Native American

White Buffalo Woman


This is a central myth of the Plains tribes, especially the Lakota, or Sioux. It tells how the Lakota first received their sacred pipe and the ceremony in which to use it. It has often been related, for example by Black Elk, Lame Deer and Looks for Buffalo.

In the days before the Lakota had horses on which to hunt the buffalo, food was often scarce. One summer when the Lakota nation had camped together, there was very little to eat. Two young men of the Itazipcho band – the ‘Without-Bows’ – decided they would rise early and look for game. They left the camp while the dogs were still yawning, and set out across the plain, accompanied only by the song of the yellow meadowlark.

After a while the day began to grow warm. Crickets chirruped in the waving grass, prairie dogs darted into their holes as the braves approached, but still there was no real game. So the young men made towards a little hill from which they would see further across the vast expanse of level prairie. Reaching it, they shielded their eyes and scanned the distance, but what they saw coming out of the growing heat haze was something bright, that seemed to go on two legs, not four. In a while they could see that it was a very beautiful woman in shining white buckskin.

As the woman came closer, they could see that her buckskin was wonderfully decorated with sacred designs in rainbow-coloured porcupine quills. She carried a bundle on her back, and a fan of fragrant sage leaves in her hand. Her jet-black hair was loose, except for a single strand tied with buffalo fur. Her eyes were full of light and power, and the young men were transfixed.
Now one of the men was filled with a burning desire. ‘What a woman!’ he said sideways to his friend. ‘And all alone on the prairie. I’m going to make the most of this!’

‘You fool,’ said the other. ‘This woman is holy.’

But the foolish one had made up his mind, and when the woman beckoned him towards her, he needed no second invitation. As he reached out for her, they were both enveloped in a great cloud. When it lifted, the woman stood there, while at her feet was nothing but a pile of bones with terrible snakes writhing among them.

‘Behold,’ said the woman to the good brave. ‘I am coming to your people with a message from Tatanka Oyate, the buffalo nation. Return to Chief Standing Hollow Horn and tell him what you have seen. Tell him to prepare a tipi large enough for all his people, and to get ready for my coming.’

The young man ran back across the prairie and was gasping for breath as he reached his camp. With a small crowd of people already following him, he found Standing Hollow Horn and told him what had happened, and that the woman was coming. The chief ordered several tipis to be combined into one big enough for his band. The people waited excitedly for the woman to arrive.
After four days the scouts posted to watch for the holy woman saw something coming towards them in a beautiful manner from across the prairie. Then suddenly the woman was in the great lodge, walking round it in a sunwise direction. She stopped before Standing Hollow Horn in the west of the lodge, and held her bundle before him in both hands.

‘Look on this,’ she said, ‘and always love and respect it. No one who is impure should ever touch this bundle, for it contains the sacred pipe.’

She unrolled the skin bundle and took out a pipe, and a small round stone which she put down on the ground.

‘With this pipe you will walk on the earth, which is your grandmother and your mother. The earth is sacred, and so is every step that you take on her. The bowl of the pipe is of red stone; it is the earth. Carved into it and facing the centre is the buffalo calf, who stands for all the four-leggeds. The stem is of wood, which stands for all that grows on the earth. These twelve hanging feathers from the Spotted Eagle stand for all the winged creatures. All these living things of the universe are the children of Mother Earth. You are all joined as one family, and you will be reminded of this when you smoke the pipe. Treat this pipe and the earth with respect, and your people will increase and prosper.’

The woman told them that seven circles carved on the stone represented the seven rites in which the people would learn to use the sacred pipe. The first was for the rite of ‘keeping the soul’, which she now taught them. The remaining rites they would learn in due course.

The woman made as if to leave the lodge, but then she turned and spoke to Standing Hollow Horn again. ‘This pipe will carry you to the end. Remember that in me there are four ages. I am going now, but I will look on your people in every age, and at the end I will return.’

