Creative Writing: My Antonia

Jasmine Thompson
Creative Writing

Chapter One: My of my parents sudden death forced me to move from my home town of Blackwater, Arizona the population there was fewer than 500 people. So when I was sent to my Grandmother’s, who resides in the projects right outside of Brooklyn, New York, it was a big cultural shock. When I arrived to meet her at the airport I felt like I was in a different world. When moving my belongings in my new room I felt deprived, my old room was spacious and clean, this room was the complete opposite. After dinner, she was telling me about our new neighbors, “They can’t speak a bit of English”, my Grandmother said. This is when I first heard of, I was ten years old. “Don’t you want to go meet them, Rebecca?” I observed them; it seemed as if they were from Mexico. From looking at them I wondered the journey they had to endure to come here. I decided I was going to befriend them.

• When does language interfere with equal opportunity for immigrants? In the novel Antonia’s family couldn’t speak English so it withheld them from being able to have regular jobs. All they could do was farm, and if their crops were bad there was nothing they could do about it.
  
• How does ones culture pre- destine a person for a specific lifestyle? Many times when one person grows up in a certain culture he becomes like that culture, and when you try to mix with another culture they “spit” you out.
  
• When characters are able to step out of their pre-destined position? Lena is able to step out of her culture and owning her own clothing business and being able to support herself finically.
  
• Which characters struggle with their assigned place? Antonia struggles with this because she wants to be more than just a nanny or a farmer, but she feels as if the society won’t let her. She knows they label her and she can never overcome that label.
  
• Why does Cather allow the reader to see this struggle? He wants the reader to see the truth of immigration.
  
• How is the apart of the American Dream? Because it shows the struggles and reality that immigrants faced when they came to America. It shows what they were willing to bypass for their American Dream and how bad they wanted it.
  
• Where do boundaries occur in the novel? Jim has boundaries to stay with his social class and not to become close with the “hired girls”. Antonia has boundaries to stay in her social class.
  
• Antonia’s family came to America to become wealthy. Throughout the novel she struggles to find her true self, but in the end she realizes that it doesn’t matter how much money you have as long as your happy. Pavel is forced to come here because he committed a crime in his country, he will die unhappy.

Interviews

Eric Vanderhaar
age:38

Q: How have you lived the American dream?

A: Unlike many others, I am living my American dream because I have a job that makes me happy. I here a lot of my peers complain about their jobs and they just seem like miserable people. I am so blessed that every time I work I enjoy it! I am happy that I can support my family and give them the life I didn't get to have.

Charissa Thompson
age: 34

Q: How have you lived the American dream?

A: I have gotten to pursue the American dream by getting to fulfill a modeling and acting career. Since I can remember I desired to be a model, matter of fact almost every girl does. When living in Los Angeles and New York I got to make my dreams come true, which is amazing, because unfortunately not many people are able to live their dreams .

Alecia Bell
age: 30

Q: How have you lived the American dream?

A: I think the American dream is ideal, having a nice house, husband, and car. Many people think of the American dream as a perfect life, my life is none the less than perfect, but I am defiantly happy. I am so blessed to have a wonderful family and an amazing husband, but I still need to get that car though!

REVOLUTION PERIOD

Essential Question: People often use propaganda to achieve their idea of the American dream, and will persevere through endless obstacles in order to reach their political goals.

Patrick Henry

Reflection: I admire Henry's desire to stand up for what he believes in. He knows that he came to this country to get freedom from Britain. In his speech you can see his passion for separating ties with Britain. He is trying to get other American citizens to join him and start a revolutionary war. Henry uses propaganda to get others to follow the political goals that he sees fit for America. His persuasiveness caused him to succeed in his mission, by getting the American people to follow him. This ultimately led to the Revolutionary War against Britain. Knowing that the American's won the war and got to live their lives free from Britain’s watch, shows that Patrick Henry was right and the effect his speech had on our country.

He uses Logos by expressing his strong opinions, and when he exposes the government for the mistakes they have committed by not breaking ties with Britain. He backs up his reasons for his opinions and persuades his audience to agree with them. Paine uses the ethos strategy by expressing his patriotism for this country in the beginning of the diary, the audience is persuaded to agree with his reasoning for breaking ties with Britain because he seems like a trustworthy person. When saying that he loves this country more than anyone else it makes the reader believe he would only want whats best for the country. He uses pathos by showing emotions towards his agrument, he even implies that if he doesn't get his freedom then he would wish death upon himself.


