Willa Cather in her novel My Antonia offers her view of life during the pioneer time.The novel is very entertaining, if expressed from Antonia's point of view, the story would be completely different. The introduction would have started differently, not explaining Jim's travel to Nebraska. I'm sure some of the novel would be written in Bohemian because Antonia does not learn English until Jim teaches her.
The author, Willa Cather, is a lady writing a book from a man's point of view. She is successful in completing that specific goal. In the scene where Jim kills the snake, I felt as if a man was actually telling the story. I'm sure if I were telling the story, Jim would be screaming like a girl and jumping into Antonia's lap because I know that is what I would be doing.
The title, Antonia, is not descriptive enough for me. My Antonia is much better because that explains so much. Willa Cather chose My Antonia to explain that Jim loves Antonia and she, metaphorically, is his. They spend so much time together in the first half of the novel, I knew they held sentimental value for each other.
My Antonia by Willa Cather was a great book. The novel demonstrates the times of the Pioneers. A fun read always gets me interested and I am glad this book was chosen for us to read. An experience through the eyes of a pioneer.
Monday, December 19, 2011
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
The Effects of Setting
Author Willa Cather embedded literary devices, such as metaphors, similes, and personification, within her writing.
"As I looked about me I felt that the grass was the country, as the water is the sea. The red of the grass made all the great prairie the colour of wine-stains, or of certain seaweeds when they are first washed up. And there was so much motion in it; the whole country seemed, somehow, to be running."
"The grave, with its tall red grass that was never mowed, was like a little island."
"Winter comes down savagely over a little town on the prairie. The wind that sweeps in from the open country strips away all the leafy screens that hide one yard from another in summer, and the houses seem to draw closer together. The roofs, that looked so far away across the green treetops, now stare you in the face, and they are so much uglier than when their angles were softened by vines and shrubs.
Chunk #1: In the time of a crisis, people come together to solve and deal with the issue. In, My Antonia, the winter was a rough time for all the characters, so they came together to help one another. One of the quotes states, "the houses seem to draw closer together." It looked as if they were physically moving closer, and mentally they were because everyone helped everyone else. Which made the characters within the novel come closer together.
Chunk #2:
I have always dreamed of going to New York City, The Big Apple. I imagine the noises of traffic seeping through my window in the wee hours of the morning, and the smell of the cultural food on the streets. I wonder about the experience of shopping on Fifth Avenue or visiting the grand museums. I fear for the homeless in the alleys and the smell of the subway. New York has spoken to me through movies and songs. I cannot imagine that what I see in the movies is what I will see in real life, but I will not know until I go. I am sure New York will be an experience for me. Good or Bad? I do not know.
"As I looked about me I felt that the grass was the country, as the water is the sea. The red of the grass made all the great prairie the colour of wine-stains, or of certain seaweeds when they are first washed up. And there was so much motion in it; the whole country seemed, somehow, to be running."
"The grave, with its tall red grass that was never mowed, was like a little island."
"Winter comes down savagely over a little town on the prairie. The wind that sweeps in from the open country strips away all the leafy screens that hide one yard from another in summer, and the houses seem to draw closer together. The roofs, that looked so far away across the green treetops, now stare you in the face, and they are so much uglier than when their angles were softened by vines and shrubs.
Chunk #1: In the time of a crisis, people come together to solve and deal with the issue. In, My Antonia, the winter was a rough time for all the characters, so they came together to help one another. One of the quotes states, "the houses seem to draw closer together." It looked as if they were physically moving closer, and mentally they were because everyone helped everyone else. Which made the characters within the novel come closer together.
Chunk #2:
I have always dreamed of going to New York City, The Big Apple. I imagine the noises of traffic seeping through my window in the wee hours of the morning, and the smell of the cultural food on the streets. I wonder about the experience of shopping on Fifth Avenue or visiting the grand museums. I fear for the homeless in the alleys and the smell of the subway. New York has spoken to me through movies and songs. I cannot imagine that what I see in the movies is what I will see in real life, but I will not know until I go. I am sure New York will be an experience for me. Good or Bad? I do not know.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Is Cleanliness an Issue?
Some people believe hospitals are unsanitary, I am unsure of this assumption. I do believe however, that it was once an issue quite recently. February 2, 2011 VA Medical Center in St. Louis was temporarily shut down because of some unclean surgical equipment. I am glad that the medical center cancelled surgeries, and luckily before anyone was operated on with the unsterilized utensils. This particular place operates on veterans, I believe that our diligent veterans deserve much better care and extremely clean medical utensils when undergoing surgeries. This isn't the only filthy incident that occurred. In July, the VA had to send letters to 1,800 veterans explaining to them they could have HIV and Hepatitis from unsteraliation at the Dental Clinic. I do not believe in second chances on a topic this huge. First the cancelled surgeries, then in the summer another problem with unsteril equipment! Something so serious as disease should not be taken lightly especially when it comes to the people that fight for our country. I do believe that some hospitals are unsanatary and unsafe. I just hope the problem gets fixed soon, and for good!
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