She now walked slowly around the lodge in a sunwise direction. The people were silent and filled with awe. Even the hungry young children watched her, their eyes alive with wonder. Then she left. But after she had walked a short distance, she faced the people again and sat down on the prairie. The people gazing after her were amazed to see that when she stood up she had become a young red and brown buffalo calf. The calf walked further into the prairie, and then lay down and rolled over, looking back at the people.

When she stood up she was a white buffalo. The white buffalo walked on until she was a bright speck in the distant prairie, and then rolled over again, and became a black buffalo. This buffalo walked away, stopped, bowed to the four directions of the earth, and finally disappeared over the hill.

Joseph Chasing Horse

http://www.livingmyths.com/Native.htm

Dear Diary,

Today I was helping my mother and grandmother tan the hides of one of the buffalo that my father and brothers brought back from their last hunting trip. I was thinking about the pipe ceremony that we are going to have this afternoon and I asked my grand mother about why we have this ceremony. So she told me the story of the White Buffalo Woman. It was a very interesting story.Even though I am not treated with the same respect as the Lakota boys in my village, I think that women are just as important. The White Buffalo Woman is very sacred to our tribe and she is a woman! If the boy in the story had treated her with respect then he probably would not have been killed.So far this is my favorite story because it shows the power of women, and how men need to treat all people with respect. Also I love white buffalo, to me thay are the most beautiful creatures, which is an obvious reason why they are the most sacred animals in our culture.Well I have to go because I have to help my mother prepare for the ceremony, and the dinner that we are going to have afterwards.

Ewahee- "laughing maiden"

William Bradford

September 6, 1620

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.

After they had enjoyed fair winds and weather for a season, they were encountered many times with cross winds and met with many fierce storms with which the ship was soundly shaken, and her upper works made very leaky; and one of the main beams in the mid-ship was bowed and cracked, which put them in some fear that the ship could not be able to perform the voyage. So some of the chief of the company, perceiving the mariners to fear the insufficiency of the ship as appeared by their mutterings, they entered into serious consultation with the master and other officers of the ship, to consider in time of the danger, and rather to return than to cast themselves into a desperate and inevitable peril. And truly there was great distraction and difference of opinion amongst the mariners themselves; fain would they do what could be done for their wages’ sake (being now near half the seas over) and on the other hand they were loath to hazard their lives too desperately. But in examining of all opinions, the master and others affirmed they knew the ship to be strong and firm under water; and for the buckling of the main beam, there was a great iron screw the passengers brought out of Holland, which would raise the beam into his place; the which being done, the carpenter and master affirmed that with a post put under it, set firm in the lower deck and otherwise bound, he would make it sufficient. And as for the decks and upper works, they would caulk them as well as they could, and though with the working of the ship they would not long keep staunch, yet there would otherwise be no great danger, if they did not over-press her with sails. So they committed themselves to the will of God and resolved to proceed.

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

Reflection:

A huge fear of the puritans who came to America first was the ship breaking. They also felt that they had to rely completely on god for everything. Everything is gods will including men getting sick and dying. This strong sense of religion was what held them together and it was what made them want to come to America. They did not want to be persecuted anymore for what they believed in. This religious background is very important to the American dream because though persecution is not completely gone in America there is less so people feel safer.

Dear Diary,

Today has been another incredibly long day here on board this boat. Tomorrow we will have been on this cursed ship for 2 whole months. I have been reading "Of Plymouth Plantation", a book my mother gave me about the very first people to come to America and I have to say that I whole heartedly agree with them and know just what they were feeling in their ship. In the book there is a man who curses a lot and then he gets sick and dies. Though nobody had died yet (thank God), but most of the sailors here are like the man in the story. They cuss and are rude and sometimes I wish that they would get thrown overboard but then who would be here to take control of the ship so I am glad that they are here. Another problem that the people in the book faced was a fear of the boat breaking or sinking. Though this is my first time on a giant ship like this I have always been afraid if sinking or drowning. That is why I stay up on the top deck most of the day, it’s where I'm at right now. Well, I have to go but I will write again soon.