Dear Diary,

I do not believe people understand why we came to America. What was the point of sacrificing our lives to come here if were still tied to the place we escaped from? I want to be free from Britain and be able to live in a country that isn’t under another countries control. If America doesn't escape from Britain soon, we will never be able to run our country the way we choose. I'm trying to get other citizens to realize the faster we get away from Britain the faster we will achieve the freedom we have been longing for. I'm anticipating for the day to come, I gave up so much to come to this country and I will get to live my American Dream. I'm not giving up on something I worked so hard to achieve!

Thomas Paine

Reflection:

The Crisis was made to show American's that they had a duty to revolt against Britain. Paine clearly states his reasoning for wanting to part with Britain, and while reading his diaries I find myself agreeing with him. Paine uses logos when he expresses his opinions and has theories to back them up. He shows intelligence by using this logic because he makes the reader believe he knows what he is talking about. In his speech Paine uses ethos by his word choice, he makes the reader feel as if he is a trustworthy person and would never want to do harm to America. This also helps him pursue his audience into agreeing with his strategy. Pathos are expressed in Thomas Paine's speech when he connects his ideas with emotion. By reading the speech you can tell he really cares about America escaping from Britain.


Dear Diary,

It is at utmost urgency for the United States of America to escape from Britain while we can! The longer we obey their rules the longer their getting what they want, which is to control us. I wish the US would open their eyes and see the reality of the situation. If we don't take up for ourselves soon we will just be dug further into this situation. We came to this country for a reason and it wasn't to follow after the country we left! A war against Britain is the only way to give our citizens the life they came here to live!




* MY AMERICAN DREAM: I am going to fulfill my American dream by never allowing myself to give up. I am going to achieve my goals in life, which are to go to college and to find a job that makes me happy. To me goals are dreams, but only the wisest achieve their dreams, because everyone else doesn't keep trying. Determination is the key to achieving what you want in life and if you have that quality I believe the world is in your hands. During the Revolution Period everyone had a dream and certain politcal leaders such as Henry and Paine made sure that the country would keep them.

Native American Literature: The Wolf Ceremony- In order to keep traditions alive many elders pass them on to the future generations.

The Wolf Ceremony As Told by Chief Dan George

I wanted to give something of my past to my grandson. So I took him into the woods, to a quiet spot.
Seated at my feet he listened as I told him of the powers that were given to each creature. He moved not a muscle as I explained how the woods had always provided us with food, homes, comfort, and religion.
He was awed when I related to him how the wolf became our guardian, and when I told him that I would sing the sacred wolf song over him, he was overjoyed. In my song, I appealed to the wolf to come and preside over us while I would perform the wolf ceremony so that the bondage between my grandson and the wolf would be lifelong.
I sang.
In my voice was the hope that clings to every heartbeat. I sang. In my words were the powers I inherited from my forefathers.
I sang.
In my cupped hands lay a spruce seed-- the link to creation.
I sang.
In my eyes sparkled love.
I sang.
And the song floated on the sun's rays from tree to tree. When I had ended, it was if the whole world listened with us to hear the wolf's reply. We waited a long time but none came.
Again I sang, humbly but as invitingly as I could, until my throat ached and my voice gave out. All of a sudden I realized why no wolves had heard my sacred song. There were none left!
My heart filled with tears. I could no longer give my grandson faith in the past, our past. At last I could whisper to him: "It is finished!"
"Can I go home now?" He asked, checking his watch to see if he would still be in time to catch his favorite program on TV.
I watched him disappear and wept in silence.
All is finished!

Reflection:
After reading the "Wolf Ceremony", I have come to realize that I have something in common with the Indian culture. No matter what culture you’re associated with anything that is important to you is hard to let go. That’s why it was difficult for the grandfather to loose hope on keeping his heritage and tradition alive. This short story expresses how a Native American, Chief Dan George, reacts to not being able to raise his grandson the way his ancestors were raised. He feels that their culture is disappearing and becoming a melting pot, which is when a culture gives up their way of life for another. I connected with this story because I could relate to the emotions that the grandfather experienced, because sometimes it’s hard to let things go. In his case, traditions, because they become apart of whom you are. I've come to apprehend that sometimes we have to let go and not dwell in the past, but at the same time remember it. That explains why it was important for him to tell his grandson the Indian myth because it helps keep his culture living. Likewise, when I have children I will certainly pass my family's traditions along to them. This story helps encourage me to never give up what I believe in. Also to be sure to always strive to keep my heritage apart of me and my family's life.

