Book 1: Chapter 11 Summary

During the week of Christmas, Jake is supposed to do the Christmas shopping for the family. However, the farm is snowed in. The family makes gifts instead of relying on the stores. They make books for A'ntonia and Yulka, and they make candles and gingerbread men for the Shimerdas. When the grandfather goes to deliver the gifts, he chops down a Christmas tree to bring home for Jim. The family decorates the tree, and Otto Fuchs's ornaments sent to him from his mother in Austria get special attention.

Book 1: Chapter 11 Analysis

The Christmas tree is special for Jim because it is a connection to his father, and his grandfather remembers how much Jim likes Christmas trees. The description of Otto's ornaments is followed by a comment about Jake and Otto being workers who may never have families of their own. It...