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American Literature
English III Honors
Essential Questions
What is the relationship between
place and literature?
How does literature shape or reflect
society?
What makes American literature
American?
Unit 1: The New World
Focus on the earliest American literature. Puritanism
and issues of settlement are the main focus of this
unit.
Objectives
Identify emerging themes in early American literature
Explain the First Great Awakening and how it affected
religious belief in Colonial America
Identify and explain elements of Puritan literature
Compare and contrast the experiences of America’s
earliest settlers
Explain the role of religion in early American life
Unit 1: The New World
Reading Assignment 1
(Native American Legends)
– Everyone reads pages 2-16
– Group 1: “The Earth on Turtle’s Back” (20)
– Group 2: “When Grizzlies Walked Upright”
(24)
– Group 3: “The Navajo Origin Legend” (27)
Unit 1: The New World
Reflecting on the reading…
Identification & Significance: Puritans,
Pilgrims, Planters, Enlightenment, The
Great Awakening, Revolution, Native
Americans, African Americans
Themes: Creating a Nation, Wilderness,
Community, Individualism
Unit 1: The New World
Native American Origin Stories:
“The Earth on Turtle’s Back”
“When Grizzlies Walked Upright”
“The Navajo Origin Legend”
*In groups:
-Find a creative way to tell the story to your class
-Identify the purpose of this story
-Lead the class in a discussion of the story’s
purpose and significance
Unit 1: The New World
Identify Similarities Turtle’s Grizzlies Navajo
among the Origin Back
Stories
Patterns
Do you think the
patterns, symbols, Symbols
or character types
are archetypes
common to all Characters
three cultures?
Explain.
Unit 1: The New World
A few ideas to consider…
“The ‘Puritan ethic’ of hard work and self discipline
remained a basic American value” (Wiggins). Is it
still an American value?
How did Native, European, and African cultures
intersect in the new world? How did this
intersection affect literature?
What are the emerging themes in American
literature? Why these themes—in other words
what is the stimulus for these ideas? Consider the
idea of a “new Eden” and the “American dream.”
Of Plymouth Plantation
by William Bradford
Reading Quiz!
What is his purpose?
What is revealed about the Pilgrims
through this description?
How can we describe and analyze
Bradford’s writing style?
Consider the essential questions.
(next slide)
Essential Questions
What is the relationship between
place and literature?
How does literature shape or reflect
society?
What makes American literature
American?
Anne Bradstreet
b.1612 - d.1672
1630 left England with husband and
parents for Massachusets Bay Colony
father became Governor of the colony
1650 her brother-in-law published her
poetry in England without her knowledge—
first published volume of literature written
by a colonist
later work was published posthumously in
1678
Poetry of Anne Bradstreet
Reflects the Puritan’s knowledge of the
Bible and their concern for the relationship
between earthly and heavenly life
Later works, such as “To My Dear and
Loving Husband,” are considered her best
and most personal works
Written in the Puritan Plain Style
– Characterized by short words and direct
statements
Poetry of Anne Bradstreet
from “The Prologue”
I am obnoxious to each carping tongue
Who says my hand a needle better fits,
A poet’s pen all scorn I should thus wrong,
For such despite* they cast on female wits:
If what I do prove well, it won’t advance,
They’ll say it’s stol’n, or else it was by chance.
*contempt
Poetry of Anne Bradstreet
“To My Dear and Loving Husband” (76)
Discuss Puritan Plain Style as it applies to
this poem.
Discuss the poetic aspects of the poem—
how do these relate to the tone, mood, and
theme of the poem?
What does this poem reveal about
Bradstreet? What does it reveal about
Puritan beliefs?
Phillis Wheatley
b.1754? – d.1784
1761 she was taken from West Africa and brought
to America where she was sold to the Wheatley
family of Boston
converted to Christianity
although a slave, she was taught to read the Bible
and classic literature, also encouraged to write
her Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and
Moral were published in England in 1773—most
likely the first book ever published by a black
American
gained freedom and married John Peters
Poetry of Phillis Wheatley
Influenced by Bible and Classical Mythology
– Allusions to mythological characters/gods &
goddesses
– Creates characters in the image of mythological
gods & goddesses
Wrote in Heroic Couplets
– Sequence of rhyming couplets (pairs of lines)
– Each couplet is a complete thought
– Written in Iambic Pentameter (5 pairs of stressed
and unstressed syllables)
Poetry of Phillis Wheatley
“To His Excellency, General Washington” (125)
Listen to the letter enclosed with the poem to General
Washington.
Discuss the poem as a heroic couplet. How does this
poetic form help you read and understand the poem?
Discuss the qualities Wheatley attributes to
Washington. Are these qualities representative of
typical American values? Explain.
