Post on 25-Jan-2023
Proeeeding of the I $'ELITE Conference
Vol. l: 0n Linguistics and Literature
Edito rs:
Miftahul Huda
Ahmad Ghozi
Published b},:Maulana Malik lbrahim State lslamic university 0f lllalang
in cooperation with Naila Puslaka lnc.
Procee$U of the 1s ELITE Conlerence
Vol. l:0n Linguistics and Literature
THE MULTIFACETED DIMENSIONS OF LINGUISTICS,
LITERATURE, AND LANGUAGE TEACHING
copyright @ 2014. All rights reserved,
No part of this publication may be r€produced or dlslributed in any form
or by any means, or stored in a database or relrieval 6rstem, without
the pdor writi€n p€rmissior of lho publisher and the writers.
Edllor3:
Miflahul Huda
Ahmad Gho2l
Deslga Covet
Robait Usman
Fir6l prinled 2014
tsBN 97G602-1230-01-9
Publbhed by:Maulana Malik lbrahim Stale lslafiic lJniversity of Malang
in cooperation with Naila Pustaka lnc.
Prlnted ln:Naila Pustaka
Jl. Kemutug 32 Ring Road Solatan
Banguntapan - Bantul Yogyakarta 55191
Hp:081 555 788 5$email: naila.pustaka@gmail.com
'ru1
l
I PRESERVING THE LEGACY OF THE AMERICAN
FRONTIER IN WILDER'S I,'TTLE HOUSE ON THE
PRAIRIE
f itien Dia h Soe I i stya fi ni
Airlangga University
A. lntroduction
The westward expansion of the United States is one of the defining
themes of lgth-century American history. The expansion i5 commonly
deflned as th€ moverient of people especially the white settlers from the
settled land in the eastern part of Ameriaan continent to the uninhibited
Iand on the west. As more and n]o.e influxof immigrants during the 18ih
a n d 1 grh centu ry had overcrowded Am erica n territo ry along the east coast,
there w'ar a growing demarrd io open new lands for these settler5.
However, the need for rew land was endless as many of the pioneers
stayed only a few years before aoltinuing lvestward in search of cheaper
and more feffile lani (Tindall & shi 2007: 321). This ,novement had
coniiantly pllt theae pioneers on the outer border and in Cireaf contact
with the wildernes! ihal in the context of Ameiican history wal termed as
the"frontierl
The idea of the frontier as a significant factor in the course of the
American history was first suggested by a young historian Frederick
jackson Turner In Ihe Significonce af the Frcntier in American History 119201,
Turner asserts that from the conditions of frontiei life came inteliectual
traits of profound importance. The works of travelers along each frontier
from colonial days onurard describe certain common traitt and these
traits have, !vhile soFtening down, stiil persi3ted as survivals in the place of
their origin, even when a higher social organization succeeded. The tesult
496 i,ro&erln(0iLrj I.FLlT&ife€r.e ltd I an Lfttlilli.x atl Ltr aiuft
is that to the frontier the American intellect owes its striking
characte stics- According to Turner, that coarseness and strength
combined with acuteness and inquisitiveness; that practical, inventive
turn of mind, quick to find expedients; that masterful grasp of material
things, lacking in the artistic but powerful to effect great ends; that
restless, nervous energy; thai dominant individualism, working for good
and for evil, and that buoyancy and exuberance which comes with
freedom - these are traits of the frontier, or traits called out elsewhere
because of the existence ofthe frontier.
The significant role that the f.ontier has played in shaping American
cultural values is also suggested by Datesman, Crandall & Kearny (2005:
73) believing that the frontier has set an inspiring example of ha{d work
dedicated by the pioneers who have turned the face of America from
wilderness into small towns, and later into biq cities-The life in the frontier
has also contribLrted the values of self-reiiance and individLral freedom, as
well as the inventiveness and can do spirit that weie among the must-
have characteristias for the pioneers in order to survive in the frontier.
