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Unveiling Symbolism and Allusions in "My Ántonia

Explore the key themes, delve into the symbolism of the Plough, uncover allusions to Virgil, and analyze gender roles within the novel. Examine how symbolism reflects characters' journeys and societal changes, and discuss the impact of allusions on themes like nature, immigration, and gender dynamics. Discover Cather's writing style and prepare for a deep dive into the American Gothic genre in the next class.

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Unveiling Symbolism and Allusions in "My Ántonia

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  1. Welcome to “the world of ideas”…

  2. Today • Review key themes & main ideas • Symbolism- the PLOW • Allusions- VIRGIL (maybe) • Gender Roles (maybe) • Flesh out oral presentation/essay ideas

  3. Symbolism The Plough, a key symbol in My Ántonia • What do you think it symbolizes?

  4. The Plough In relation to: • Jim’s life path? • Agrarian lifestyle/industrialization? • Immigrant experience?

  5. Symbolism of the Plough • Agriculture waning as industrialization rises • American dream of immigrants • Sense of energy- forward motion • (Where is Jim on his life path at this point in the novel?) • Plough + sun = life-giving, fertility • Setting sun of Jim’s childhood

  6. Reminder…Allusion • An implied, indirect, or direct reference, especially in literature; • also: the use of such references Previous example: “The Old Oaken Bucket” – poetry in the pocket of the suicidal tramp

  7. More allusions in My Ántonia • Virgil- The Aeneid, Georgics • “The best days are the first to flee.” • Celebration of farming life • Bringing the muse to his country • What is Jim’s recent insight from Virgil? • Camille • A novel/play about an ailing young woman who must choose between a man who loves her and a callous baron who wants her • La Traviata • “The Woman Who Strayed”, “The Fallen One” • Pretty Woman How do these allusions fit with the Themes in My Ántonia?

  8. The muse • How do you think the muse is functioning for Jim? • …for Cather?

  9. Reminder: Themes • Nature as a character/force • Immigration/Exploitation • American Dream (values, beliefs, cowboys, and the frontier) • Coming-of-age • Town vs. Country • Role of Women, Gender relationships • Nostalgia • Fulfillment/Happiness/Fertility vs. Memories/Longing/Sterility

  10. Themes/motifs related to gender • Role of women • Fulfillment/happiness/Fertility vs. Memories/Longing/Sterility • Marriage, Love unfulfilled • Antonia?, Ole, Lena, • Decent vs. Indecent work • Lena, Tiny, Antonia

  11. Gender Roles • Can we make any generalizations about the way men or women are portrayed? • What do you think Cather’s intention might have been, in portraying gender in this way?

  12. Gender Roles • How are women and men portrayed in the novel? • Make a 2-column list of characters: • female characters in one column and the corresponding male character (spouse) in the other column. • Label each of the characters with an descriptive word/phrase about the character in relation to others • Ex: “head of household”, “dominating”, “passive”, “motherly”, etc.

  13. Lit Groups Gather with your Lit Groups to review the first 3 books of our novel… begin to share (or gather) examples from the text. This is time to gather evidence- so use time wisely!

  14. Homework • Read My Antonia Book IV • Next Class: The American Gothic!

  15. Cather’s style • “Unfurnished” • Cather compared it to throwing all the furniture out of a room and leaving it as bare as the stage of a Greek theater. • Eliminated many adverbs, used strong verbs • Verisimilitude- the appearance of truth; the quality of seeming to be true • Imagery • Descriptions that appeal to the senses • Symbolism- Seasons, animals, plough

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