Poetry of Bradstreet & Wheatley
Consider other poems by these remarkable
women poets…be sure to relate the
poems to your prior knowledge of these
poets and the essential questions.
What is the relationship between place and
literature?
How does literature shape or reflect society?
What makes American literature American?
from Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God
by Jonathan Edwards
Sermon as an example of oratory
Example of a “fire and brimstone” sermon
Sermons…
– Are persuasive
– Address the needs and concerns of the
audience
– Appeal to emotion
– Include expressive or rhythmic language
– Allude to the Bible (and sometimes
mythology, history, and other archetypes)
Sermon as Rhetoric
Rhetoric is defined as the art of using
words to persuade
Rhetorical Triangle
Speaker/Ethos
Message/Logos Listener/Pathos
from Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God
by Jonathan Edwards
What is Edward’s purpose?
Who is his audience?
How does he appeal to logos (What are his logical
appeals)?
How does he appeal to pathos (What are his emotional
appeals)?
How does he appeal to ethos (What gives him credibility)?
What modes of discourse does he use?—description,
narration, exposition (comparison, cause & effect, contrast,
classification, division, definition)
What other rhetorical devises are used?—parallelism,
restatement, repetition, analogy
The Crucible
by Arthur Miller
What did your research reveal?
How do the following names and terms apply?
Joseph McCarthy Marilyn Monroe
McCarthyism The Misfits
All My Sons “witch hunts”
Death of a Salesman Communism
Salem, Massachusetts Witch Trials
The Crucible
by Arthur Miller
Read the background:
– Author: pages 1118-1119
– In the author’s own words: pages 1120-1121
– The play: pages 1124-1125
Act 1: page 1126
Act 2: page 1161
Act 3: page 1187
Act 4: page 1217
The Crucible Reading Quiz 1
Classroom Discussion:
1. Who is the author of The Crucible?
2. Briefly define McCarthyism.
3. To which famous actress was the author of The Crucible married?
4. Name one drama, other than The Crucible, written by this same
author.
Background Reading:
5. In what year is The Crucible set?
6. Name the container in which metals are melted or fused at his
temperatures.
7. Is the drama, The Crucible, historically accurate? YES NO
Overture:
8. Did the people of Salem Village consider it bad manners to mind
other people’s business? YES NO Explain.
9. Where did the “Salem folk” consider “the Devil’s last preserve” to
be located?
10. “[The people of Salem] believed, in short, that they held in their
steady hands the candle that would light the _________________.”
The Crucible
Is it an allegory?
“There were, as far as on can tell, no actual witches
or devil-worshipers in Salem. However, there were
certainly Communists in 1950s America.” Some
victims of McCarthyism were in the pay of the
Soviet Union, but many who were accused suffered
false accusations. So, no it isn’t an allegory.
Is it historical?
No, it’s not entirely historically factual. Events
correspond to the happenings in 1962 Salem, but the
characters are composites. And, the affair between
proctor and Abigail is fictitious. All for dramatic
purpose.
Crucible Journal
(After reading Act 1)
What seem to be the motivating factors
Miller presents in Act 1? How does he
establish the hysteria at the root of the
Salem Witch Trials? As an audience how
do you relate to the characters—hate any?
sympathize with any? love any? If you
have any other thoughts on Act 1, you
may address those as well.
Think about it…
“The crucible introduces a community full of
underlying personal grudges. Religion
pervades every aspect of life, but it is a religion
that lacks a ritual outlet to manage emotions
such as anger, jealousy, or resentment.”
Do you agree or disagree with this assessment?
The Crucible Reading Quiz 2 (Act 1)
1. “Let him look to medicine and put out all thought
of unnatural causes here. There be none.” Who is
the him mentioned here?
2. Who says, “There is a faction that is sworn to
drive me from my pulpit”?
3. Who says, “I have laid seven babies unbaptized in
the earth”?
4. “You drank blood…You didn’t tell him that!” Who
is referred to with the pronoun you?
5. Who says, “Let either of you breathe a word, or
the edge of a word, about the other things, and I
will come to you in the black of some terrible
night…”?
The Crucible Reading Quiz 2 (Act 1)
6. Who says, “Abby, I never give you hope to
wait for me”?
7. Who says, “[Betty]’ll wake when she tires of
it”?
8. Who says, “We cannot look to superstition in
this. The Devil is precise”?
9. “How can it be the Devil? Why would he
choose my house to strike?” Who is referred
to with the pronoun my?
10. Abigail says, “She made me do it! She
made Betty do it!” Who is she?
Act 1
Overture (a piece of music played before the
curtain goes up—introduces melodies to be
heard later)
– What might Miller be suggesting by this reference?
