My Antonia

Question 1

Homestead Act of 1862

Answer 1

Accelerates the settlement is western territory by granting Adult heads of families 160 crew of land for. Minimal filing fee to live 5 years on that land.

Question 2

“Et in Acadia Ego”

Answer 2

Utopian society Virgil. (Death is present even in paradise)- even in the theme of death, Et in Arcadia Ego doesn’t tarnish Antonia’s hopes & dreams.

Question 3

Hired girls/ pioneer women

Answer 3

Immigrant world (need to work)
Ántonia- works for Harding’s/ Cutters/ owns a farm
Lena- wash girl/ town girl/ seamstress
Tiny- works in hotel/ churches Alaskan gold rush

Question 4

Literary Context - Cather’s Background

Answer 4

• Cather also grew up among immigrants from Europe.
• patriarchal society (town girls V. Hired girls)
• Illusion of American dream
• Social expectation: manifest destiny

Question 5

Critic Patmore

Answer 5

Depicts the perfect woman as angelic, sweet & lacking any desire for sexual intercourse. Idea of “angel” with images or “fallen women”. Advocated for separate spheres- men had a place in the “real world” & women attuned to household work.

Question 6

Natives v. Hired girls

Answer 6

Native girls- corsets & long skirts, go home to parent early, prepared for marriage, sewing & reading
Hired girls- work all day, dances ‘freedom’, shorter skirts, strong from labour, stay out late at dances

Question 7

The “melting pot” theory

Answer 7

“Individuals of all nations are melted into a new race of men, whose labours & prosperity will one day cause great changes in the world”.