Barren Ground (Masterplots II: Women’s Literature Series)
At a glance:
- Author: Ellen Glasgow
- First Published: 1925
- Type of Work: Novel
- Type of Plot: Historical realism
- Time of Work: The 1890’s to the 1920’s
- Setting: Queen Elizabeth County, Virginia
- Principal Characters: Dorinda Oakley, Eudora Oakley, Joshua Oakley, Jason Greylock, Nathan Pedlar
- Genres: Long fiction
- Subjects: Self-discovery
- Locales: Virginia
Form and Content
Barren Ground combines a realistic portrayal of the effort and knowledge necessary to revitalize impoverished Virginia farmland with an equally realistic study of Dorinda Oakley’s emotional development. She combines the suppressed energy of her romantic nature with her inheritance of an intense work ethic and channels them both into the restoration of Old Farm, rather than into passionate relationships. By having Dorinda substitute work and satisfying accomplishment for the seemingly inevitable disappointments of romantic passion and by allowing her to...
[The entire page is 2491 words long]
Join eNotes
Over 3,500 study guides, question and answer forums, literature criticism, reference content, and much more!
Navigate
See Also