– What does Miller suggest about the people of
Salem and their religion and politics in the
Overture?
– What reasons does Miller suggest for why the
“witch hunts” began and developed into the mass
hysteria we associate with Salem today?
The Crucible & Theme
(fundamental and universal ideas explored in
“The Crucible is bestliterature)
read outside its historical
context…as a powerful and timeless depiction
of how intolerance and hysteria can intersect
and tear a community apart.”
*What can be learned from these fundamental
ideas explored in The Crucible?
Intolerance
Hysteria
Reputation
The Crucible and Motifs
(recurring structures that can help inform the themes)
How are these motifs developed and used in
The Crucible?
Empowerment
Accusations (guilt by association)
Confessions
Legal Proceedings
The Crucible and Symbols
(objects, characters, figures, colors used to represent
abstract ideas)
So, what do these symbols represent?
Crucible
Witch Trials
Forest
The Crucible and Theocracy
Theocracy: form of government by God (or
through a priestly order)
“In a theocracy, part of the state’s role is policing
belief. Therefore, there is a good deal of
pressure on the average citizen to inform on the
blasphemous speech [and actions] of his or her
neighbors in the name of Christian duty.”
The Crucible & The Tragic Hero
“flawed figure who finds his moral center just as
everything is falling to pieces around him”
His downfall is usually due to excessive pride (hubris)
He is doomed from the start, he bears no responsibility for
possessing his tragic flaw, but bears responsibility for his actions.
He has discovered fate by his own actions, and not by things
happening to him
He is usually a king, a leader of men – his fate affects the welfare of a
whole nation or number of people. Peasants do not inspire pity and
fear as great men do. The sudden fall from greatness to nothing
provides a sense of contrast.
The suffering of the hero must not be senseless: it must have
meaning!
The hero of classical tragedies is almost always male
Crucible Journal
(After Reading Act 2)
What are the conflicts that exist in the play?
From where do these conflicts stem? Do
you believe these conflicts can be
resolved? Who has the ability to influence
the community to solve its problems?
Also, what are your reactions to the events
in Act 2?
The Crucible Reading Quiz 3 (Act 2)
1. What is the setting of Act 2?
2. Who says, “I mean to please you Elizabeth”?
3. Mary Warren says, “I made a gift for you today
Goody Proctor.” What is this gift?
4. Who says, “I am a stranger here, as you
know. And in my ignorance I find it hard to
draw a clear opinion of them that come
accused before the court”?
5. “I see no light of God in that man.” What man
is Proctor speaking of here?
The Crucible Reading Quiz 3 (Act 2)
6. Who says, “There be no love for Satan in this house,
Mister”?
7. Hale says, “They have confessed it.” Who responds
with this logic: “And why not, if they must hang for
denyin’ it? There are them that will swear to
anything before they’ll hang; have you never thought
of that”?
8. Who says, “Question Abigail Williams about the
Gospel, not myself!”?
9. Proctor says, “Pontius Pilate! God will not let you
wash your hands of this!” Who does her refer to as
Pontius Pilate?
10. Who says, “We are only what we always were, but
naked now”?
Consider Theme, Motif, & Symbol
Any to add?
Themes: intolerance, hysteria, reputation,
hypocrisy
Motifs: empowerment, accusations,
confessions, legal proceedings
Symbols: crucible, witch trials, forest
Act 3: Think about it…
Act 3 is filled with arguments. Consider
who is arguing what. Make a list of the
characters, their arguments, their
evidence, and their motivations. Prepare
to analyze these arguments.
The Crucible Reading Quiz 4 (Act 3)
1. Who said, “And do you know that near to four
hundred are in the jails from Marblehead to Lynn,
and upon my signature”?
2. Which of the girls confesses to the pretense of their
accusations and actions?
3. Who said, “Remember what the angel Raphael said
to the boy Tobias…’Do that which is good, and no
harm shall come to thee’”?
4. Who points out, “There is a prodigious fear of this
court in the country”?
5. Who threatens Danforth with these words: “Let you
beware, Mr. Danforth. Think you to be so mighty
that the power of Hell may not turn your wits?
Beware of it!”?
The Crucible Reading Quiz 4 (Act 3)
6. Who confesses, “I have known her, sir. I have
known her”?
7. Whose spirit comes in the form of a yellow
bird?
8. Who does Mary Warren identify as “the Devil’s
man”?
9. Who says, “God damns our kind especially,
and we will burn, we will burn together”?
10. Who says, “I denounce these proceedings, I
quit this court!”?
Irony & Argument
In your groups, identify examples of each of the
following from Act 3—cite the exact lines!