Hence, for Afieriaans the frontier is not only literally understood as the
borderline between civilization represented by the eastern territory and
wilderness represented by the western territory srnce the frontier did not
die out as the far westei frontier was settled only a quarter ccntury after
the westlvard expansion started. ln fact, the legacy of the frontier
continues to iive on as many Americans today are still allured by the
frontier as reflected through the popular;ty of literary works, movies and
television shows that romanticize the theme ofthe American frontiet
One of the well-known works in American literature that raises the
theme ofAmerican frontier life in the l9'h century is an autobiographical
novel Liftle Hause on the Prdir€ written by Laura lngalls Wilder This
histcrical fiction dedicated for children has becorne a very popular novel
in America. lt is one of Wilders series of novels kncwn as the little Houie
6ookt which has re.eived many awards and become a source ofinspiration for a TV drama series flearing the same title airing from 1974 to
1983. As an authot Wilder has also received numerous awardt and as an
rrrtrnlnq Lt n€ I'tLrIL ftnieEnce Lll IarLho stadrnOaaltte 497
honor and recognition for her work, the American Library Association
even uses her name for an awaad given every three years to authors and
illustrators who have given a great and everlasting cont bution to
children's literature (Mayer 2009).
Portraying the life of a pioneer family in the frontier, which is
uniquely American, Wildet's Little Houte on the Prode is not only popular
among Amedcan audience. lt also gains popularity with children
worldwide as it has been translated into many different languages. The
ups and downs in the life of the lngalls set on the wilderness of the
frontier have made th;s novel interesting to study in order to gain a befter
understandinE ofthe American culturalvalues as one of the great legacies
of the American frontier. To further examine the relevance of these
inherjted values for the contemporary American society and the values
they adhere tc, this study applies the sociology of literature, in which
according to Eagleton (1988:469) literature is vieweC in en important
sense as a social product. Accordingly, there are two main ways in which
an interest in the socjology of literature can be justified, ie. realist and
pragmatist. For the realist, literature is in fact deeply conditioned by its
social context, and any critical account of it which omits this fact is
therefore automaticaliy deficient. l\4eanwhile, for the pragmatist, literature
is in fact shapeC by ali kinds offactors and readable in all sorts of contexts,
but highlighting its social determinants is useful and desirable from a
particular political standpoint. Thus, through the lens of sociology of
literature, this study will be able to analyze Wilder's novel as a social
proCuct by examining its social context that reflects the social condition of
the society portrayed in the novel as well as the present-day society who
still tak,"s pleasure in reading this novel.
1. Frontier!AnA(culturation olCivilizationandWilderne5s
Frontier as the meeting point between civilization and wilderness is
clearly portrayed in the story of the lngalls, even right from the beginning
Opened with the chapter titled "Going WesL" the novel has given a
..""1 , F .a tj a1ln d
foreshadowing of the imminent contact between two cultures through
the moving of the lngalls from their little house in the Big Woods,
Wisconsin.
A long time ago, when all the grundfothets and grcndmothers oftodoy werc little boys and little gi s ot vety small babies, ot pehops
not even bom, Pa and Ma ond Mary and Laura and Baby Ca e leftthei little house in the Big Woods of wsconsin They drcve away and
Ieft it lonely and empty in the cleaing among the big trees, ond they
never saw that fittle house ogain.
They werc going to the lndian country, (Wilder 2004: l)
Laura assumes that their moving westlvard is heading to the lndian
territory. Experiencing such a journey is so unique and unusual that it
arouses a curiosity for a five-year-old girl like Laura. She even ifuants to
meet tndians, thus, she dces not stop asking questions about them to his
fathet, Pa,"What is a papoose?" and Pa replies, A papoose is a little, btuwn,
lndian baby" (u/ilder 2004: 6). Laural cu.iosity, according to Romines
(1997: 45), shows thal "her conscious frontier experience has begunl
Hence, as a child growing in the frontier, Laura undeniably experiences a
process of interaciion with an r-Jnfamiliar culture. As the representation of
civilization, the Anglo-American culture has become a part of the lngails
since they lived in Wisconsin. However, thek moving westward has made
them encounter a different culture, especially that of the lndians who
representthe wilderness in this novel.
Nevertheless, not all Fiembers of the lngalls share the same
enthusiasm towards the lndian as Laura. Her mother, Ma, especially does
not like Laura's inqLriryaboutthe lndian.
'Whete iso papoose, Mo?"Laurc asked.
