Cather+Biography

Willa Cather was born on a small farm in Virginia. She had six younger siblings. In 1883, Cather moved with her family to Red Cloud, Nebraska. There, she spent the rest of her childhood in the same town that has been made famous by her writing. She was able to attend college at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She started writing for the Nebraska State Journal while here. She then moved to Pittsburgh, where she taught high school English and eventually started writing. Cather converted from the Baptist faith to Episcopalianism in 1922. As a student at the University of Nebraska in the early 1890s, Cather sometimes used the manlier nickname "William" and wore guy clothes clothes.
 * Short summary of Willa Cather’s** **(December 7, 1873-April 24. 1947) life:**


 * Questions for discussion:**
 * 1)** How have Jim and his family’s journey in his life so far been similar to Willa Cather and her family’s life?
 * 2)** How has Antonia similar to Willa Cather?
 * 3)** What is the significance of many of the places and settings of Cather’s life being similar or the same as the settings in //My Antonia.//
 * 4)** What relevance are the characters ages in the story being similar to Willa Cather’s ages as the similar events occur.
 * 5)** Using what you know about Willa Cather and her similarities with //My Antonia//, what predictions can you make about the story.
 * 6)** Willa Cather never had a serious relationship with a man. Do you think this will influence the relationships in this story? Why? How?
 * 7)** What is the significance of coming into the story and how can this relate to Willa Cather’s life.

Everyone will get one partner. I can participate in this as well to get an even 6. I will have a list of topics or scenes from the book. For each topic I will time out 30 seconds. You and your partner will write down separately without consulting each other every thing (including books authors and anything else.) that they can relate that too. For every matched relevant relation, your team gets one point. At the end whoever has the most points win. This will further your understanding of //My Antonia// as well as see how well you and your partner know what each other would say.
 * Opening Activity:**

Sean B.