Situational Irony
Verbal Irony
Dramatic Irony
Logos—appeal to logic
Pathos—appeal to emotion
Ethos—ethical appeal (credibility)
Logical Fallacy (2 examples)
Be prepared to discuss your findings and defend
your answers.
The Crucible and Theocracy
What evidence of theocracy do you see in
Act 3?
How are Danforth’s claims based on
theocratic governmental practices?
How does Proctor challenge this?
Think about it…do you agree or disagree?
“[Proctor] mistakes the [court]
proceedings for an actual search for the
guilty, when, in fact, the proceedings
are better described as a power
struggle.”
The Crucible Journal
After Reading Act 4
Analyze the ending of the The Crucible.
What effect does the “witch hunt” have on
Salem and its people? Are you satisfied
with the ending? Do you think Miller
makes his point? Explain.
The Crucible Reading Quiz 5 (Act 4)
1. What is the setting of Act 4?
2. Who says, “Devil, him be pleasure man in
Barbados”?
3. Who tells the court, Danforth, that Abigail has
run away?
4. Who says, “I cannot pardon these when twelve
are already hanged for the same crime. It is
not just”?
5. Who says, “I come to do the Devil’s work, I
come to counsel Christians they should belie
themselves”?
The Crucible Reading Quiz 5 (Act 4)
6. Who is pressed to death?
7. Who says, “I speak my own sins; I cannot
judge another”?
8. Who says, “Damn the village! I confess to God,
and God has seen my name on this! It is
enough” just before he tears his own
confession?
9. Who says, “How may I live without my name? I
have given you my soul; leave me my name!”?
10. Who says, “He have his goodness now. God
forbid I take it from him”?
The Crucible: Act 4
Is this true?
“Clearly, the most important issue for the
officials of the court is the preservation of their
reputations and the integrity of the court. As a
theocratic institution, the court represents
divine, as well as secular, justice. To admit to
twelve mistaken hangings would be to
question divine justice and the very foundation
of the state and of human life.”
Consider Theme, Motif, & Symbol
Any to add?
Themes: intolerance, hysteria, reputation,
hypocrisy, justice, theocracy, personal
responsibility, fear, jealousy…
How are these developed?
Motifs: empowerment, accusations,
confessions, legal proceedings
Symbols: crucible, witch trials, forest,
poppet, yellow bird, Proctor
Is The Crucible a tragedy?
What defines this play as a tragedy?
Is it a social or personal tragedy?
Is The Crucible an allegory?
What is an allegory?
What characteristics define it as allegory?
The Crucible & The Tragic Hero
“flawed figure who finds his moral center just as
everything is falling to pieces around him”
His downfall is usually due to excessive pride (hubris)
He is doomed from the start, he bears no responsibility for
possessing his tragic flaw, but bears responsibility for his actions.
He has discovered fate by his own actions, and not by things
happening to him
He is usually a king, a leader of men – his fate affects the welfare of a
whole nation or number of people. Peasants do not inspire pity and
fear as great men do. The sudden fall from greatness to nothing
provides a sense of contrast.
The suffering of the hero must not be senseless: it must have
meaning!
The hero of classical tragedies is almost always male
The Crucible
John Proctor as the Tragic Hero
Is Proctor a tragic hero?
Is he prideful? Is his downfall due to his pride?
What is his tragic flaw?
Is he doomed from the start?
Is he a noble man? A man of nobility?
What is his fate? How did he reach this fate?
What is the purpose of his suffering?
Unit 2: A New Nation
Examine writers and documents associated with the founding of
the new American nation.
Objectives
Identify defining themes in American Literature (i.e..
Exceptionalism)
Identify and explain the historical significance of America’s
founding documents
Analyze how tone is established in persuasive writing
Analyze the use of literary elements in persuasive writing
Compare and contrast points of view on related issues
Analyze the qualities of an effective argument
Apply knowledge of effective argument when writing one of
your own
Think about it…
Patrick Henry said,
“Give me liberty or give me death.”
Are there things worth dying for?
Comparing and Contrasting
Speeches
How do the writers employ the use
of rhetorical devices and for what
purpose?
“Speech in the Virginia
Convention” What do Henry and Franklin want
~Patrick Henry (99) their audiences to think and do?
What rhetorical questions are
used? What effect do they have?
“Speech in the Convention”
What classical and Biblical
~Benjamin Franklin (105) allusions are used? Explain the
purpose of each.
Compare and contrast the political
assumptions (in relation to
government) that each writer
makes.
