshadowing (Mr. Shimerda’s death and the dances with Antonia)
~ Irony- Jim and Antonia never marrying

43
Q

Jim Burden tells the story of his ___ friend, Antonia. (nationality)

A

Bohemian

44
Q

The flashback begins as the narrator is traveling to ___ to live with his grandparents.

A

Nebraska

45
Q

Antonia is very impressed when her young neighbor kills a ___

A

snake

46
Q

In January, what happens in the Shimerda household?

A

Mr. Shimerda committed suicide (at his barn)

47
Q

The ___ ___ like to attend the dances in town.

A

hired girls

48
Q

Jim begins to date Lena Lingard while he is at ___

A

college

49
Q

___ ___ betrays Antonia by leaving her after promising to marry her.

A

Larry Donovan

50
Q

When she returns home, her brother, Ambrosch, makes her ___.

A

work in the fields

- while she takes care of the baby at night

51
Q

Who comes running out of the fruit cave at the end of the novel?

A

Antonia’s children (expect for one child who was out with his father)

52
Q

Lena encourages Jim to visit ___ twenty years later.

A

Antonia

53
Q

Homestead Act of 1862

A

~ Farmer could claim 160 acres of land for a small filing fee
~ After 5 years, if land was improved, he gained ownership
~ Purpose was to populate the West with farmers
~ After exploitation by railroads and big business, it was repelled in 1977

54
Q

My Antonia: Form and Structure

A

~ Pastoral Novel
- a work which deals with an ideal rural setting or expresses nostalgia (longing for; Jim!) for an age or place of lost innocence
~ Fictional Memoir written by amateur writer-reader is asked to accept the book by Jim Burden. This free Cather from accepted rules of the novel form
~ Memoir
- Jim’s memories about a woman he has known and admired all of his life; reader gets a deep sense of all Antonia means to him
~ Division of Novel in 5 books- 5 stages of Jim’s life
~ Language is poetic; it’s simple, blunt, descriptive, imagery!
~ Conversation tone
- (including dialect)
- adds realism and variety to the overall work

55
Q

My Antonia: Form and Structure Division of Novel 5 book- 5 stages of Jim’s life

A

~ Memories of Antonia while Jim grew up on the farm
~ Memories of Antonia while in the town
~ Jim’s early college days
~ Jim’s return to Black Hawk after college
~ Jim’s visit with Antonia 20 years later

56
Q

Anecdotes or vignettes

A

Center of the main character from various perspectives; they also serve to break the blow of the story. These short tales point to broader themes in the novel

57
Q

Essential Questions: Discuss the relationship between Jim and Antonia. How did Antonia see Jim? Does their relationship change through the novel? Does Jim see her the same way?

A

She was superior to Jim until Jim killed the snake (He was 9; she was 13) Brother/friend
Jim looked at her more than a friend because he wanted to kiss her. She says no and warns him not to date Lena out of a sisterly way. She had no evidence of loving Jim because she wanted him to go to school. They were soul mates.

58
Q

Essential Questions: How would the story have been different if Jim and Antonia moved into and grew up together in a big city? What work would Ambrosch and Antonia do? What different challenges would there be?

A

The experience would never happen (like killing a snake). The nature aspect would be gone. The Shimerdas would be with other Bohemians. Dream would be altered. Their close relationship wouldn’t be as close (city and age) only by church. Child labor. She’d be content marrying Jim maybe! (But less likely) Overall, different story! More jobs for Antonia. Mr. Shimerda could play his violin! Same challenges: discrimination, poverty, work

59
Q

Essential Questions: When Jim went away to college, why didn’t he come back to his hometown? Why didn’t he write Antonia or any of his old friends? If Lena had not been near, would he have gone back? Would his life have been different if he kept in close touch with his friends and family?

A

Think!

60
Q

Essential Questions: Why did Willa Cather choose the main character to be a male instead of female? Why did she write a work of fiction instead of an autobiography? How close is the story My Antonia to Cather’s own life?

A

Think!

61
Q

Essential Questions: What might have happened if Larry Donovan had married Antonia? Would she still have a farm and a large family? Would Jim and Antonia still have a strong friendship twenty years later? Do you think Antonia would have been happy?

A

No she would not be happy b/c they would go to the city. (No farm!) No, Jim and Antonia would have a strong friendship twenty years later because he didn’t like Larry Donovan. If she’d had a big family- then maybe

62
Q

Essential Questions: What would have been different if Mr. Shimerda had not committed suicide? Would the problems and hostilities regarding the family occurred if he were still alive?

A

Think!

63
Q

Essential Questions: What would have happened if Jim stayed in the country when Antonia moved to Black Hawk? Would the two have remained close?

A

They wouldn’t have kept in touched. It’s hard to keep in touch! It was impossible at that time! (Jim’s went to the post office twice a week with his pony)

64
Q

Essential Questions: Jim earns Antonia’s respect by killing the large snake. How did this action affect their relationship? Why was her respect so important to Jim? Does he ever fully gain her respect?

A

Think!

65
Q

Essential Questions: What do you think happened to Otto and Jake? How far did they roam? Where do you think they settle? What kind of work did they find?

A

Think!

66
Q

Essential Questions: Discuss the treatment of women in My Antonia. Are the women strong or weak, in general? How does Cather characterize the men? What is she saying about the roles o men and women?