Dear Diary,
My Grandfather also tells me stories about his heritage. He says that many Indians were uncertain about the white men because they weren't use to a different culture living their homeland. Although, He says that our ancestors welcomed the white men into their villages. The Indians eventually concluded that they made a mistake by friendly welcoming them into our country, and especially for trusting them. Because they used our kindness to their advantage and disrespected our rights to our land. Being unfaithful to their promises, they slowly took away all of our entitlements to our native soil. Being naive cost my heritage to loose our land and dignity. After the Indians were sent away, thousands of my people died, and our heritage was to never be the same.

Thesis: In the short story “The Wolf Ceremony” a Native American, Chief Dan George is fighting to keep his heritage alive so that it will be remembered in the future. George uses repetition, symbolism, and metaphors, to convey a tone of hope that his culture to be apart of upcoming generation.

http://www.firstpeople.us/FP-Html-Wisdom/ChiefDanGeorge.html

William Bradford

Plymouth Plantation

Excerpt: “These troubles being blown over, and now all being compact together in one ship, they put to sea again with a prosperous wind, which continued divers days together, which was some encouragement unto them; yet, according to the usual manner, many were afflicted with seasickness. And I may not omit here a special work of God’s providence. There was a proud and very profane young man, one of the seamen, of a lusty, able body, which made him the more haughty; he would always be contemning the poor people in their sickness and cursing them daily with grievous execrations; and did not let to tell them that he hoped to help to cast half of them overboard before they came to their journey’s end, and to make merry with what they had; and if he Were by any gently reproved, he would curse and swear most bitterly. But it pleased God before they came half seas over, to smite this young man with a grievous disease, of which he died in a desperate manner, and so was himself the first that was thrown overboard. Thus his curses light on his own head, and it was an astonishment to all his fellows for they noted it to be the just hand of God upon him."


Reflection: This account has helped me understand how important religious freedom is. I believe that a lot of Americans take for granted what our ancestors worked so hard for. I now feel gratitude for our relatives because they instituted the civil rights we practice today. They underwent days and nights fighting for what they thought was right in order for the future generations to get what they never got to experience. America gave people a dream to better the lives for their children and children to come. It gave the immigrants hope to stand up for themselves. They fought the war of religious persecution and successfully won it!


Dear Diary,
This account is defiantly the story of my life. It has been many days and many nights since our departure, hopefully soon we will arrive to America. As the days go by the more restless we become, many are fighting to stay alive. It is dangerous traveling for so long, the nights are freezing and the food is very scarce. The weather is rough and parts of the ship are beginning to fall off, this has caused us to constantly live in fear of our lives, we must always lean on God and realize that he has a plan for us. Most of all I miss having privacy and hanging out with my friends. Some of us regret deciding to come to America. Scurvy, is a disease that is going around the ship, it's caused from the lack of vitamin C, due to the lack of food it is inevitable to kill the disease. I know after all of our struggles in the end it will all be worth it because were going to America to escape religious prosecution. As much as I want to arrive in America, I really want to be able to practice whatever religion I shall choose. The freedom is overwhelming and amazing! I feel that God has finally answered my prayers and is allowing me to worship him the way I want to. This trip is going to change my life forever and I can't wait to see the outcome!


http://spider.georgetowncollege.edu/english/coke/bradford.htm

Anne Bradstreet- Immigrants often find comfort in writing about their troubles of trying to survive in America.

A Love Letter to Her Husband

If ever two were one, then surely we.
If ever man were lov'd by wife, then thee.
If ever wife was happy in a man,
Compare with me, ye women, if you can.
I prize thy love more than whole Mines of gold
Or all the riches that the East doth hold.
My love is such that Rivers cannot quench,
Nor ought but love from thee give recompetence.
Thy love is such I can no way repay.
The heavens reward thee manifold, I pray.
Then while we live, in love let's so persever
That when we live no more, we may live ever.