“The Star Spangled Banner”
Flew at Fort McHenry, located
at the entrance to Boston
Harbor, during the War of 1812
Flag measured 30 x 42 feet—
the 15 stars were 2’ from point
to point and the eight red and
seven white stripes were 2’
wide
The flag was sewn by Mary
Young Pickersgill and her
daughter Caroline
The cost was $405.90
“The Star Spangled Banner”
Francis Scott Key
Born 1779
Lawyer
Key was detained on a British ship during the attack on Ft. McHenry
(September 13, 1814)—he had gone their with Colonel John Skinner to
negotiate the release of his friend Dr. Willaim Beanes who was captured
during the attacks on Washington, D.C.
He watched the bombardment, which lasted 25 hours, he began penning
the poem after seeing the flag flying at dawn following the British retreat
Key completed the poem at a Baltimore hotel and then sent it to a printer
After the poem’s circulation, it was put to the music of an old English
song
The song and flag became known as “The Star Spangled Banner”
Became the national anthem in 1931
“The Star Spangled Banner”
Identify What American ideals
Poetic Elements are present in this
Tone poem?
Style
Theme Why do you think this
poem was made the
national anthem?
Original Handwritten
Text of “The Star-
Spangled Banner”
Poor Richard’s Almanac
by Ben Franklin
“Practical wisdom through aphorisms”
—an aphorism is a brief, wise statement
What qualities make these aphorisms easy to
remember?
Franklin felt these aphorisms were relevant in his own
time. Which aphorisms are still relevant today?
Mark these.
Write 3 aphorisms of your own that you believe would
be relevant to your society.
Benjamin Franklin’s
The Autobiography
How do you know this is an autobiography?
Identify the text features.
What is virtue?
n. moral excellence (patience is a virtue);
chastity (her virtue is secure); good quality
(what are your virtues?) or advantage (by virtue
of his ability)
Benjamin Franklin’s
The Autobiography
What does Franklin say about habits? Are you
inclined to agree or disagree with him?
Consider Franklin’s 13 virtues—would acquiring
these lead to a moral life? Are his goals
realistic?
What does Franklin’s scheme or plan reveal
about his character? Is it feasible?
Which virtue gives Franklin the most problem?
Why?
What is the result of Franklin’s endeavor?
Virtues: Your turn…
Think for a moment about the virtues you could
benefit from acquiring. In other words, what
habits would make you a better person?
1. Make a list of 13 virtues
2. Write a description for each virtue
3. Pick one and try it for a week
4. Keep a daily journal of your progress and
transgressions
Foster on American Lit & Franklin’s Autobiography
(from Twenty Five Books that Shaped America by Thomas C. Foster)
What claims does Foster make about
American Literature in general?
Foster says regarding his list, “all make
what seem to me important contributions
to that story-in-progress that has been
going on from the first writings.” So, what
does Franklin’s Autobiography contribute
to the American story?
The Interesting Narrative of
The Life of Olaudah Equiano
What is the Middle Passage?
What is a slave narrative? What is the general
purpose of this type writing?
Analyzing the text…
Who is the narrator?
What emotional appeals does the narrator make?
What effect doe these appeals have on the reader?
Is this narrative effective for its intended purpose?
Why or why not?
The Declaration of Independence
Thomas Jefferson
Outline of the Argument
Where does Jefferson use logos, pathos, and ethos?
Classical Argument
Which of the unit 2 texts can best be characterized as classical argument?
Exordium—introduces the subject while winning the
attention and goodwill of the audience
Narratio—puts argument in context by presenting facts
and explaining who, what, when etc.
Partitio—divides up the subject by explaining what the
claim is, what the issues are, and in what order the
subject will be treated
Confirmatio—detailed support
Refutatio—acknowledges and refutes opposing claims
Peroration—summarizes the case and suggests
action
Compare & Contrast
“The Declaration of Independence” & “The American Crisis”
Preamble to the US Constitution
We the people of the United
States, in order to form a more
perfect union, establish
justice, insure domestic
tranquility, provide for the
common defense, promote the
general welfare, and secure the
blessings of liberty to
ourselves and our posterity, do
ordain and establish this
Constitution for the United
States of America.
Federalist Papers
Series of 85 articles promoting the ratification of the
United States Constitution
Published between October 1787 and August 1788 in
The Independent Journal and The New York Packet
Authors are believed to be Alexander Hamilton, James
Madison and John Jay
Federalists advocated for strong central government
and adoption of the constitution
Alexander James
Hamilton Madison
Federalist No. 1
Alexander Hamilton
“You are called upon to deliberate on a new Constitution for
the United States of America. The subject speaks its own
importance; comprehending in its consequences nothing
less than the existence of the UNION, the safety and
welfare of the parts of which it is composed, the fate of an
empire in many respects the most interesting in the world.