"Don't speakwithyow mouth full, Loutu: taid Ma.
So Loutu chewed ond swallowed, and she said, "l want to see a
papoose:'
"Mercy on us!" Ma said.'Whatever mokesyou want to see lndians?We will see enough of them. Morc than we want ta, I wouldn'twondet." (Wildet 2A04 46)
t'need Jr{] ol tre 1! Ft nt Ltils.ne bl 1: 0n I i\Lislix atu1 Litaztft
Laurat curiosity is finally paid off when she meets Wvo lndians
coming to their house a5 told in the chapter"lndians in the House.,,Laura
describes these lndians and herfeeling when she finally meetsthem.
Fig.t. First encounter with thelndian in the frontleriwilder2004: :39)
... she saw two naked, wild
men coming, one behind the
otheL on the Indian ttuil-
They wete tall, thin, fierce-
looking men. Theh skin was
brownith rcd. Thetu heods
seemed to go up to o peok, and
the peak was a tuft of hah that
stood stroight up and ended in
feothers. Their eyes wete biack
and still and glifte ng, like
sndke's eyes.
"lndions!" Mary whispeted.
Laura was shiveing; thete wos a
ciueet leeling in her middle ond
the bones in het legs felt weok.
She wanted to tit dawn. But she
stood and laoked 6nd woited fotthose lndians to come out fiombeyand the house. The Indians
did not do rhdt (Wilder 2004:
134_13s).
This frightening description of the lndian from a child,s point of view, fornovelist and Washington Post reporter Dennis McAuliffe who descendedfrom the Osage lndian, does not portray the reality and tends to promotenegative stereotypes of Indians associated as barbaric, brutal and blood-
ProEd ng ol he I ! EL Tt Ornteldre Val I hL.grxL',atJLit GniP
thirsty. The.eforq he considers this novel misleading for children in
understanding the history of the frontier Unllke McAuliffe Romines (1997:
51) views this extremely complex scene as an attempt to convey, from a
white girl's viewpoint to a readership of children, the extraordinary
stresses and tensions that burdened even the simplest contact betlveen
Euro-American females and lndian men.These tvvo opposing opinions are
understandably resulted from two different cultural backgrounds, one as
lndian and the other as white.
Yet, for Laura, her great curiosity has made her see the lndian as
both appealing as well as frightening. The chapter"The Tall lndian" shows
both portrayal5 through two contacts with the lndian who come to their
house. The first .ontact is with the Osage lndian, who according to Pa is
quite friendly although they do not share a ve.bal communication due totheir inability to understand each othert languages. Then. the second
contact with tlvo lndians who come when Pa is outto town is descdbed as
quite frightening for the lngalh'women because these lndians take theirbelongings even though they do no physical assault. Meanwhile, fo. other
characters in the novel who previouily had an unpleasant encounter withthe Indian, such as lr4rs. Scot,
"The only good lndion was adead lndion.Thevety thought of lndiansmade het blood tun cold" (Wlder 2004: 211).
The adaptation to the frontier life thar white settlers like the lngalls
have to deal with involves a process of accultLlration between the culture
they have brought along with them and the new culture they just
encounter in the new land that is necessary to ensure their survival in thefrontier Even though the whites often assurne that they come from a
higher civilization than the lndians, in many things these settlers have toadopt and adapt the Indian way of life. ln this case, the lngails is no
exception. ln order to make a living for his farnily, Pa has to hunt for food,just like the lndians. Frequently, Pa also keeps fur or animal skin fo. his
familyto use.
Pr@ediry ol hc 1' tL lL CrnleEne VdtArt;,!t^!)tlLntu te
Lourc held the edge of the rubbit skin while Po's keen knife ipped itoff the nbbit meot. "l'll solt this skin and peg it out on the house wall
to dtyi' he soid. "lt witt make a wam fu cap fot some little gitl to wear
next wintet:' (Wildet 2004: 1 45)
This habit is not far removed from what the lndians commonly do
with their qame. Correspondingl, Walsh (2006:124) states that the
settlement of western lands also involved a 5ocio cultural development
process in which migrants and immigrants adapted to new environments
by adopting different habits or modirying their patterns of behavior.
lvloreover, the lngallE house also has a fireplace on the floor and a
chimney in the root which is similar to the tndians' even though the
ingalls, especialfy Ma, is not willing to admit thal."lf we wanted to live like
ln.iians, you could make a hole in the roof ta let the smoke out, and we'd ha\e
the firc on the floot inside the house: toid Ma. "lndians do:' (Wildet 2004:76).
