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University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Setting the white bear right: Willa Cather's use of folk narratives in ``O Pioneers!,'' ``My \'Antonia,'' and ``Shadows on the Rock''

Abstract

dc:description

"""Setting the White Bear Right: Willa Cather's Use of Folk Narratives in O Pioneers!, My A'ntonia, and Shadows on the Rock"" examines Cather's incorporation of Marchen, legends, myths, and personal experience narratives in three novels concerning the immigrant experience in North America. Cather uses these folk narratives principally to emphasize two essential ideas. First, she uses them to show that the successful pioneer is one who adapts his or her Old World past to suit the needs of the New World. Second, and more importantly, she links the stories of the Nebraskan and Canadian frontiers with well-known narratives, such as myths, saints' legends, and fairy tales, to stress the significance of the pioneer struggle and the lives of those engaged in it."

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Ph.D.
Level thesis:degree_level
Dissertation
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
English
Grantor
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Year dc:date
2011

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Hanson, Debbie Ann
Contributors dc:contributor
  • Danielson, L.

Subjects

dc:subject × 2

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • Copyright 1989 Hanson, Debbie Ann
Language dc:language
eng

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Identifier
AAI9010875
(UMI)AAI9010875
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/23093

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
Base URL
www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Hanson, Debbie Ann. Setting the white bear right: Willa Cather's use of folk narratives in ``O Pioneers!,'' ``My \'Antonia,'' and ``Shadows on the Rock''. Dissertation thesis, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/2142/23093