Willa Cather
and her writing. 1873-1947
Early Years
Born December 7, 1873
Raised in Red Cloud, Nebraska
Grew up in a big family; many siblings- didn't
like her sisters
Always a Tom Boy
Started school at age 10
Later Years
Went to Nebraska University-Unusual for a
woman
First went for science degree, then switched her
major to English
During college, went by William and wore
masculine clothing, had a boy's haircut
Acted in many plays throughout college
Later
Years
(cont.)
After graduating from college, she did a variety
of things:
1900-Served as English HS teacher in PA
1902-Went to France; brought about her love for
the French culture
Became an editor for a magazine in NY
Received honorary degrees from various top
colleges
Lived with Edith Lewis (significant other) till her
death
Her Writing
After college, she grew
angry: critics began to
dismiss her as a
Romantic, nostalgic
writer who could not
cope with the present
Because of this, her
work during the Great
Depression lacked
social relevance and
she became reclusive
Works
1903- April Twilights, a collection of verses
1905- Troll Garden, a collection of short stories:
A Wagner Matinee
1912- Alexander's Bridge, her first novel
1915- The Song of the Lark
1918- My Atonia
A
Wagner
Matinee
Summary: A Wagner Matinee is about a man
that has received a letter saying that his aunt is
going to be coming to town, it ask him to take
care of her while she is there. The man
remembers his aunt fondly and wants to show
her a good time while she is in town, so he
decides to take her to an opera because she
was trained in music when she was younger.
Themes:
Hardship and desolation on pioneer life
The sustaining power of music on the human
Relations to Writing
Georgiana was based off of Cather's real aunt
She grew up in Nebraska, where part of the
story takes place
Style
Very detailed, play by play action: Ex. In
describing Georgiana
Style of Clarity and Beauty: The music present
in A Wagner Matinee
Admired Henry James
Favorites: Dickens, Thackeray, Emerson,
Hawthorne, Tolstoy
Wrote unique fiction stories
Themes and Issues
Continuously wrote from a boy's point of view
Theme of Love: Ex. Aunt Georgiana loves
Boston, music, and her husband; Clark loves
and respects his aunt because she taught him
and sacrificed a lot for him
Theme of Hardship: Ex. Georgiana lives in a
drudgery, pioneer part of Nebraska
Theme (cont.)
Her writing reflects regionalism by focusing on
the characters' actions and emotions
Clark has grown to understand that life is about
choices and the consequences of those choices
are excepted fully; for the aunt, she made the
choice to elope and forget her life as a person
that has money
Legacy and Honors
1955- Willa Cather Pioneer Memorial and new
Willa Cather Foundation was funded to support
the study of her life and work and to maintain
many sites in her hometown
1956- Library Branch location opened in her
name
1962- Elected for the Nebraska Hall of Fame
Placed on a stamp in 1973
University of Nebraska residences all named
after her
At, K.k. "Willa Cather - Biography and Works.
Search Texts, Read Online. Discuss." The
Literature Network: Online Classic Literature,
Poems, and Quotes. Essays & Summaries.
Web. 13 Oct. 2011. <http://www.onlineliterature.com/willa-cather>.
Bibliography
"A Wagner Matinee - ENotes.com Reference."
ENotes - Literature Study Guides, Lesson
Plans, and More. Web. 17 Oct. 2011.
<http://www.enotes.com/topic/A_Wagner_Matin
ee>.
"A Wagner Matinee." Wagner Matinee. Web. 14
Oct. 2011. <http://janna-pphsblogspot.com/2011/opioneers-wagnermatinee>.
By: Mikayla Sycks & Clare Sorensen