Good Day Today n Discuss My Ántonia 1

Good Day! Today n Discuss My Ántonia 1 -62 n Close-reading groups n HW 68 -90 n We will talk about Ch 14 next class as well. in

Study guide: Focus group discussions- GRADED!

The Snake n How does the rattlesnake incident in Chapter 7 change the relationship between Jim & Ántonia? n How is the snake described? n What does the snake seem to represent? n Which theme does this highlight?

“bildungsroman” na novel about the moral and psychological growth of a, usually youthful, main character n Garden n Snake n Whose “coming of age” story is it?

Pavel & Peter “Misfortune seemed to settle like an evil bird on the roof of the log house, and to flap its wings there, warning human beings away” (35). n What misfortunes were they suffering? n Why did they come to the U. S. ? n What does their story suggest about human nature? Feminism? n What purpose do they have in the novel?

Nature as a character & setting n Notice descriptions of setting on pgs 35 -36 n What kind of diction does Cather use? n How does this relate to what is happening in this part of the story?

Nature as Character n Beginning of Chapter 9 (IX) n Description of winter landscape (41 -44) “I was convinced that man’s strongest antagonist was the cold” (44) n Cold/winter as antagonist in the story.

Groups of 4! Vibrant Visual aid indicative of topic!!! EX: Pictures to accompany language Symbolic placement of information Easy to Read- NEAT! Clear quotes with page #s! (3 examples) Presenting posters will include explanations of characters and influences (under tasks on blue sheet)

Winter

TURN IN! n Hand in study guide n Yellow Sheet on top and answers on the back n NAME!

Close-reading in Groups n Discuss your topic with your group. n Return to Chapters 7 -14 and collect examples/passages/pages that illustrate your assigned topic. n Keep detailed notes.

Homework n Read My Antonia, Book 1, Chapters 15 -19 (68 -90) n Make notes on your assigned topic AND n Collect/mark your favorite descriptions of the landscape – Especially sensory imagery – Seasons – Landscape as character

Themes n n n n Interaction between humans & nature, nature as a force, human survival in harsh conditions Immigration/exploitation/loneliness The American Dream (values, beliefs, the frontier, cowboys) The end of innocence, “coming of age, ” nostalgia, loneliness Town vs. country, Industrial vs. natural, confines vs. space, loneliness Role of women vs. role of men, women’s freedom, women’s rights Fertility vs. Sterility Fulfillment vs. longing; happiness vs. complacency; nostalgia

What people and places from your childhood do you remember most clearly? Why did they leave such a strong impression on you? Write about a memorable person or place from your childhood. Describe the person or place in detail. What importance does the person or place have on you today?

Which people in the story do you expect will have a significant influence/impact on Jim?

What are you noticing?