Evan's Blog

There are many stories that are important to our history, stories that truly define what our culture is and was. California as a culture is very unique, and there is no better story that defines our culture than, "A Frontier Lady" by Sarah Eleanor Royce. This story is important for a few reasons, that is that it could be considered an artifact of history, it teaches us several things about history, and it contains information about California and the gold rush time period of California that a history textbook just couldn't. The reason it is better than most text books is because it is a first hand account, it is the hardship this Frontier Lady has to face, along with her family. The cold snow, and the long travels, all told from her point of view. The first important thing about this story I want to talk about is the fact that it could be considered an artifact of history. I first think it is important that I define what an artifact of history is meant to be. An artifac...

The story I am doing a closer analysis on is "Californian" (232-234) by Jaoquin Miller. The plot of this story basically is about her point of view of coming to California. She is on a boat at sea on her way to California. It speaks of sails that spread and come from around the world. In this story the literary device that is thoroughly built is character. The character is speaking from her experience, so we can see what he has been through. The way she has been through long travels, and the experience of coming to a new land. It shows her character in this story, and i feel this is very important when it comes to this story. The next important thing is to speak of the theme of this story. The theme of this story is how traveling long distances can be treacherous, but it can shape who you are. She sees what its like in California during the Gold Rush. She can hear the thundering of pickaxes throughout the base of the mountain, and I feel this is a part that is a real characte...

Jaoquin Miller, "Californian" Pages 232 - 234. This story beings talking about the sea. There are sails that are spread coming from around the world. It hints that these boats are there for trade.  After travel it talks about coming to a beach.  It said the beach is not a place for mirthfulness. Mirthfulness is, " Full of gladness and merriment" In the distance the Sierras are a head, it paints the picture of it against a beautiful blue sky. Towards the Sierras miners are seen. There are sounds of thousands of pickaxes hitting rocks.  It speaks of the old men who are mighty, they call themselves the "forty-nine".