Tom Outland’s Story
by Willa Cather
Parts I-V:
- In what ways are Tom and Roddy Blake different? How are their personalities suited to one another?
- What details about the ancient Indian civilization does Father Duchene provide? Also, explain his theory that “They were, perhaps, too far advanced for their time and environment.”
- What can you conclude about Father Duchene’s personality and background from his observations?
- Choose a paragraph that has particularly vivid images. To which senses do particular images appeal?
Setting and Theme:
The story opens in a little Mexican town, as a freight crew is playing a late game of poker. Certain items in this setting suggest local color—the dialect of the train men, descriptions of the routine of small-town life, and hints of humor. Yet this initial scene gives way to the mesa setting, which dominates the narrative.
- What do you learn about the lives of the freight crew in the initial scene?
- Using Cather’s text to support your point, how does she present the cliff dwellings as a place of awe or peace?
- Father Duchene identifies objects and structures in Cliff City and explains the personal and cultural values implied by these objects. Examine your bedroom or kitchen or family/living room at home (or a combination of those) and pretend you are an anthropologist from the future who has to describe to your civilization in a few paragraphs what this setting reveals about the people who inhabit it.
Tom Outland’s Story
by Willa Cather
Parts VI-VII:
- How does Tom evaluate the people he meets in Washington DC—their motives, values, and lifestyles? Be specific about at least three of the characters he meets.
- What are Roddy’s motives for selling the artifacts, and how do they differ from what Tom mistakenly believes are his motives?
- By the end of the story, it is clear Tom and Roddy have differing attitudes and values. What are they, and how do they cause their misunderstanding? And why does Tom search so long for Roddy in the years that followed their time together on the mesa?
- In what way does Mother Eve’s ironic ending represent the theme of the story?
- A strong sense of the life and landscape of the Southwest permeates this story. Briefly examine the text and select three examples from Part VII of descriptive detail or imagery that clearly reflect this southwestern flavor.
- The major theme of this story is based on a clash of values. In a few paragraphs, discuss this theme, supporting your point with examples of the clashing values and the settings and characters in which they are found.