Nicole Kilbourne

Anne Bradstreet

To my Dear and Loving 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

Reflection/Chart:

Name and type:
To my Dear and Loving Husband; it is a lyric poem

Mood:
I feel peaceful and serene thinking of such a love that the wife has for her husband

Tone:
She feels in love at the time when the poem was written

Speaker:
The speaker is a wife missing her husband

Repetition:
She repeats “if ever” to show the many examples of her love

Imagery:
One good image in this poem is “mines of gold” because it shows how much she prizes her husbands love

Style:
She writes in plain style because she refers to common day items

Rhyme:
Every two lines rhyme

Verses Upon the Burning of Our House

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.

Reflection/Chart:

Name and type:
Verses upon the burning of our house; narrative

Mood:
When reading this poem I feel sad because any person’s house burning down is sad because they have pretty much lost everything

Tone:
First she is suffering and feels like she has lost everything but then she realizes that she is being vain and feels comforted by God

Speaker:
The speaker is a puritan woman whose house burned down.

Repetition:
She repeats fire to show how scared she is

Imagery:
She creates vivid images in her writing

Style:
She writes in plain style because she refers to common day items

Rhyme:
Every other line rhymes


Upon Some Distemper of Body

In anguish of my heart replete with woes,
And wasting pains, which best my body knows,
In tossing slumbers on my wakeful bed,
Bedrenched with tears that flowed from mournful head,
Till nature had exhausted all her store,
Then eyes lay dry, disabled to weep more;
And looking up unto his throne on high,
Who sendeth help to those in misery;
He chased away those clouds and let me see
My anchor cast i' th' vale with safety.
He eased my soul of woe, my flesh of pain,
and brought me to the shore from troubled main.

Reflection/chart:

Name and type:
Upon Some Distemper of Body; it is a narrative poem

Mood:
I feel sad because I don’t like it when any other people are in pain.

Tone:
She feels sick mournful and anguished because she is sick and in those days they really didn’t have any medicine and doctors and she could die.

Speaker:
The speaker is person who is sick

Repetition:
There is no repetition

Imagery:
Eyes lay dry, looking up unto his throne on high, He chased away those clouds

Style:
She writes in plain style because she refers to common day items

Rhyme:
Every two lines rhyme

Anne Bradstreet
http://www.annebradstreet.com/



Dear Diary,

This past week has been very hard for me because my home burned down and my husband had to leave for a little while. Though it has been hard getting through the tragedy of my house, I know that god will always be there and he is the all time author of my life. Though I know that he is the author I do wish that he had taken better care of me and not had my house burned to the ground, in it all of my memories gone. But alas I should not be saying these things because it is not the puritain way. Well I will write again soon

A.B.

Edward Taylor

Reflection/Chart:

Name and type:
Huswifery; it is a Narrative poem

Mood:
I feel jealous that he has such a good relationship with God

Tone:
he feels love and gratitude towards God

Speaker:
The speaker is man longing for the best relationship with God

Repetition:
She repeats “make me” to show that he longs for god to do his will in his life

Imagery:
good imagry in this poem is “Spoole, Fulling Mills, Colours Choice ” because it shows the different ways he wants to be made by God

Style:
He writes in plain style because he refers to common day items

Rhyme:
Every other line rhymes

In the poem Huswifery Edward Taylor expresses his desire for God’s grace through extended metaphor, repetition, and diction. The poet changes from beginning to end. It is a prayer for grace. Grace transforms poet or oneself from coarse imperfections to shining purity. Transformation of turning fuzzy wool into majestic robes. Religious poetry --> conceit emphasizes the underlying unity among all things in God’s creationTaylor compares granting of grace to housewife making homespun clothes

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

Dear Diary,

I write this diary to you oh lord, for I know that you will hear my prayers. I wrote you this poem to show you, and the world, that you are the first in my life and I want to be like you in all that I do. I want you to love me and sew into me your word so that I may never forget the great love that you have for me. I also want you to use me to help others come to know you lord as I know you. I like many other puritans feel that what ever you decide to accomplish with our lives it will always be the best. One of my dear friends died last week and I was very heartbroken for a little while but then I realized that he is with you in heaven and I should have nothing to be sad about.

