Happy Thursday Today: Intro to My Ántonia by Willa Cather Intro to My Ántonia by Willa Cather –Historical context –Author bio –Discussion about Introduction

History, Art, Identity, Literature American Voices: Identity/Immigrant Writing American Voices: Identity/Immigrant Writing Puritan Aspect: Hawthorn Puritan Aspect: Hawthorn Gothic Time Period: Poe Gothic Time Period: Poe Transcendental Writers Transcendental Writers –The Poetry of Emily Dickinson and Walt Whitman Industrialization and Westward Expansion Industrialization and Westward Expansion

Imagine you’re an immigrant in the U.S. in the late 19 th Century…

What challenges would you face?

You land in a crowded eastern city where you have to share a stuffy, dirty room with a dozen other people…

In your native country, you never had any chance to own the property you worked, which was owned by a nobleman to whom you had to give most of your crops.

One day, you hear the U.S. government is giving away land to anyone who will farm it.

The Homestead Act (1892) “Westward Expansion” Granted 160 free acres to anyone 21 years or older who promised to settle/farm it nearly 1 million people requested homestead applications

So you scrape together enough money to take your family west.

This is how you end up living.

So, if literature and art mirror social and political change, then how would art and literature be different than, say, romantic and gothic literature?

ROMANTICISM: John Constable ( ) Salisbury Cathedral, from the Meadows, 1831

ROMANTICISM : Caspar David Friedrich ( ) Wandere r Above a Sea of Mist, 1818

REALISM: Jean-Francois Millet ( ) The Gleaners, 1857

REALISM: Gustave Courbet ( ) The Stone-Breakers, 1849

Willa Cather ( ) At age 9, moved with family to Nebraska from Virginia At age 9, moved with family to Nebraska from Virginia Developed interest in “Old World” customs preserved in farmhouse kitchens Developed interest in “Old World” customs preserved in farmhouse kitchens Had the advantage of growing up with books Had the advantage of growing up with books

Willa Cather ( ) Important friendship with the Miner family; in their home, Cather met Annie Sadilek (inspiration for Antonia) Important friendship with the Miner family; in their home, Cather met Annie Sadilek (inspiration for Antonia) University of Nebraska; by senior year earning a name for herself as a writer University of Nebraska; by senior year earning a name for herself as a writer Became writer/editor for newspaper/magazines immediately after graduating Became writer/editor for newspaper/magazines immediately after graduating “Eric Hermannson’s Soul” sold to Cosmopolitan “Eric Hermannson’s Soul” sold to Cosmopolitan High School teacher High School teacher

Willa Cather ( ) By the end of WW1, she was recognized as a prominent literary figure in Amer. Lit. By the end of WW1, she was recognized as a prominent literary figure in Amer. Lit. By 1920s, she was a wealthy woman By 1920s, she was a wealthy woman Won Pulitzer Prize in 1923 for novel, One of Ours Won Pulitzer Prize in 1923 for novel, One of Ours

In Cather’s Nebraska… Population quadrupled between the Civil War and 1880 Population quadrupled between the Civil War and 1880 Doubled again in the 1880s Doubled again in the 1880s Low prices for farm products, compounded by drought in mid 1890s made life difficult on the Great Plains. Low prices for farm products, compounded by drought in mid 1890s made life difficult on the Great Plains.

Dedication “Optima dies…prima fugit” Virgil (OP-tee-mah DEE-es …PREE-mah FOO-geet)

“Optima dies…prima fugit” Virgil The best days are the first to flee.

“Frame story” The main story is introduced (‘framed’) by a short narrative by a different narrator. The main story is introduced (‘framed’) by a short narrative by a different narrator. Provides specific context for the novel Provides specific context for the novel Certain perspective revealed Certain perspective revealed Jim writing primarily to himself- not a larger audience; thus, My Antonia is in a private context. We, the readers, are intruding!!! Jim writing primarily to himself- not a larger audience; thus, My Antonia is in a private context. We, the readers, are intruding!!!

Frame What are some significant differences between the 1918 and 1926 editions? What are some significant differences between the 1918 and 1926 editions? In what ways do you get different impressions of the characters, from the different editions? In what ways do you get different impressions of the characters, from the different editions? What are your theories on why Cather would have changed it (think historical changes). What do we learn about Jim in the intro? What are your theories on why Cather would have changed it (think historical changes). What do we learn about Jim in the intro?

Note: The “memoir” is told from memory Create a timeline of your life, starting with the day of your birth. List key memories on the timeline including the date/ place and maybe a drawing that represents the event. Create a timeline of your life, starting with the day of your birth. List key memories on the timeline including the date/ place and maybe a drawing that represents the event. Why are certain events more memorable than others? Why are certain stories told “again and again” in a family? Why are certain events more memorable than others? Why are certain stories told “again and again” in a family?

Homework Read Book I, Chapters 1-6 (pages 5-29) Read Book I, Chapters 1-6 (pages 5-29) Note setting: What does the setting reveal? Note setting: What does the setting reveal? –Nebraska  Symbolizes growth, expansion, moral fortitude, possibility…the American Dream?

The prairie-grass dividing, its special odor breathing, I demand of it the spiritual corresponding, Demand the most copious and close companionship of men, Demand the blades to rise of words, acts, beings, Those of the open atmosphere, coarse, sunlit, fresh, nutritious, Those that go their own gait, erect, stepping with freedom and command, leading not following, Those with a never-quell’d audacity, those with sweet and lusty flesh clear of taint, Those that look carelessly in the faces of Presidents and governors, as to say Who are you? Those of the earth-born passion, simple, never constrain’d, never obedient, Those of inland America. -Walt Whitman