It has been frequently remarked that it seems to have been
reserved to the people of this country, by their conduct and
example, to decide the important question, whether
societies of men are really capable or not of establishing
good government from reflection and choice, or whether
they are forever destined to depend for their political
constitutions on accident and force. If there be any truth in
the remark, the crisis at which we are arrived may with
propriety be regarded as the era in which that decision is
to be made; and a wrong election of the part we shall act
may, in this view, deserve to be considered as the general
misfortune of mankind.”
Federalist No. 10
James Madison
What is Madison’s central argument?
Is the greatest appeal in this paper to logos,
ethos, or pathos? Explain.
How does Madison construct his argument.
Outline this.
What statements does he make that are
profound—let’s discuss these.
Unit 3: American Romanticism
The early 19th century was the first prolific period of American
literature. It is important to understand how the romantics
perceive individualism. It is also important to understand the
similarities and differences among the romantics and
transcendentalists.
Objectives:
Define the major characteristics of American romanticism: use
of symbols, myth, and the “fantastic”; veneration of nature;
celebration of the “self”; isolationism; theme of “manifest
destiny”
Define transcendentalism as an aspect of American
romanticism and explain how it differs from romanticism
Trace characterization techniques in fiction
Analyze the structure and effectiveness of arguments in
transcendentalist essays
Romanticism
Developed out of the American Renaissance
Exploration of self is as important as exploration
of the land—writing describes individual quests
for self definition
Romantic writers elevated imagination over
reason, feeling over fact, and nature above all
Irving and Poe represent the fantastical nature
of romanticism, while Melville and Hawthorne
exemplify the agonized hero searching to define
himself
Washington Irving
Nathaniel Hawthorne
1804-1864
Descendent of New England Puritans—born in Salem,
Massachusetts
His work is influenced by his Puritan background and
“a sense of inherited guilt” that led to a dark vision of
the world
“He believed that evil was a powerful force in the
world, a sentiment that infuses most of his fiction.”
Wrote throughout his life to acclaim but monetary
failure
Recognized for his powerful use of symbolism
Reading Quiz
“Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment” & “The Minister’s Black Veil”
“Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment”
1. How many guests does Dr. Heidegger invite?
2. What is believed to be contained in the curious
black book in Dr. H’s study?
3. What does the rose prove to Dr. H’s guests?
4. What does Dr. H serve his guests?
5. To where are Dr. H’s guests going on a
pilgrimage?
Reading Quiz
“Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment” & “The Minister’s Black Veil”
“The Minister’s Black Veil”
1. What has changed Mr. Hooper into “something
awful”?
2. Who confronts Mr. Hooper and asks him to
remove the veil?
3. What makes Mr. Hooper a very efficient
clergyman?
4. True or False: Mr. Hooper is removed from his
position because he refuses to remove the veil.
5. True or False: The veil hides a deformity, not a
sin.
“The Minister’s Black Veil”
A symbol is an object, setting, or character that has
meaning as itself but also stands for something greater,
abstract. What symbols does Hawthorne use in this
story?
A parable is a story that conveys a message. What
message does this story convey?
By calling this story a parable, what expectations does
Hawthorne set up for the reader?
Explain how the veil might be a symbol of each of these
abstract ideas: sin/guilt, sorrow/mourning, isolation,
mystery.
Do you think Hawthorne’s intentional use of ambiguity,
or uncertain meaning, makes the story more or less
effective?
Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment
Short Story Analysis
Point of View
Setting
Mood
Plot (Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, Resolution)
Conflict
Characters & Characterization
Symbols (with meaning)
Tone
Writer’s Style (elements used to create effect)
Theme
Hawthorne’s Style
What inferences can we make about
Hawthorne’s style from these two
examples?
What characteristics of American
romanticism does Hawthorne’s work
exemplify?
Edgar Allen Poe
1809-1849
Born in Boston in 1809; father left and mother died; he
was taken in by the John Allan family; lived with them
in England from 1815-1820 before returning to US
Attended University of Virginia where dismissed for
gambling debts
Attended West Point dismissed for violating academic
procedures
Pursued a literary career, but lived in poverty
Suffered from depression and madness
Wife, Virginia, died in 1847 at the age of 25
Died in Baltimore in 1849 alone and unhappy
Literary Critics on Poe
“Some critics believe that Poe’s despair over Virginia’s
lingering illness and death explains his fascination
with doomed female characters, such as the lost
Lenore of ‘The Raven,’ and the tormented Madeline
Usher of ‘The Fall of the House of Usher.’”
“Poe is regarded as a brilliant original whose tireless
exploration of altered mental states and the dark
side of human nature changed the landscape of
literature, both in America and around the world.”
