Sun Quote by Willa Cather
““There were no clouds, the sun was going down in a limpid, gold-washed sky. Just as the lower edge of the red disk rested on the high fields against the horizon, a great black figure suddenly appeared on the face of the sun. We sprang to our feet, straining our eyes toward it. In a moment we realized what it was. On some upland farm, a plough had been left standing in the field. The sun was sinking just behind it. Magnified across the distance by the horizontal light, it stood out against the sun, was exactly contained within the circle of the disk; the handles, the tongue, the share—black against the molten red. There it was, heroic in size, a picture writing on the sun.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: My Ántonia, Willa Cather, 1918
A lone plow appears as a dark silhouette against a golden sunset, evoking heroic, mythic imagery.
In simple terms: A plow looks like a heroic figure on the sun.
Key Takeaway
Notice everyday objects can inspire awe.
Themes
nature
imagery
heroism
rural life
mythic
Mood
reflective
nostalgic
Type
literary
descriptive
When to use this quote
- creative writing
- visual arts
- education
Key Concepts
Symbolism
visual metaphor
romanticism
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the plow symbolize for you?
- How does setting shape perception?
A Different Perspective
May romanticize harsh realities of frontier life.
