The short story "Old Mrs. Harris" comes from Obscure Destinies, a collection of three short stories by Willa Cather. Today the story can be easily accessed in Collected Stories, a collection of short Cather fiction.

This short story provides a look at the relationships among three generations, all living under the same roof. Though considered fiction, students may find this story interesting because prototypes for the three generations were members of Cather's immediate family. Willa Cather herself is represented by the character Vickie.

Because the story is autobiographical, the instructor may want to do a quick review of biographical information on Willa Cather's life prior to beginning this short story.

Below are discussion topics with related quotations, all of which can be used for individual study, journal topics, essay topics, or class discussion. My favorite method is to divide students into groups and assign each group a topic. The topics can then be presented by students and discussed by the entire class.

"Old Mrs. Harris" Discussion Topics

1. This short story is filled with misunderstandings. Discuss Southern vs. Northern ways (cultures) and how this contributes to misunderstandings.
a. " . . . someone ought to be in the parlour, and somebody in the kitchen."
b. "We're only young once and trouble comes soon enough."
c. "Vickie's whole family puzzled Mrs. Rosen; their feelings were so much finer than their way of living."

2. How does Cather use the Rosens--the relationship of Mr. and Mrs. Rosen to each other and to those outside of the household--to inform the reader about the Templetons?
a. "Mr. Rosen was a reflective, unambitious man . . . ."
b. " . . . she always promply called her husband back to earth when he soared a little;"
c. "Den you will be something."

3. How does Cather display Mrs. Harris as a portrait of old age?
a. "She and the twins were about the same age;"
b. " . . . she became part of the group, became a relationship. She was drunk up into their freshness . . ."
c. Other quotations?

4. Discuss the importance of the death of Blue Boy.

5. Do you agree or disagree with the quotation, "Everything that's alive has got to suffer"? Explain.

6. Mrs. Templeton says, "If it were a love affair that the girl was crying about, that would be so much more natural--and more hopeful!"
a. What does this quotation say about Victoria's lack of understanding of her daughter's predicament?
b. What does this quotation say about Victoria herself?
c. How would Mrs. Harris interpret this quotation?
d. How would Mr. Templeton interpret this quotation?

7. List (summarize) the conflicts that occur among the three generations? In particular, make good use of the last paragraph of the story in your discussion.

About the Contributor:

Betty Kort is a 25-year veteran high school English teacher, a former Nebraska Teacher of the Year, a Disney Award Teacher, and the first teacher in Nebraska to receive the National Endowment for the Arts Teacher-Scholar Award. Most recently, she served as executive director of the Willa Cather Foundation for five years and presently serves as Special Projects Director for the Foundation and managing editor of the Willa Cather Newsletter and Review.