Edward Taylor

Jonathan Edwards

In this verse is threatened the vengeance of God on the wicked unbelieving Israelites, who were God's visible people, and who lived under the means of grace; but who, notwithstanding all God's wonderful works towards them, remained (as verse 28.) void of counsel, having no understanding in them. Under all the cultivations of heaven, they brought forth bitter and poisonous fruit; as in the two verses next preceding the text. -- The expression I have chosen for my text, their foot shall slide in due time, seems to imply the following things, relating to the punishment and destruction to which these wicked Israelites were exposed.

That they were always exposed to destruction; as one that stands or walks in slippery places is always exposed to fall. This is implied in the manner of their destruction coming upon them, being represented by their foot sliding. The same is expressed, Psalm 72:18. "Surely thou didst set them in slippery places; thou castedst them down into destruction."

It implies, that they were always exposed to sudden unexpected destruction. As he that walks in slippery places is every moment liable to fall, he cannot foresee one moment whether he shall stand or fall the next; and when he does fall, he falls at once without warning: Which is also expressed in Psalm 73:18,19. "Surely thou didst set them in slippery places; thou castedst them down into destruction: How are they brought into desolation as in a moment!"

Jonathan Edwards

http://www.piney.com/JonEdwSinHands.html


Reflection:

In this passage Edwards uses words like “threatened, punishment, destruction, and castedst” to prove his tone of anger at the Israelites and fear that his congregation might follow in the same way. His anger at the Israelites is very visible in this sermon because he describes them in a very harsh way. Also I think there may be a hint of fear because why else would a preacher preach a story like this; he obviously wants to make sure that his congregation does not become “wicked unbelieving people”. Though this is only a written version I can imagine him preaching this sermon. In my imagined version he is very loud and I think he would have emphasized very much the aforementioned words.


Dear Diary,

This week I was writing a sermon to the people about the wicked Israelites. The sermon is not a hard one to teach because I feel very strongly about it. I can’t believe that the chosen people of God decided not to follow him. How can anybody decide not to follow god? God is the creator of all things and only his will is going to be done. Also there is no other way to get to heaven besides to go through Jesus. So why would any person decide not to go through Jesus and get a free guarantee to get into heaven. Well I feel that through my teachings God will speak to the people and I just have to make sure that I am listening to what god wants me to say.

Jonathan Edwards

Olaudah Equiano

I now saw myself deprived of all chance of returning to my native country, or even the least glimpse of hope of gaining the shore, which I now considered as friendly; and I even wished for my former slavery in preference to my present situation, which was filled with horrors of every kind, still heightened by my ignorance of what I was to undergo. I was not long suffered to indulge my grief; I was soon put down under the decks, and there I received such a salutation in my nostrils as I had never experienced in my life: so that, with the loathsomeness of the stench, and crying together, I became so sick and low that I was not able to eat, nor had I the least desire to taste any thing. I now wished for the last friend, death, to relieve me; but soon, to my grief, two of the white men offered me eatables; and, on my refusing to eat, one of them held me fast by the hands, and laid me across, I think the windlass, and tied my feet, while the other flogged me severely. I had never experienced any thing of this kind before, and although not being used to the water, I naturally feared that element the first time I saw it, yet, nevertheless, could I have got over the nettings, I would have jumped over the side, but I could not; and besides, the crew used to watch us very closely who were not chained down to the decks, lest we should leap into the water; and I have seen some of these poor African prisoners most severely cut, for attempting to do so, and hourly whipped for not eating. This indeed was often the case with myself.

Olaudah Equiano

Reflection:

The nastiness of the ships and the way that the people were treated was horrific. I can’t believe that he was severely beaten only because he did not want to eat. The imagery in this passage is also very powerful. I can see the beating in my mind. I know the only reason that the white men wanted the African Americans to eat was because they wanted them to be able to do hard labor once they got to America, which is a sad realization because it shows that people then didn’t care about the person only about the work being done. It is also sad because the Africans knew that they were never going to see their homes again and they were homesick. Some even thought that they were going to be eaten.

