JOURNEYS TO AMERICA

PROF. B. HARVEY

STUDY QUESTIONS FOR CATHER'S MY ANTONIA (PAGE #S NEED TO BE CHANGED FOR NEW EDITION)

35/112--Do you like the descriptions?  Here are two small, beautiful passages (asparagus/rain).

12-13--Is the emptyness a + or -? Is the formlessness frightening? Where are Jim's parents?

21--Jim in grandmother’s garden: is this a wholesome identification with surroundings?

37--Epiphany/sacramental feel: is this wholesome?

52--Pavel and Peter toss the bride: note the following, kindred episodes:

59--Otto, with pregant immigrant, writes home to mother

69--What happens when Mr. Harling comes home?  (is this the feminist version of "Rip V. W" here; remember my phrase compulsive heterosexuality

78/82--What is Jim's attitude toward the grandparents?
 

83--What is old Mr. Shimera’s problem? anybody else homeless?

97--What is contrasted in the image of the grave?  This passage may, if you think about it, reveal the "message" of the novel.

99--Does this image impress you? overdone earthgoddess?

133--How do you compare Lena to Antonia?

150--Put on Freud hat: what is going on with black pianist imagery?

178/9--What is the significance of Jim’s dream? Put on Freud hat again if you took it off.

185--Is this enclosure image wholesome?

193--Point of story about Coronada? think of other gold imagery in the novel.

251/2--Wholesome relation (in memory) to Antonia?

264--Earth-mother figure. Turns from being sensual into figure of nurture/fertility: good enclosure/womb? or, too sentimental ending?

279--How is Antonia's husband described?