A

Men are minor roles! Except for Jim. Men are mean (Mr. Cutter). Antonia worked harder than Ambrosch, Tiny is a business woman, Lena is major in sewing

67
Q

Vignettes: Peter and Pavel

A

~ They were great friends, but then Peter was lonely when Pavel died. Their American Dream was to escape the past and start a new. (The Russians died from a wedding because they were drunk) They didn’t achieve it because the past is always with us

68
Q

Vignettes: The Tramp

A

~ He killed himself by jumping into the threshing machine in summer
~ The struggles (immigrants or pioneers) that they go through. The unhappiness and tiredness of his life! It bothered Antonia because she told the Harlings. She thought that it was weird b/c summer was when things grew. It reminded her of her father’s death!

69
Q

Vignettes: Blind d’Arnault

A

~ Was thought to be useless, but he ended up playing piano
~ It relates to the American Dream by making something out of nothing when everyone thought he was useless, he found a place where he belonged and he could do something worthwhile
- Wasn’t rich! He was just happy to play piano!

70
Q

Vignettes: The River Picnic

A

~ Look a day trip for a picnic. Heart to heart with Antonia and Jim
~ This is the last time the group is together. Antonia always homesick and grieves for loved one. Mr. Shimerda was too kind not to marry his wife. He didn’t want her to be a serving girl. He’s weak.

71
Q

Vignettes: Camielle

A

~ Wonderful play (a prostitute falls in love with a guy and his dad proposes a deal with her: don’t talk to the guy because it’ll ruin his reputation” (or something like that)
~ He thinks of Antonia. Everyone wants to be with Antonia, but don’t want to marry her (and other Bohemian girls) He didn’t marry her because both knew it’d ruin his career life.
~ Lena wanted to have real love, but she just couldn’t. They play reminded her of her past

72
Q

Vignettes: Fruit cave and children

A

~ She feels wealthy (13) because she can feed all of the children
~ Fruit cave is kind of like a wine cellar
~ When she was a girl, she had nothing. Now she can feed 13 children! Antonia is fruitfulness (children and food)
~ Mother of nature? (something like that)

73
Q

End of the Novel Discussion Questions

A

Refer to your work

74
Q

“I felt the motion in the landscape; in the fresh, easy-flowing morning wind, and in the earth itself..” (Book I, Ch II)

A

Jim arriving Nebraska. When the land was alive. It affects everyone

75
Q

“He don’t like this kawn-tree” (Bk I, Ch XIII)

A

Antonia. She is talking to him about her father. It shows how homesick he was and it foreshadowed his upcoming suicide

76
Q

“If these foreigners are so clannish… we’ll have to have an American graveyard that will be more liberal-minded… I don’t want the Norwegians holding inquisitions over me to see whether I’m good enough to be laid among ‘em” (Bk I Ch XV)

A

Mrs. Burden. The Norwegians didn’t accept Mr. Shimerda’s body in their graveyard. Different groups of immigrants doesn’t help each other. She is shown as open-minded

77
Q

“I’ll never be friends with them again, Jake,… I believe they are all like Krajiek and Ambrosch underneath” (Bk I, Ch XVIII)

A

Jim. Ambrosch broke the collar for the horse. Stereotyping (Jim has same attitude as the others)

78
Q

” If I live here, like you, that is different. Thing will be easy for you. But they will be hard for us.” (Bk I, Ch XIX)

A

Antonia. She and him on a roof talking about why she acts like Ambrosch. Because she came form Bohemia, she knows it’ll be easier for Jim because he’s a pioneer. not immigrant

79
Q

“Oh, I’m not worrying!… I can bring something out of that girl. She’s barely seventeen, not too old to learn new ways.” (Bk II, Ch II)

A

Mrs. Harling. Discusson with Mrs. Burden about hiring Antonia to work at her house. Hard workers have potential. Antonia is special!

80
Q

“The country girls were considered a menance to the social order” (Bk II, Ch IX)

A

Jim. He was telling about Bohemian girls not being married to boys. They’re a menance because the boys favor them who are filled with life. It’ll throw the system (lower classmen marrying the upper classmen)

81
Q

“A girl like me has got to take her good times when she can… I guess I want to have my fling, like the other girls”

A

Antonia. Deciding whether she’ll stay with the Harling or go to the Cutters (because of the dances). She growing up to a traditional life. She won’t have time to have fun anymore. Also she didn’t have much of a good childhood. She’s strong will. But she quit a good job

82
Q

“You won’t do anything here now… You won’t recover yourself while you are playing about with this handsome Norwegian (Bk III, Ch IV)

A

Gaston Chleric. Warning Jim to stay away from Lena and work on his studies. It show that he doesn’t like Lena and other girls who aren’t worthy of Jim. Jim needed to study to get into Harvard. They won’t help him how to get his dream.

83
Q

“In the group about Antonia, I was conscious of a kind of physical harmony. They leaned this way and that, and were not afraid to touch each other” Bk V ChI)

A

Jim. Him visiting Antonia. They are close, intimate, loving

84
Q

“She was a rich mine of life, like the founders of early races” (Bk V Ch I)

A

Jim. Jim visitng Antonia. How much life she brought out (ardor)

85
Q

“Overhead the sky was that indescribable blue of autumn; bright and shadowless, hard as enamel. To the south I could see the dun-shaded river bluffs… and all about stretching drying cornfields, of the pale-gold color I remember so well” (Bk V, Ch III)

A

Jim. Walking in the north of Black Hawk, Nebraska. The beauty of the country (Nostalgia also!)

86
Q

“Optima dies… prima fugit” Virgil

A

Jim. Reads this phrase when he thought of his dream of Lena Lingard and after she left him after the first visit. The best days are the first to flee. it sets the tone and theme of Nostalgia. It was Jim’s childhood that was going so fast. (Nebraska was his home. not really Virginia)

87
Q

“I wish no winter ever came again.”

A

Antonia. Up on the roof. She wished her father was here to see this. She associated winter as depression.

American Lit. (10 decks)

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