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My Ántonia · Character

Widow Steavens

A neighbor who tells Jim about Ántonia's life after he leaves Black Hawk.

minor

Also known as The Widow Steavens

First appearance: i

Widow Steavens shows up with force in Book IV: The Pioneer Woman’s Story. The page is where that presence becomes real.

Tells Jim the full story of Ántonia's abandonment and her return to the farm.
In the storyBook IV: The Pioneer Woman’s StoryOpen this moment free

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In Book IV: The Pioneer Woman’s Story: Tells Jim the full story of Ántonia's abandonment and her return to the farm. Later, in II:…

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The fuller portrait of Widow Steavens sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See Widow Steavens in i

Character Web

8 connections

A slice of how Widow Steavens sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

GBGrandmother Bu…ÁSÁntonia ShimerdaGBGrandfather Bu…JQJames Quayle B…JBJim BurdenWSWidow Steavens

Relationship types

  • Other

Character groups

  • Extended community and later life
  • Central characters and family
  • Protagonist

+3 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Falling action.

SetupEscalationAftermathClimax
  • Setup
  • Escalation
  • Breaking point
  • Aftermath
  • Closing

Jim’s solitary reading of Virgil’s *Georgics* marks the emotional and psychological peak because it crystalliz…

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In the story

Widow Steavens appears across 3 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Chapter companion notes

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See Widow Steavens in i