[T]his girl seemed to mean to us the
country, the conditions, the whole adventure of our childhood.
(See Important Quotations Explained)
Summary: Introduction
The novel opens with an unnamed narrator recounting a
train trip through Iowa the previous summer with an old friend named
Jim Burden, with whom the narrator grew up in a small Nebraska town. The
narrator recalls talking with Jim about childhood on the prairie,
and then notes that while they both live in New York, they don’t see
each other much, since Jim is frequently away on business and since
the narrator doesn’t really like Jim’s wife. The narrator resumes
talking about the train trip with Jim through Iowa, adding that
their discussion kept returning to a girl named Ántonia, with whom
the narrator had lost touch but with whom Jim had renewed his friendship.
The narrator recounts that Jim mentioned writing down his memories
of Ántonia; the narrator expressed to Jim an interest in reading
these writings. A few months later in New York, according to the
narrator, Jim brought a portfolio of writings about Ántonia to show
to the narrator. The narrator adds that Jim, wanting to title the
work, wrote “Ántonia” across the front of the portfolio before frowning
and scribbling “My” before “Ántonia.”
Summary: Chapter I
As the narrative begins, Jim is ten years old, newly orphaned
and making the trip west from Virginia to stay with his grandparents
in Black Hawk, Nebraska. He is traveling in the company of a farmhand
named Jake Marpole, who is slightly older but who, like Jim, has
limited experience of the wider world. Beyond Chicago, a friendly
conductor informs Jim that an immigrant family, the Shimerdas, are
also bound for Black Hawk. Among this Bohemian family, the only
one who speaks any English is Ántonia, a young girl about Jim’s
age.
Once the train reaches Black Hawk, Jim and Jake disembark, and
one of the Burdens’ hired men, Otto Fuchs, meets them. Before departing
for the Burden farm, Jim observes the Shimerdas preparing to set
off as well. The emptiness of the Nebraska landscape at night overwhelms
Jim as he travels in the jolting wagon. Eventually, he falls asleep
on a bed of straw as the wagon travels into the night.
Summary: Chapter II
The next afternoon, at the farm, Jim’s grandmother, Mrs.
Burden, awakens him and draws a bath for him. Afterward, Jim explores
his new surroundings while Mrs. Burden prepares the evening meal.
At supper, Jake discusses Virginia with the Burdens. Later, Otto
tells stories of ponies and cattle to Jim, and the evening concludes
with some family prayers. In the morning, Jim begins to take in
the landscape around the farm. When he accompanies Mrs. Burden to
the garden to pick potatoes for supper, he stays behind after her
and sits quietly among the pumpkins.
Summary: Chapter III
On Sunday, the Burdens head out in the wagon to greet
their new Bohemian neighbors. Mrs. Burden explains that someone
took advantage of the Shimerdas when they decided to move to Black Hawk
by overcharging for a farmhouse not suited to the harsh Nebraska
winters. Mrs. Shimerda greets the Burdens upon arrival, and Mrs.
Burden presents her with some loaves of bread. They exchange greetings,
and, as the adults begin talking, Jim and Ántonia run off to play
with her youngest sister, Yulka, trailing behind. As they wander
through the grass, Jim teaches Ántonia a few English words. When
the Burdens prepare to depart, Mr. Shimerda entreats Mrs. Burden
to teach English to Ántonia.
Summary: Chapter IV
Later that same day, Jim takes his first of many long
pony rides. As he rides, he reflects on Otto’s story that the sunflowers
that fill the prairies sprang from seeds scattered by Mormons on
their way to Utah. Jim rides twice a week to the post office, and
he describes many other rides that he takes simply to wander or
explore the local wildlife, with Ántonia accompanying him at times.
Jim begins giving Ántonia regular English lessons, and she loves
to help Mrs. Burden around the house.