Their reluctance to assume simi:arity with the lndian cnce again confirms
Ma's attempts to draw a cultural line between civilization (the
lngalls/white settlers) and wilderness (the lndians)
2, The Cultu.alValues ofthe Frontier
The hard stiuqqle for life in the frontier has given a great impact on
the whiie settlers who dreamed of a better l;fe. A5 Datesrnan, Crandall &
Kearny {2005) suggest, there have been numerous inspiring example5 of
American traditionalv3lues rooted from the frontier life in the 'l9th century.
Furthermore, according to Walsh {20C6:125), many frontier traits has
become American traits because the frontier experience was transmitted
both qeographically across space and historically through time. This
perfectly fits with Wilde.! novel l/ft/e Houte on the Prcirie lhat also
portrays some American traditional values that include:
Fh.ccnlnq oi rl e lrlLTtC.niecno I Vd.l:O) lig,isLlr md Lknltne
a. HardWorkand Self-Reliance
The lngalls' struggle forlife has even started since they
begin their journey. long before
they find a free land to settle. In
the chapter "Crossinq the
CreeK" they must face their first
trial of hardship when theirwagon is nearly carried away by
the swift current so that Pa has
to jump into the river to lead
the horses. The family can get
through it although they have
to lose Jack their beloved dog,
which does not ride on thewagon when they are crossing
the .reek. Eventually, Jack isreunited with the family a few
days later after he safely swims
to cross the areek
Fi9.3. Pa is trying to help Ma
as the heavy lo9 falls on her.
The sparse population in thefrontier inevitably forces settlers torely on no one but themselves. The far
distance between houses and theabsenci of government aids in times
of need have also taught them a
lesson on self-reliance. All ofthese are
clearly portrayed in the life of thelngalls in Wilder's Liftle House on the
Prai e. When they finally reach theprairie and decide to seftle there, they
have to work hard without countinq
on assistance from others to build
Fig.2. Pa leads Pet and Patty to cross
the creek Wilder 2004: 22)
P.o.€edii0 ol lhc I " Ft TI CrnierenE Vol. l: At LhE]i\ti.ll ad I itffitft
Milder 2004: 60) their own house. Even with only two
adult members of the familt Pa dan
N{a, there is no othet option for a
woman like Ma except to work hard to
help Pa building their dream house.
This undoubtedly show that
traditional gender roles between man
and woman, as commonly held bY
American family of that era, hasto be
temporarily sacrificed in the frontierfor a greater cause, which is achieving
their dream of a better life. ln this novel, Ma is described as almost fainted
when a heavy pjece of log fall and nearly hit her \irhen she is helping Pa to
put the logs for theirwall.
The hard work and selfjeliance as shown by Ma and Pa are an
ev.ample of American values rooted in the frontiet As Datesman, Crandall
& Kearny (2005:74) state that the settiers have to be self relidnt without
depending on others. Eoth men and wolnen who live in the frontier often
have to build their own house, go hLinting, plant crops foi their own
needs. Inevitabl, they also selv their own clcthes and produce their own
household utenslls. The sanre thing is also done by the lngalls when
settling in the frcnlier That oftemoon l,4a sat sewing in fhe shade of the
house, and Eaby Ca e played on the quilt beside her, while Lauro and Mory
wot hed Pa build the fhepl@ce (Wilder 2004: 1 13). They have to work hard
r-o fulfillfor their own needs without getting any help
The valLies of hard work and self-reliance as an integ.al part ofthe
frontier life are not only attdbtlted to men and adults. Frontier women are
also required to possess the same tlaits as represented by the character of
N4a. Accordingly, Mauk & Oakland (2005:73) stale that contradictory tc the
conventional view of women, on the western frontier women! skills were
as essential as men's and the scarcity of women meant they could not be
pampered. N{oreover, frontier children, j{lst Iike Laura, has also been
tauqht by their parents to be self-reliant by giving them responsibilities to
lroc€€dlnq oi hc li EL II lnnlsen@ 1 Vd.lAn UngiriLj aad LiLntE
do chores that fit for their age and competence. Mary and Laura as big
girls are given the responsibility to fetch water from the creek and look
after the cattle. As girls, they have to help their pa.ents to do anlthing.
even to do a man's job as illustrated in the novel when Laura helps Pa to
make a doorfor their house.
