Train At Black Hawk example essay topic

831 words
1. Discuss the significant of each of the following citations. Provide several examples that support each quote. A. 'The country girls were considered a menace to the social order. Their beauty shone out too boldly against a conventional background. But anxious mothers need have felt no harm. They mistook the mettle of their sons.

The respect for respectability was stronger than any desire in Black Hawk Youth. ' The above quotation is telling about how the elderly people of Black Hawk did not trust the younger girls. This brought about when the young girls: Antonia, Tiny, Lena, etc. and Jim would constantly go to the parties held in Black Hawk. Jim's grandmother especially did not approve of Jim going to parties. Although, Jim continued to go, but eventually felt that he should obey his grandmother. Antonia, whom was working for the Har lings, was forced to choose between going to parties or continue working for them.

She chose to continue going to parties, but then started to work for the Cutters. B. 'This was the road over which Antonia and I came on that night when we got off the train at Black Hawk... For Antonia and for me, this had been the road of Destiny; had taken us to those early accidents of fortune which predetermined for us all that we can ever be. Now I understood that the same road was to bring us together again. Whatever we had missed, we possessed together the precious, and incommunicable past.

' The above quotation is showing the importance of Jimmy and Antonia's friendship. The road brought them together since they shared a significant amount of memories at the road. Jimmy remembers those special times he had with Antonia when he approaches the road. It is also a symbol for friendship, and the possibility of it being rekindled and / or never forgotten. 2. How is the following and accurate depiction of Antonia?

How are the enumerated traits revealed throughout the story?' More than any other person remembered, this girl seemed to mean to us the country, the conditions, the whole adventure of our childhood. ' (Jimmy) This is an accurate description of Antonia because she lived in many conditions where she had to quickly adapt. When she moved to Nebraska, she was not used to living in her poor surroundings. Most of the time she had a fairly good attitude about this, following her father's footsteps, although her mother did not have a very good attitude. When her father commits suicide, she continues her positive attitude about living very poorly. Later in the novel, Antonia must also adapt to her surroundings and new life style in Black Hawk.

Following this, she must adapt to lifestyles in the Cutters' home, and even later when she starts a new life away from everyone. 3. Define the immigrant dream as seen through the characters of: A. Mr. Shimerdas Mr. Shimerdas tried to have a positive attitude about his family's lifestyle in Nebraska, although he felt very depressed about it inside. He never showed this depressed side of him, therefore, letting all his bottled energy finally let out. He eventually ended up killing himself, which is most likely what he dreamed of doing all along. B. Lena Lingard Lena came to town wanting to learn dressmaking from Mrs. Thomas. Although she basically had no morals, Lena eventually fulfilled her dream.

She became a dressmaker and eventually was hired for a big job. She never thought she would actually commit to one person, although by the end of the novel she was attached to Jim. C. Pavel and Peter Pavel and Peter only had a small amount of money to live on. They were in trouble with the Black Hawk's moneylender, Wick Cutter. He forces them to pay a huge bonus on an overdue loan and give him mortgage on their livestock. After this, Pavel injures himself while building a barn. Eventually Pavel dies and Peter sells everything then goes away to cook at a construction camp.

This shows that deep down both wanted to get away from everything and their money problems. D. Ambrosch Ambrosch showed throughout most of the novel that he was not a very good person. He also showed that he was coarse, selfish, vulgar, grasping, self- centered, and irresponsible man with no respect for his neighbors or their property. He shows traits that are more like his mother. Although, Ambrosch was not a very good character, he deep down inside loved his sister, Antonia, very much. Eventually he wanted to prove to himself he was a good person.

When she was in need, he lent her three-hundred dollars for a train trip and helped her pack.