• Speaker
• A wife who misses her husband
  
• Mood
• When I read this poem I felt happy because I think love is a beautiful thing and I hope to love someone that much one day. You can sense how much she loves him by reading the poem.
• Tone
• Thankfulness, because I believe the author is thankful for her husband and she is asking the God to reward him. Happy for the love that they have and cautions him so that they can work to keep it.
  
• Imagery
  
• Mines of gold
  
• rivers
  
• Paradox
  
• "When we live no more, we may live ever"- This is a paradox because when you die your dead.
• "If ever two were one, then surley we" - This is a paradox because no one can ever be one.
  
• Figurative Language
• iambic pentameter
• inversion- if ever man was love by wife then thee, if ever wife was happy in a man.
  

• Sound
  
• repetition in the first 3 lines, "If ever"
• Rhyming couplets

Reflection: After reading the poem “A Love Letter to Her Husband” I came to the conclusion that Anne Bradstreet demonstrates her love for her husband through her comparisons. She shows her readers that she is convinced that her love is superior to any other. She even "dares" other wives to compare their love to hers. She is thankful for her husband and asks God to reward him for everything he has done for her. I cannot relate to this poem on a companion level, but I do love someone the way Anne loves her husband. I have an unconditional love for my mother, no matter what I will always love and respect her. I believe that she should get rewarded for everything she does for not only me, but my family. She is a single mother and works very hard to give my siblings and I the life she never had. Due to this, I connect with the way Anne adores her husband. I think she did an excellent job expressing her emotions and gratitude towards her husband.

Dear Diary,

When I first met him I knew he was going to be the one I would share the rest of my life with. He has a way of looking at me that makes my knees go week and my heart skip a beat. He is the best thing that has ever happened to me, who would have ever thought that I, Anne, would find someone to love me? Since the day we were wed, I thank God daily for sending me such an amazing husband. After we were betrothed, we made the decision to immigrate to America. We did this in hope to get away from religious persecution and make a better life for ourselves. Ever since he has worked so hard to insure that our family was feed, and out of harms way. Unlike many of my friend’s husbands he has never bared a hand on me, which is a blessing because I can feel safe in my own home. My husband is none the less than perfect, I praise God for giving me the honor of having his presence in my life.

By Night when Others Soundly Slept
By night when others soundly slept And hath at once both ease and Rest, My waking eyes were open kept And so to lie I found it best. I sought him whom my Soul did Love, With tears I sought him earnestly. He bow'd his ear down from Above. In vain I did not seek or cry. My hungry Soul he fill'd with Good; He in his Bottle put my tears, My smarting wounds washt in his blood, And banisht thence my Doubts and fears. What to my Saviour shall I give Who freely hath done this for me? I'll serve him here whilst I shall live And Loue him to Eternity.

• Speaker
• A person that can't sleep because their thankful that her savior died for her.
  

• Mood
• When reading this I felt thankful because it reminded me of everything that God has done for me, it reminds me of how much he did for us.
  

• Tone
• The author's tone is thankful for everything God has done for her.
  

• Imagery
• eyes
• wounds
• blood
• tears
  

• Figurative Language
• rhyming couplets
  

• Sound
• crying

Upon the Burning of Her Houser

In silent night when rest I took,

For sorrow near I did not look,

I waken'd was with thund'ring noise

And piteous shrieks of dreadful voice.

That fearful sound of "fire" and "fire,

"Let no man know is my Desire.

I starting up, the light did spy,

And to my God my heart did cry

To straighten me in my Distress

And not to leave me succourless.

Then coming out, behold a space

The flame consume my dwelling place.

And when I could no longer look,

I blest his grace that gave and took,

That laid my goods now in the dust.

Yea, so it was, and so 'twas just.

It was his own; it was not mine.

Far be it that I should repine,

He might of all justly bereft

But yet sufficient for us left.

When by the Ruins oft I past

My sorrowing eyes aside did cast

And here and there the places spy

Where oft I sate and long did lie.

Here stood that Trunk, and there that chest,

There lay that store I counted best,

My pleasant things in ashes lie

And them behold no more shall I.

Under the roof no guest shall sit,

Nor at thy Table eat a bit.