Overall, hard work and self-reliance as American traditional values
are one of the contributions of the frontler that has helped shaping the
Ame.jcan character and identity. Both values has contributed to the
frontier's work-ethic which according to Derman ('1995: 132) has generally
chara(terized the American people. this frontier ethic has encouraged
American5 to believe that their dream for a better life. which i5 known as
the?merican Dream," is not an impossible thing to achieve..n
b. The Spirit of lnventiveness and the Can-Do Spirit
An inventive individual is a highly-respected figure in the context of
the frontier. The ability to stand on their own feet without relying on
others known as self-reliance has prompted the spidt of inventiveness
among the frontiersmen . They are not only required to fulflll most oftheir
cwn staplet but they also have to constantly face new problems in a new
situation demanding for new solutions. ln these circumstancet they have
to learn to quickly adapt by trying on new ways and methods of doing
thins. Their determination to try and find new things later results in
another American character, which is the tan-do'spirit - an optimism that
the.e is always a 5olution to every problem (Datesman, Crandall & Kearny
2005:77).
Prmedin! of dre 1' ELm 0nlec.ce V, t I th LnSui,tF eN t tetatu,j
Ftg.4. Pa and Laura ar€
working on the door
for their house Milder
2oa4t 1O2)
The frontier with its limitation and
discomfoft has served as a challenge for white
settlers like the lngalls who have left all the
warmth and comfort of their little house in the
Big Woods. Problem after problem, hardship
after hardship, just come and go. When
building their little house on the prairie, Pa has
to flnd alternatives for tools and resources
unavailable in the frontier He must find a new
v,;ay to replace tools commonly used in the east
but difficult to find in the frontiet A nail, for
example, is a luxury in lhe lrontier becadse in
orderto obtain nails Pa has to go to the nearest
town, which is a five-day trip away. "l have no
morc nailt but I'll not keep on waiting till I can
make a ttip to lndependence:' he said. 'A man
doesn't need nailsto build o house ot make o
doot" iwildet 2OO4t 100). Pa's spirit of inventiveness becomes evident in
this situation sc that without a nail Pa .an still flnish buiiding their linle
house with a front doot
The doot wos finished. lt't/o5 strcng and solid, made ofthick ook wilh
oak slabs across it, all pegged together with good stout pegs. The
lotch st ng wos out; if you v'/onted to come in, you pulled the lotch'
string. But if you werc inside ond wanted to keep onyone out, then
yau pulled the lot.h sting in through its hale and nobody could get
in. Thete was no doorknob an that daot, and thete wot no keyhole
and no key. But itwas o goad door. (Wildet 2004:104-105)
The absence of doorknob and keylrole has also moved Pa's inventivenels
to come up with a new way to make their door workjust like a door in any
common houses. This door has an important function for those who live in
the frontier because a threat of danger may make a visit to iheir house
an).time. With this door, at least they can be protected from the threat
fiom wild animals or severe weather.
ProceediN olire II EL]TE Cldderi! ld. I aa Ligt ti'tLt dLletnue
As Turner (1920) suggestt the American spirit of inventiveness and
their enthusiasm to adopt new innovation are the characters inherited
from frontiersmen who always invent new ways and tools to solve
whatever problems they come across in the new environment ln this
novel, the lngalls also finds new ways and habits to replace the old ones
due to existing limitations.jost I'ke when they replace straw with dry grass
fortheir beds.