Gothic Literature
Began in England in the late 1700s
The word “Gothic” comes from architecture—
described castles and cathedrals that served as
mysterious settings
Elements of Gothic Style
– Bleak or remote settings
– Macabre or violent incidents
– Characters in psychological and/or physical torment
– Supernatural or otherworldly elements
– Strong language full of dangerous meanings
Poe’s “Single Effect”
As a literary critic, Poe believed that
writing should achieve a “certain unique or
single effect”
In other words, every detail in a short
story, play, or poem, should contribute to
one impression
Poe’s “single effect” is usually one of fear
or ambiguity regarding what is real
(mystery)
“The Fall of the House of Usher” & “The Raven”
Gothic Style
Gothic Element “Usher” “Raven”
Setting
Characterization
Violence
Supernatural
Herman Melville
1819-1891
Occupations: worked on whaling ships, brief
stint in navy, writer, inspector for NY customs
house
Friend of Nathaniel Hawthorne
1851 published The Whale (Moby-Dick)
Typee and Omoo were his only popular works;
other works were rejected during his lifetime
Rediscovered in 1920s—Moby Dick is
“regarded as one of the finest novels in all of
American literature”
Moby-Dick Reading Quiz
1. Who said, “Death to Moby-Dick! God hunt us
all, if we do not hunt Moby-Dick to his death!”?
2. What is the job of Queequeg, Tashtego, and
Daggoo on the ship?
3. What does Ahab offer the man who spots the
white whale?
4. Who is described in the following quotation
from Starbuck: “Moby-Dick seeks thee not. It
is thou, thou, that madly seekest him!”
5. What happens to the Pequod?
Moby-Dick
Complex Novel with Several Layers of Meaning
– Literally: it’s an adventure story of the voyage of a
whaling ship
– Figuratively: it’s a quest story (Ahab seeks
vengeance) & it’s philosophical examination of
humanity and its relationship to the natural world
(whale vs. Ahab)
Its effect is largely based on its use of symbol.
For example:
– Moby Dick is the most predominant symbol.
Understanding this symbol can help us understand
the theme.
Symbolism in Moby-Dick
white whale
sea
Pequod
Captain Ahab
___________
___________
Moby-Dick
A few things to consider…from Foster (of course)
“Call me Ishmael.” (Melville 11)
“Whaling is one of the most preposterous activities…”
Moby-Dick is a “revenge tragedy”
“This is not Ahab’s story and not the whale’s. It is
Ishmael’s.”
“It is an epic.” “Good battles evil, but the existence of
divine poles anchoring those forces is an unresolved
issue.”
“Ahab’s pursuit of something that much larger than
himself, his overreaching toward the godly, may well
remind readers of certain other endeavors in Melville’s
still-new country. Manifest Destiny…”
Ahab as a “Satan” figure because he attempts to play
God
Emily Dickinson
1830-1886
“If I feel physically as if the top of my head
were taken off, I know that is poetry.”
Read the background information on pages
404-406. What strikes you as important
about Dickinson? How do you think these
details will relate to her poetry?
Poetry of Emily Dickinson
Look for…
– Exact Rhyme (identical final stressed syllables)
– Slant Rhyme (final sounds are similar but not
identical)
– Paradox (statement that seems contradictory but
presents a truth)
– Elements of Romantic Literature
How does Dickinson compare to the other Romantic
writers you have read so far?
Transcendentalism
Merging of literature, philosophy, and religion
Unique form of romanticism that is intuitive and
ethically engaged
Search for truth
The individual is central and has a powerful
capacity for intuition
Notable Writers: Ralph Waldo Emerson &
Henry David Thoreau
Emerson contended that “the human mind is so
powerful it can unlock any mystery, from the
intricacies of nature to the wonder of God”
Key Concepts of
Transcendentalism
Individual is celebrated
Natural world mirrors human life
Intuition is powerful to grasp fundamental
truths
Walt Whitman
1819-1892
Considered one of the greatest and most influential
American poets; although, he achieved only modest
acclaim during his lifetime
Whitman’s philosophy grew out of the ideas of
transcendentalism
Poetry mainly derived from observations—Whitman
had a keen sense of observation and an uncanny
ability to comprehend and retain these observations
Leaves of Grass was his life’s work—first published in
1855—”revised, reshaped, and expanded” until his
death in 1892
Work broke from poetic tradition and celebrated
America
Questions on Whitman’s Work
1. Whitman is said to have written an “American
Epic.” How does this differ from traditional
epic? What epic themes do you see in the
poetry of Whitman—give at least three
examples. (Refer to pages 424-425 and your
worksheet for assistance.)
2. Compare and contrast the two poems, “When
I Heard the Learn’d Astronomer” and “By the
Bivouac’s Fitful Flame.” How are Whitman’s
ideas similar yet different in these two pieces
of literature?