No pleasant talk shall 'ere be told

Nor things recounted done of old.

No Candle 'ere shall shine in Thee,

Nor bridegroom's voice ere heard shall bee.

In silence ever shalt thou lie.

Adieu, Adieu, All's Vanity.

Then straight I 'gin my heart to chide:

And did thy wealth on earth abide,

Didst fix thy hope on mouldring dust,

The arm of flesh didst make thy trust?

Raise up thy thoughts above the sky

That dunghill mists away may fly.

Thou hast a house on high erect

Fram'd by that mighty Architect,

With glory richly furnished

Stands permanent, though this be fled.

It's purchased and paid for too

By him who hath enough to do.

A price so vast as is unknown,

Yet by his gift is made thine own.

There's wealth enough; I need no more.

Farewell, my pelf; farewell, my store.

The world no longer let me love;

My hope and Treasure lies above.

• Speaker
• A person who experiences their house burning down.
  
• Mood
• After reading this poem I felt
  
• Tone
• In the beginning the author was petrified for herself and her possessions. She catches her self doubting God and then begins to feel resured and at peace because she knew that God has a plan for her.
  
• Imagery
• ashes
• the sky
• eyes with sorrow
• candle
• flesh
• chest/ trunks

• Sound
• rhyming couplets
• repettion
  

Thesis: In Anne Bradstreet's poetry the speaker processes from frightened to at peace with God's plan.


http://www.vcu.edu/engweb/webtexts/Bradstreet/bradhyp.htm

Edward Taylor

Huswifery

by Edward Taylor

Make me, O Lord, thy Spinning Wheele compleat;
Thy Holy Worde my Distaff make for mee.
Make mine Affections thy Swift Flyers neate,
And make my Soule thy holy Spoole to bee.
My Conversation make to be thy Reele,
And reele the yarn thereon spun of thy Wheele.

Make me thy Loome then, knit therein this Twine:
And make thy Holy Spirit, Lord, winde quills:
Then weave the Web thyselfe. The yarn is fine.
Thine Ordinances make my Fulling Mills.
Then dy the same in Heavenly Colours Choice,
All pinkt with Varnish't Flowers of Paradise.

Then cloath therewith mine Understanding, Will,
Affections, Judgment, Conscience, Memory;
My Words and Actions, that their shine may fill
My wayes with glory and thee glorify.
Then mine apparell shall display before yee
That I am Cloathd in Holy robes for glory.

• Speaker
• A man who is describing his longing to be closer with God.
  

• Mood
  
• This poem made me feel at peace because I can relate to what the author is going through, and I know it makes your soul at rest when you ask for forgiveness from God.
  

• Tone
  
• forgiveness
  

• Imagery
  
• he talks about the yarn being fine and colorful
• flowers of paradise
• how he spins his yarn,which gives you insight of how it may look

• Figurative Language
• pentameter with 10 syllables per line
• Metaphor: God's grace to a cloth
• Metaphor: Poet to a spinning wheel
• Metaphor: Bible to a distaff
  

• Sound
• his word choice makes it seem as if the yarn is actually spinning

Reflection: I can relate to “Huswifrey" because I understand his longing to be closer to God. Many times I wish I was closer with God, in order to sway away from trouble. I believe if you have a close connection with God then you will follow his ways. I can tell from the emotions that Edward Taylor is possessing that he truly desires to be closer to God. This poem helped me realize my thankfulness for everything God has done for me. It reinforced the way I feel and how the people of Early America must of felt.

Dear Lord,
I want to thank you for giving me the opportunity to come to America. My frightening journey has helped me developed the urge to search for God’s grace. It has caused me to become more conscience about my relationship with you. I want you to become my main priority; I want you to guide my life. I desire to help others come to know you the way I am. I covet for you to change my actions to represent you and your word, lord. I wish that I could appear to other people as your servant, making an example to them, so that they would want to be more like you. Your grace has transformed me to become a new person and to be one of your followers.

Thesis: In the poem "Huswifery" Edward Taylor expresses his desire for God's grace through his use of metaphors, in order to be forgiven from his sins. He states that when you come closer to God you will have a life changing experience that will ultimately result in reflecting God's grace.

http://www.puritansermons.com/poetry/taylor.htm