She hod filled the strcw-tick thot mominq. There was, no sttow on theHigh Proirie, so the hod fi ed it with dry, cleon, deod gruss. It was hotftom the sunshine and it hod o grcsty, sweet smell. Pa helped hetbing itintothe house and loy it in the bedstead. (Wildet 2004:148)
The lnga lls' inventive spirit has also prompted their can-do spirit as
reflected through their optimism in facing every hardship and relponding
to any challenge of living in the frontier The warmth and comfort oftheirliftle house in the qig Woods little by little a.e restored as Pa gradually
builds their little house and furnishes it with his handmade furniture
(becii, rocking chair, and rnany more). He also digs a well, tends crops, and
raises cattle to fulfiil the family needs. Challenge after challenge is
resolved a3 Pa wants to restore comfort that has been taken away from his
family as they decided to leave the 6lq t/oodi and move wesiward. Even
when they begin to feel comfortable livjng in their little hoLrse on theprairie, they still have to face a problem that forces them to leave theirnelvly-built houie. Halfheafted, the family has to confinue moving
west\,vard to find free land to setlle so that they need not to worry thatan)time the land will be taken away from them since it is in the lnd;an
Tefiitory. Pa prefers leaving the house and the unharvested crops than
being forcibly evicted because he is still optimistic that they will find a
better place to realize their dream. The initiative portrayed throuqh thecharacter of Pa in this novel illustrates the pioneers attempt to survive in
sparsely populated areas, and from such frontier character rooted
Ameriaan culturalvalues that has constantly inspired the America people
from tlme to time (Walsh 2006:124).
P0c€ed nq ol lie I r ELITE io ij€ica b|. t 0n l.hltiilits arJ L teane
3. The Relevan.e of the Frontier Legacy for ContempoEry AmerienSo(iety
The development of American culture and identity and how it hasseen and defined itself are linked to the West, which in thiJ context refersto the western territo.y ofthe United States that indicates the intertwinedrelationships between the 'mlthic, and the historical (Campbell & Kean2006: '135). Furthermore, the enormous increases of the country sizeresulted from the westward expansion has inspired the qrowth of anintense national pide. The feats offrontier settlers evolved into m),th anda set of idealized chara.ter traits (Mauk & Oakland 2005: 164). Therefore, itis nct surp:.ising how until today Americans have been endlesslyenchanted and inspired by the West. Little House on the prciie thal \!asfirit publishei in 1935 sti'l becomes a reference in American schools andeven for institutions for higher education. The story of Laura,s childhoodand teenage years in the frontieris not only used as reference tbrteachingethics and manneis to child.en like any other works of children,slilterature, but it also promotes the values ofhard work and self-relianceaswell as the itventiveness and can-do spirits that have been irnprinted inthe minds ofthe American people.
lndividualism dan self-reliance rooted from the frontier traditionalso underlie American attitude toward their legal system. Americansmake a.tive use of their legal system and are litigious people (Mauk &Oakl3nd 2005: 182). This is in line with the common pra.tice of lawenforcernent in the frontier in which frontiersmen have to stand for theirown rights and interests without any help from the governrnent.lv4eanwhile, hard work as another legacy of the frontier as shown by thelngalls in the novel is still believed to lead the way to the American Dream.Howevet nowadays it i5 not always easy for most Americans to achievetheir iuccess. The belief that anyone can reach his Arnerican Dreamthrcugh hard work sometimes is merely a ,rags to,riches'mlth that doesnot necessarily come true no matter how hard he has worked. ln realjt,attempting to change their life, many Ame.icans have to face hardshipsdue to {ack ofopportunities.
PrEcedld! of tre l. L-LIt Linsme 1 /ni I Ai Lhlostj,., ati L Entue
By inheriting the frontier experience from their forefathers, the
Americans have the spirit of inventiveness that facilitates them in solving
problems.They are also proud oftheir se,f-reliance and can-do spirit.Thut
they believe that they were born with a natural gift of DIY or "do-it-
yourself," which is the ability to do anything on your own. Their spirit of
inventiveness and enthus;asm to adopt new things rooted from the
frontier keeps growing and expanding to the American society in general.
and not only among those inhabiting the West. This frontier experience,
according to Billington (1958), distinguishes America from other nations
that do not have a frontier tradition, such as Europe who was no other
than American ancestors. As the heir ofthese frontier3 valuet Americans
are highly optimistic, and putting faith on the future and progress have
become the belief system adhered by Americans at large, All in all, the
characters of these froniiersmen have become a major part of American
culture and 'dentity.