Diary:

I am scared. This place is the most disgusting place I have ever been in my short years of life. Being on this ship going to who knows where is insane. My family is gone and I don’t know what to do without them, without my friends and all of the people I know and love. The white men are very scary and I can not understand anything that they are saying. They make us eat though we do not want to because it tastes nasty. But I know that if I do not that they will beat me. I try to talk to the other people here on the ship but most of them speak other languages and I can understand them as much as I can the white men. Being pressed up against one another though has made me get close with this other man from my village that I had never really talked to because I didn’t like him. But he is one of the few that I know here and if I don’t talk to him then I will be alone again like I was the first few nights here.

Patric Henry

The war is inevitable--and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come.

It is in vain, sir, to extentuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace--but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God!

I know not what course others may take; but as for me,
give me liberty or give me death!

Patrick Henry

Reflection:

Patrick Henry knows that the only to attain freedom is to have a revolution and he knows that he has to die for the cause. This makes his speech all the more believable because you know that it is really coming from the heart. You can feel the emotion in the author’s word choice when reading this passage. He has a tone of urgency because of the upcoming war that he hopes for.

Dear Diary:

I know that today is going to be my last unless by a miracle of God I am freed from this dark and dreary prison. The revolution will be great and I know that I have to die for the cause though I am scared. But I know that I would rather have death then have no liberty for me or my children. I pray to God that this death will not be to incredibly painful and because I a ma Christian I know that to be absent from the body is to be present with God.

Thomas Paine

THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated. Britain, with an army to enforce her tyranny, has declared that she has a right (not only to TAX) but "to BIND us in ALL CASES WHATSOEVER," and if being bound in that manner, is not slavery, then is there not such a thing as slavery upon earth. Even the expression is impious; for so unlimited a power can belong only to God. Whether the independence of the continent was declared too soon, or delayed too long, I will not now enter into as an argument; my own simple opinion is, that had it been eight months earlier, it would have been much better. We did not make a proper use of last winter, neither could we, while we were in a dependent state. However, the fault, if it were one, was all our own*; we have none to blame but ourselves. But no great deal is lost yet. All that Howe has been doing for this month past, is rather a ravage than a conquest, which the spirit of the Jerseys, a year ago, would have quickly repulsed, and which time and a little resolution will soon recover.

Thomas Paine, the crisis no.1
http://www.puc.edu/Faculty/Rosemary_Dibben/English11/NewNation/PaineCrisis1.pdf

Refleciton:

Dear Diary:

