The Effects of Setting

Author Willa Cather embedded literary devices, such as metaphors, similes, and personification, within her writing.

"As I looked about me I felt that the grass was the country, as the water is the sea. The red of the grass made all the great prairie the colour of wine-stains, or of certain seaweeds when they are first washed up. And there was so much motion in it; the whole country seemed, somehow, to be running."

"The grave, with its tall red grass that was never mowed, was like a little island."

"Winter comes down savagely over a little town on the prairie. The wind that sweeps in from the open country strips away all the leafy screens that hide one yard from another in summer, and the houses seem to draw closer together. The roofs, that looked so far away across the green treetops, now stare you in the face, and they are so much uglier than when their angles were softened by vines and shrubs.


Antonia had to change not only herself but her setting as well, she had to go to the farm lands, she had to learn to farm in order to get food to eat. They did not have very much money, so they kind of depended on Antonia. After she left the farm lands she then moved to Black Hawk. She was changed in many ways, from being a hard working laborer to wearing fancy dresses and becoming a much successful young lady. Jim on the other hand was effected by the setting as well. Their long distant brotherly, sisterly relationship was going down the drain fast.


A setting that has a huge impact but mostly an effect to me is life. Life is like a roller coaster you just have to go with the flow. I think people need to realize that life is a journey not a destination. Many say "come on, enjoy it while you can." Some do not like to listen to their parents, take orders from people, work on a daily basis, or just in general take life for granted. We need to realize what we have, many do not see that. Life to me describes family, friends, loved ones, pets, just the simple things. I love my life and would not change one thing. I hope that life brings everyone joy and happiness and a journey that can be rembered.