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After reading the short excerpt from "Land of Little Rain" and My Ántonia, compare and contrast the writing style of Cather and Austin. Both take care to recreate the landscape with their words. Which author is more effective? How and why? Use specific evidence and quotes from both texts.

Here are the assignment specifics:

Your document will have 3 pages: one for Austin, one for Cather, and the last one for summarizing.

Page 1 - Type this on the Austin page of your journal.

Write a one paragraph summary and analysis of Austin's writing.
Identify what she does well. Also note what is a challenge of her writing.
Provide examples and direct quotes.
Find one image that captures the description of Austin. Paste this on the Austin page of your journal response.

Page 2 - Type this on the Cather page of your journal.

Write a one paragraph summary and analysis of Cather's writing.
Identify what she does well. Also note what is a challenge of her writing.
Provide examples and direct quotes. Find one image that captures the description of Cather.
Paste this on the Cather page of your journal response.

Page 3 - On the summary page, write an "argument" paragraph discussing which author is more effective at utilizing place/environment in their writing.

Provide evidence and direct quotes.
Make sure this includes a claim, evidence, warrant, and conclusion statement.
Underline and label each of these for your teacher.

User Gautsch
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1 Answer

3 votes

Final answer:

Austin and Cather both employ detailed and descriptive writing styles in their portrayal of the landscape. While Austin's writing focuses on visual aspects, Cather's writing incorporates sensory details that evoke stronger emotional connections. Cather's writing style is more effective in immersing the reader and eliciting emotional responses.

Step-by-step explanation:

Austin

Austin's writing style can be described as detailed and descriptive, as she carefully recreates the landscape with her words. She paints a vivid picture of the surroundings, capturing the details and beauty of the environment. For example, in "Land of Little Rain," Austin writes, "Above the green is a cold dry air, with the bloom rubbed off. It is like the end of an atmospheres, endless still suttees distances under a rainless sky." Austin's writing effectively transports the reader to the location she is describing, allowing them to visualize the scene and feel connected to the environment.

Cather

Cather's writing style is also focused on recreating the landscape, emphasizing the details and atmosphere of the setting. In My Ántonia, she writes, "There was something biting and forbidding in the air that morning; ... the brown, dry earth, so free from dust ... made me want to throw myself on the ground and kiss it." Cather's use of sensory language creates a strong emotional connection to the landscape, allowing readers to experience the place through their senses.

Comparison

Both Austin and Cather are effective in their use of descriptive language to recreate the landscape. However, Cather's writing style is more emotionally evocative, as she incorporates sensory details that engage the reader's senses and create a deeper connection to the environment. Austin's writing, while still descriptive, focuses more on the visual aspects of the landscape. Overall, Cather's writing style is more effective as it immerses the reader in the setting and fosters a stronger emotional response.

User Spannerj
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