A Thousand Acres:A Thousand Acres:King LearKing Lear in a Cornfield in a Cornfield

"A family portrait that is also a near-epic investigation into the broad landscape, the thousand dark acres of the human heart. . . . The book has all the stark brutality of a Shakespearean tragedy." —The Washington Post Book World

Basic InformationBasic Information

Author—Jane SmileyAuthor—Jane Smiley Published in 1991; won Pulitzer Prize Published in 1991; won Pulitzer Prize

in 1992in 1992 Writes frequently about family Writes frequently about family

dysfunctiondysfunction Widespread critical acclaim upon Widespread critical acclaim upon

publicationpublication

PlotPlot

A Thousand AcresA Thousand Acres

Larry, the father, decides to retire Larry, the father, decides to retire from farming and divide land from farming and divide land among daughtersamong daughters

Caroline objects and family Caroline objects and family argues over their inheritance, argues over their inheritance, destroying sibling relationshipsdestroying sibling relationships

Eventually the hidden family Eventually the hidden family conflict surrounding the father’s conflict surrounding the father’s past emerges and further shakes past emerges and further shakes up the familyup the family

Side plot of Ginny and her marital Side plot of Ginny and her marital and childbearing issuesand childbearing issues

King LearKing Lear

Lear wishes to retire from power Lear wishes to retire from power and divide his kingdom among and divide his kingdom among daughtersdaughters

Cordelia objects and is disownedCordelia objects and is disowned The family argues about rightful The family argues about rightful

ownership of the kingdom, ownership of the kingdom, resulting in fighting and resulting in fighting and bloodshedbloodshed

Sisters duke it out in the endSisters duke it out in the end Everyone diesEveryone dies

CharactersCharacters A Thousand AcresA Thousand Acres

Farmer Larry in IowaFarmer Larry in Iowa 3 daughters-Rose, 3 daughters-Rose,

Ginny, CarolineGinny, Caroline Husbands-Pete, TyHusbands-Pete, Ty Ginny’s love interest-Ginny’s love interest-

JessJess Farm setting is also a Farm setting is also a

character that drives character that drives actionaction

King LearKing Lear

King Lear in Great King Lear in Great BritainBritain

3 daughters—Regan, 3 daughters—Regan, Goneril, and CordeliaGoneril, and Cordelia

Suitors-various DukesSuitors-various Dukes Goneril’s love interest-Goneril’s love interest-

EdmundEdmund Kingdom is also a Kingdom is also a

character that drives character that drives passions and actionpassions and action

Themes for Both NovelsThemes for Both Novels

Father-daughter relationshipsFather-daughter relationships Appearance vs. realityAppearance vs. reality The power of natureThe power of nature Order vs. disorderOrder vs. disorder Generational dividesGenerational divides Fate vs. free willFate vs. free will

Important QuotationsImportant Quotations ““I always think that things have to happen the I always think that things have to happen the

way they do happen, that there are so many way they do happen, that there are so many inner and outer forces joining at every event that inner and outer forces joining at every event that it becomes a kind of fate.” (22)it becomes a kind of fate.” (22)

““This isn’t a question of right or wrong, it’s a This isn’t a question of right or wrong, it’s a question of what he wants to do.”question of what he wants to do.”

““I feel like there’s treacherous undercurrents all I feel like there’s treacherous undercurrents all the time. I think I’m standing on solid ground, the time. I think I’m standing on solid ground, but then I discover that there’s something moving but then I discover that there’s something moving underneath it, shifting from place to place. underneath it, shifting from place to place. There’s always some mystery.” (104)There’s always some mystery.” (104)

Important QuotationsImportant Quotations ““I don’t know why I was surprised to discover everything changed, I don’t know why I was surprised to discover everything changed,

since it was obvious in retrospect that I had sought to change it.” since it was obvious in retrospect that I had sought to change it.” (172)(172)

““When my father asserted his point of view, mine vanished. Not When my father asserted his point of view, mine vanished. Not even I could remember it.” (176)even I could remember it.” (176)

““Most issues on a farm return to the issue of keeping up Most issues on a farm return to the issue of keeping up appearances….What his farm looks like boils down to questions of appearances….What his farm looks like boils down to questions of character.” (199)character.” (199)

“…“…a destiny that we never asked for, that was our father’s gift to a destiny that we never asked for, that was our father’s gift to us.” (220)us.” (220)

““In the face of that, if there aren’t some rules, then what is there? In the face of that, if there aren’t some rules, then what is there? There’s got to be something, order, rightness. Justice, for God’s There’s got to be something, order, rightness. Justice, for God’s sake.” (235)sake.” (235)

Important QuotationsImportant Quotations ““People keep secrets when other people don’t People keep secrets when other people don’t

want to hear the truth.” (258)want to hear the truth.” (258)

““So all I have is the knowledge that I saw! That I So all I have is the knowledge that I saw! That I saw without being afraid and without turning saw without being afraid and without turning away, and that I didn’t forgive the unforgivable. away, and that I didn’t forgive the unforgivable. Forgiveness is a reflex for when you can’t stand Forgiveness is a reflex for when you can’t stand what you know. I resisted that reflex. That’s my what you know. I resisted that reflex. That’s my sole, solitary, lonely accomplishment.” (356)sole, solitary, lonely accomplishment.” (356)

““Rose left me a riddle I haven’t solved, of how we Rose left me a riddle I haven’t solved, of how we judge those who have hurt us when they have judge those who have hurt us when they have shown no remorse or even understanding.” (370)shown no remorse or even understanding.” (370)

Correlation to AP QuestionsCorrelation to AP Questions Many writers use a country setting to establish values within a work of literature. For Many writers use a country setting to establish values within a work of literature. For

example, the country may be a place of virtue and peace or one of primitivism and example, the country may be a place of virtue and peace or one of primitivism and ignorance. Choose a novel or play in which such a setting plays a significant role. ignorance. Choose a novel or play in which such a setting plays a significant role. Then write an essay in which you analyze how the country setting functions in the Then write an essay in which you analyze how the country setting functions in the work as a whole. (2006)work as a whole. (2006)

One definition of madness is "mental delusion or the eccentric behavior arising from One definition of madness is "mental delusion or the eccentric behavior arising from it." But Emily Dickinson wrote “Much madness is divinest Sense-To a discerning Eye-” it." But Emily Dickinson wrote “Much madness is divinest Sense-To a discerning Eye-” Novelists and playwrights have often seen madness with a "discerning Eye." Select a Novelists and playwrights have often seen madness with a "discerning Eye." Select a novel or play in which a character's apparent madness or irrational behavior plays an novel or play in which a character's apparent madness or irrational behavior plays an important role. Then write a well-organized essay in which you explain what this important role. Then write a well-organized essay in which you explain what this delusion or eccentric behavior consists of and how it might be judged reasonable. delusion or eccentric behavior consists of and how it might be judged reasonable. Explain the significance of the "madness" to the work as a whole. Do not merely Explain the significance of the "madness" to the work as a whole. Do not merely summarize the plot. (2001)summarize the plot. (2001)

Choose a novel or play that depicts a conflict between a parent (or a parental figure) Choose a novel or play that depicts a conflict between a parent (or a parental figure) and a son or daughter. Write an essay in which you analyze the sources of the and a son or daughter. Write an essay in which you analyze the sources of the conflict and explain how the conflict contributes to the meaning of the work. Avoid conflict and explain how the conflict contributes to the meaning of the work. Avoid plot summary. (1990)plot summary. (1990)