C,Con(lusion
The study on Wilders Llttie Hause on the Prdr'.ie reveals that the
encounter betlveen civilization and wilderness as one ofthe main features
of the frontier is represented by the lngalls and the white seitlers on one
side and the lndians on the other side. This encounier has resulted in the
accLrlturation that has an impact on both sides. ln the present-day context,
it may be necessary to iake ;nto account the view towards lndians in the
novel as told from a white girl! point view Neverthelest this view on
lndians cannot be fuily atfributed as discriminative or racist since it is only
a reflection of the social condition as well as the policy of the American
government at that era.
American frontier has bequeathed an invaluable lega€y ofAmerican cultural values. ln this novel, the lngalls also iakes part in
promoting the values ofhard workand self reliance, which is necessaryfor
the struggle of survival in the frontier These values have surpassed the
boundary of age and gender so that they are truly entrenched in the
American society. Meanwhile, the spirit of inventiveness and the can-do
D .""4.90 0 6 td, d! Pn' "
spirit that have fostered optimism among Anrericans are also cleady
portrayed through the lngalls. This optimism has prevented them from
losing hope in times of hardships. The same optimism is also handed
down to present-day Ame.icans. Hencg going through a long debate for
more than a century the legacy of the frontier is still preserved in the
contemporary American society.The values rooted from the frontier is also
believed to underlie the attitude and character of its people in various
aspects of life that include legal, economic, social, politic, anJ cultural
aspects.The frontier is ceatainly not the only major factor that has shaped
American character, however, it undeniably has a signifrcant impact orr
Ame aan culture and identity.
Ref€rences
Billington, R. A. (1958)."How the Frontier 5haped the American Characte/'
in Ameicon Heitoge, The Mogozine of History. Volume 9. lisue 3.
http://wwwamericanhedtage..om/articles/m agazine / ah! 1 9 aan / 1 9
58 3-4.shtml
Campbell, N. and Alasdair, K. 12A06t. Ameri.c|r Culirtol Slajiet: An
lntrcduation to Anerican airllure. Seaond edi:ion. LDndcnl
Roulledge..
Datesrnan, C. et.ai. (20U5). Ameticch y'layt: A. i,ircdiJ(liai ! \tneicrtlCujtui". Ed!ii Ketiga. Nev/\'orb Peafrcn iciLrc:tion.
Deftift J" (i995). "Frederick Jockson'iumer and the Gospel of Wealth" in The
Coficotd
http:/,r'wMcr.orgltcr/essays/aB Frederick jackson.pdl
Eagleton, I. (1988). 'Two Approaches in 5ociology of Lileraiure" dalam
Ctiticol lnquiy,Vol.14, No. 3. pp. 469-476.
l,4auk, D. and Oakland, J. {2Ao5l. Ame ..an tivilizotio : At1 :ntraduction
London: Routledqe.
j
l
; L. L. (2009). "Laura lngalls Wildet: ln Microsoft Encotta Ontine
Encyc lo ped io 2@9. http.//encarta.msn.com
. Tindall, G. B. and David E,S. (2007). Aneica: A Naftative History.Volume l.
Seventh edition. NewYorkWW Norton & Company.
' Turner, F. J. (1920)."The Significance ofthe Frontier in American Histor)/inThe Frontier in Ameicon Hlstory- New York Henry Holt & Co.
http://www.xroad5.virginia.edu/-hyper^urnerkhapterl.html
Wal5h, M. (2006). "Revi-<iting the American West" in H. Temperley & C.
Bigsby (eds). A New lntrcduction to Ameican Sfud/e'. London:
Pearson Education. pp. 123-'146.
Wilder, L. f. (2004). llttle House on the Praiie. Collector's edition. New york:
HarperTrophy.
liffe D. lr.( 2009). Liftle House on the Osage Prciie.:r http://www.ovate.org /book-to-avoid/littlehouse.html Retrieved
i June 2009.
i;Rominet A, (l997). Constru.ting the Liftle House: Gender, Culture, and Laurc
': Ingalls Wilder. Arn herst U niversity of Massach usetts Press.
Prreed ng ot dre 1i I IEContur.ncc 1 V]l.l: Ot Lrpjiid:adl tkatue