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Jim's paternal grandmother. She is 55 years old when Jim comes to live with her. A devout Christian, she acts as a maternal figure for Jim and also tries to look after the Shimerdas during their first winter. She has wrinkled brown skin and black hair, and is deeply concerned with Jim's education.

Emmaline Burden - Character Timeline in My Antonia

The timeline below shows where the character Emmaline Burden - appears in My Antonia. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...parents have recently died, and Jim and Jake are moving West to live with Jim's grandparents. (full context)

Jim's grandmother wakes him the following afternoon. He is confused by the layout of the house, with... (full context)

...Jim explores the farm and sees the windmill, cornfields, and pig-yards. He learns that his grandparents' house is the only wooden house in the area. The others are made of sod.... (full context)

That Sunday Otto Fuchs drives Jim and his grandmother to bring bread and provisions to the immigrant family they met on the train—their new... (full context)

As Jim settles into his new home, he begins to run errands for the Burdens and rides his pony, Dude, twice a week to the post office. He is captivated... (full context)

...it, every afternoon Jim gives Ántonia reading lessons. Ántonia eagerly learns to cook from Jim's grandmother, and, in return, teaches her how to make a "sour, ashy-grey bread" that is new... (full context)

Jim does not see Ántonia for weeks. One night, the Burdens learn that the Shimerdas are taking turns wearing their one overcoat and are eating prairie-dogs... (full context)

To Jim's grandmother, it's obvious that the Shimerdas are suffering because they haven't properly prepared for the winter... (full context)

Jim's grandmother is suspicious of the shavings Mrs. Shimerda gave them, so she throws them in the... (full context)

...heavy snowfall makes the roads impassable. Rather than do their Christmas shopping in town, the Burdens have a homemade "country Christmas." Jim's grandmother bakes gingerbread and Jim makes picture books for... (full context)

On Christmas morning the Burdens eat waffles and play dominos. Otto writes a letter to his mother in Austria, but... (full context)

Mr. Shimerda comes to visit the Burdens to thank them for the presents. As they sit in front of the stove, Jim... (full context)

There is good weather after Christmas, and Ántonia brings Mrs. Shimerda to visit the Burdens for the first time. But Mrs. Shimerda is angry and jealous of the Burdens' nice... (full context)

Two days after Jim's birthday, he wakes up to find his grandparents, Otto, and Jake in the kitchen, with Ambrosch asleep on a bench behind the stove.... (full context)

The Shimerdas now have a new log house, which the Burdens and other neighbors helped them build. They also have a new windmill and chicken-house, and... (full context)

When Jim turns 13, his grandparents decide to move to town because they are getting too old to farm and in... (full context)

...decide to move to the "wild West" to be silver prospectors. They leave after the Burdens move and send a postcard a few months later. Jim never hears from them again. (full context)

Jim's grandfather becomes the deacon of the new Baptist Church. His grandmother holds dinners for church functions and for farmers coming into town. But Jim yearns for... (full context)

Jim and his grandparents befriend their new neighbors, the Harlings, who are Norwegians. Mr. Harling is a successful grain... (full context)

After the Harling's cook leaves them, Jim's grandmother convinces Mrs. Harling to hire Ántonia. They do, and intend to pay Ántonia well, including... (full context)

When Jim's grandmother discovers he has been sneaking out to the Fireman's Hall, she gets upset and Jim... (full context)

At his graduation, Jim gives a speech that is very well received. His grandparents and the Harlings congratulate him. Afterward, he sees Ántonia on the street, and she tells... (full context)

Jim's grandmother decides Jim should sleep in the Cutters' house in Ántonia's place. On his third night... (full context)

The summer after finishing college and before entering Harvard Law School, Jim visits his grandparents in Black Hawk. While there, Jim visits with old friends and learns that Ántonia's fiancé... (full context)

When Jim takes his grandparents to have their photograph taken a few days later, he notices a picture of Ántonia's... (full context)

My Antonia

Willa Cather

Emmaline Burden - Character Analysis

Emmaline Burden - Character Timeline in My Antonia