Interviews

Cubism

Romantic

Antonia Mimicry

For several weeks after our drive over there, we heard nothing from the Mendez’s. My mother and I had both caught a cold and were stuck in bed. One night at dinner Daddy told us he had seen Mr. Mendez out job hunting.
Dane said. “Alex came along in the hallway at school yesterday where I was at my locker and showed me the 5 dollars he had found. He asked me if it was enough to buy food. I tried to tell him no, but he just looked like he was smarter then me and put it back in his wallet and walked off.”
The next morning I went down stairs and mom said “Now, Nicole,” mom was saying, “I need you to help me prepare some food for the Mendez’s”
After breakfast my whole family climbed into the warm van. As we approached the Mendez’s', we saw Alejandra, her hair tied up and her dress blown about her, throwing all her weight on the spicket as it turned. She heard our van, looked back over her shoulder, and, grabbing her bucket of water, started at a run for the tiny little hut.
The old man was sitting on a stool near the stove, crouching over as if he were trying to hide from us. Rosa was on the floor at his feet, her kitten in her lap. Alejandra was washing dishes in the corner. The crazy boy lay under the only window, stretched on a tiny little mattress. As soon as we entered, he threw a towel over the crack at the bottom of the door. The air in the hut was stifling, and it was very dark, too.
Dane and Mason soon came in with the basket. Then the poor woman broke down. She dropped on the floor and sat crying bitterly. Grandmother paid no heed to her, but called Alejandra to come and help empty the basket. She left her corner reluctantly. I had never seen her crushed like this before.
When my brothers went out, Martin crawled along the floor and stuffed up the door-crack again. Then, quietly as a shadow, Mr. Mendez came out from behind the stove. He stood brushing his hand over his smooth grey hair, as if he were trying to clear away a fog about his head. He was clean and neat as usual.
Mr. Mendez made my mom sit down on the only chair and pointed his wife to a stool beside her. Standing before them with his hand on Alejandra's shoulder, he talked in a low tone, and his daughter translated. He wanted us to know that they were not beggars in the Mexico; he made good wages, and his family was respected there. He left Mexico with more than ten thousand dollars in savings, after their passage money was paid. He had in some way lost on exchange in Texas, and the railway fare to North Carolina was more than they had expected. By the time they paid for the land, and bought everything that they needed, they had very little money left. He wished mom to know, however, that he still had some money. But the snow and the bitter weather had disheartened them all.
Alejandra explained that her father meant to build a new house for them in the spring.
While mom encouraged and gave them advice, I sat down on the floor with Rosa and let her show me her kitten. Martin slid cautiously toward us and began to exhibit his webbed fingers. Martin was always trying to be agreeable, poor fellow, as if he had it on his mind that he must make up for his deficiencies.
Mrs. Mendez grew more calm and reasonable before our visit was over, and, while Alejandra translated, put in a word now and then on her own account. As we rose to go, she opened her wooden chest and brought out a bag, stuffed full of something. When Mrs. Mendez opened the bag and stirred the contents with her hand, it gave out a nasty smell, very pungent. She measured a teacup full, tied it up in a bag, and presented it ceremoniously to my mom.
“For cook,” she announced. “Little now; be very much when cook,” spreading out her hands as if to indicate that the pint would swell to a gallon. “Very good. You no have in this country. All things for eat better in my country.”
Alejandra undertook to explain. “This very good, Mrs. Kilbourne, Cook with anything—oh, so good!”
That night, while my mom was getting dinner, we opened the package Mrs. Mendez had given us. It was full of little brown chips that looked like the shavings of some root.
She said, “I'm afraid of them. Anyhow, I don’t want to eat anything that had been shut up for months.”
She threw the package into the trash can, but I bit off a corner of one of the chips, and chewed it tentatively. I never forgot the nasty taste.

Questions:

When does language interfere with equal opportunity for immigrants?

They can’t get jobs at any place where they need to deal directly with people or any where that a person does not hire for not speaking the language.

How does one’s culture pre-destine a person for a specific lifestyle?

If the culture says that a girl only has one purpose and that is in the kitchen then probably they will be a housewife.

Which characters are able to step out of their pre-destined position?

I think that Antonia can step out of her position as a housewife when she becomes a dancer.

Which characters struggle with their assigned place? Why does Cather allow the reader to see this struggle? How is it part of the American Dream?

I think that Mr. Shimerda struggles and eventually feels that he wants to struggle no more and kills himself.

Where do boundaries occur in the novel?

There are boundaries when it comes to how well of a person can be and how hard a person has to work

Identify the different immigrants and indicate each one’s circumstance.

Antonia – she can speak better English then the rest of her family so she will be able to succeed more then them
Ms. Shimerda – wants material things is never happy, was the one that made the family move from Bohemia to Nebraska
Mr. Shimerda – sad because he can’t take care of his family or speak enough English to work with other people
Ambrosch – hard worker and though he doesn’t speak very much English he can get a job on a farm because he can do the work
Yulka – very young and can learn English with her sister will probably end up in school and be able to take care of the family farm
Krajek – evil man who only wants to rip people off so he can get money, needs to learnthat there is more to life then money
Marek – a retarded boy who will probably not go far and will need someone to take care of him for the rest of his life

Transcendentalists