Title:
O Pioneers!
Bibliographic Information:
Cather, W. (1913). O pioneers!. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co.
Weekly Requirement:
Pleasure Reading Middle School/High School
Plot Description:
O Pioneers! tells the story of the Bergsons, family of Swedish immigrants living in rural Nebraska. Alexandra becomes the head of the family farm when her father dies. There has been drought and the neighbors keep leaving, including Alexandra's friend Carl Linstrum, but Alexandra holds on and stays on the land. One day Carl returns for a visit and find that the land has prospered as has the Bergson family. Alexandra's older brother become suspicious of Carl and are afraid he'll try to marry Alexandra. This causes a rift between the family and leaves Alexandra heartbroken. Family tensions and drama continue to mount throughout the story, but Alexander always holds on and stays on her land.
Quantitative Reading Level:
Plot Description:
O Pioneers! tells the story of the Bergsons, family of Swedish immigrants living in rural Nebraska. Alexandra becomes the head of the family farm when her father dies. There has been drought and the neighbors keep leaving, including Alexandra's friend Carl Linstrum, but Alexandra holds on and stays on the land. One day Carl returns for a visit and find that the land has prospered as has the Bergson family. Alexandra's older brother become suspicious of Carl and are afraid he'll try to marry Alexandra. This causes a rift between the family and leaves Alexandra heartbroken. Family tensions and drama continue to mount throughout the story, but Alexander always holds on and stays on her land.
Quantitative Reading Level:
Lexile 930
Qualitative Reading Analysis:
The language in the story is 19th century American English. The story is told in the third person. There are no flashbacks. However, the story is written into four parts and in between each part the story will flash forward a bit into the future. This adds some complexity to the story because it is more difficult to keep up with the time story's timeline, so students may require additional support to follow the timeline. The multiple themes discussed in the story such as romance, family loyalty, and poverty add additional complexity as well. Teachers may need to discuss these various themes with students to help them understand the different lessons they hold.
Content Area:
American Literature
Maine Common Core Content Area Standard:
Curriculum Suggestion:
High school English with the book either taught by an instructor or a book students can read on their own. Teachers lead discussions about the themes of the book and ask how they relate to themes of today. Students can also compare the book to other American classics such as The Grapes of Wrath.
Qualitative Reading Analysis:
The language in the story is 19th century American English. The story is told in the third person. There are no flashbacks. However, the story is written into four parts and in between each part the story will flash forward a bit into the future. This adds some complexity to the story because it is more difficult to keep up with the time story's timeline, so students may require additional support to follow the timeline. The multiple themes discussed in the story such as romance, family loyalty, and poverty add additional complexity as well. Teachers may need to discuss these various themes with students to help them understand the different lessons they hold.
Content Area:
American Literature
Maine Common Core Content Area Standard:
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.8.1
Cite the textual evidence that most strongly supports an analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
Cite the textual evidence that most strongly supports an analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.8.2
Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to the characters, setting, and plot; provide an objective summary of the text.
Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to the characters, setting, and plot; provide an objective summary of the text.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.8.3
Analyze how particular lines of dialogue or incidents in a story or drama propel the action, reveal aspects of a character, or provoke a decision.
Analyze how particular lines of dialogue or incidents in a story or drama propel the action, reveal aspects of a character, or provoke a decision.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.8.6
Analyze how differences in the points of view of the characters and the audience or reader (e.g., created through the use of dramatic irony) create such effects as suspense or humor.
Analyze how differences in the points of view of the characters and the audience or reader (e.g., created through the use of dramatic irony) create such effects as suspense or humor.
Curriculum Suggestion:
High school English with the book either taught by an instructor or a book students can read on their own. Teachers lead discussions about the themes of the book and ask how they relate to themes of today. Students can also compare the book to other American classics such as The Grapes of Wrath.
Series Information:
O Pioneers is the first in the Great Plains trilogy. The other books are The Song of the Lark and My Ántonia.