Emerson on Whitman
“[Leaves of Grass is] the most
extraordinary piece of wit and
wisdom that American has yet
contributed.”
Thoreau on Whitman
“We ought to rejoice in
him greatly….He is
awfully good.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
1803-1882
Encouraged from a young age to think independently and
explore thoughts
Son of a minister, Harvard graduate, pastor of Second Church
of Boston, left the church and pastorate to write
Responsible for the Transcendentalist movement
Developed the idea of an “Over-Soul”—every soul and all of
nature is part of an “Over-Soul” or universal spirit to which all
beings return after death—every being is part of God’s mind
His home in Concord, Massachusetts became a meeting place
for the Transcendental Club—developed a philosophical
system that stressed intuition, individuality, and self-reliance
Activities with Emerson’s Writing
Based on Nature, what are Emerson’s and
the transcendentalist’s core beliefs?
Paraphrase the first paragraph of Self-
Reliance.
Choose three statements from Self-
Reliance and respond to them by
discussing their meaning, your opinion, and
how you believe these statements connect
to America today.
Henry David Thoreau
1817-1864
Considered eccentric as a child & rarely
followed rules
Teacher, but objected to corporal punishment
and quit his first job—he and his bother founded
their own school
1841: he moved into the home of Emerson
1845-1847: lived alone in a one room cabin
near Walden Pond—resulted in the material for
his collection Walden
Died at age 44 from tuberculosis
Emerson on Thoreau
Speaking at his funeral:
“The country knows not yet, or in the least
part, how great a son it has lost…His soul
was made for the noblest society; he had
in a short life exhausted the capabilities of
his world; wherever there is knowledge,
wherever there is virtue, wherever there is
beauty, he will find a home.”
In "The American Scholar," Emerson described the three
basic stages of a transcendentalist's life: first, he learns all
that is of merit in the wisdom of the past; second, he
establishes a harmonious relationship with nature through
which he is able to discover ethical truths and communicate
with the divine. With these two stages, the transcendentalist
has developed his higher faculties; he has cultivated his life
and "spiritualized" it. (We see the narrator of Walden go
through these two stages in his progress toward spiritual
rebirth.) After thus cultivating his own spirit, the
transcendentalist does not selfishly remain content with
himself. The third stage he must attempt, after self-renewal, is
the renewal of society-at-large. After being nurtured by books
and nature, he must attempt to share his spiritual gains with
other men who have not yet achieved their perfect spiritual
states.
from cliffsnotes.com
Walden
What is Thoreau’s purpose and argument?
“Transcendentalism focuses on gaining
spiritual knowledge through recognizing
one’s connection to God and nature.” How is
it that Thoreau acquires knowledge during
his time at Walden Pond? What is it that he
has come to understand?
Identify examples of aphorisms
(pronouncements) that Thoreau states in
this text.
Civil Disobedience
What is it Thoreau means by the term civil
disobedience?
Thoreau is philosophically opposed to
government. Where do you find evidence of
this in the essay?
Ironically, Thoreau urges readers to make a
better government? Why does he do this?
Does this call to action strengthen or undermine
his argument?
Unit 4: A Troubled Young Nation
The literature of the late 19th century deals with
particular themes related to the evolving young
American nation:
Challenges of westward expansion
Slavery
Changing role of women
Regionalism
Displacement of Native Americans
Growth of Cities
Immigration
Individualism
Pursuit of Liberty
Unit 4: A Troubled Young Nation
Objectives
Determine and analyze the development of the theme
or themes in American literature of the nineteenth
century: freedom, the American dream, racism,
regionalism, survival, “individual vs. society,” and
“civilized society” vs. the wilderness
Compare the treatment of related themes in different
genres
Explain how characters in fiction in late nineteenth
century America express the challenges facing
America at the time, citing both textual evidence from
both fiction and nonfiction to make the case
The Civil War Era
Refer to pages 462-476
What do we need to know:
– Shapshot of the period (462-63)
– Historical Background (464-65)
Essential Questions:
– How does literature shape or reflect society? (466-69)
– What is the relationship between place and literature? (470-
71)
– What makes American literature American? (472-73)
Contemporary Commentary (475-76)
– Discuss “periodization” and how your own time might be
periodized (refer to “Extend Your Learning” box on 476)
Compare and contrast
realism and naturalism.
Responding to The Adventures of
Huckleberry Finn (Journal 1)
Now that you have read the first 18 chapters of the
novel, discuss Twain’s commentary on one of the
following topics:
Domestic Abuse
Theft/Burglary
Murder
Slavery
Coming of Age (growing up)
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
by Mark Twain
Who is Mark Twain?
Why are we reading this novel?
What is satire? (the mockery of human
pretentions and failings) How does Twain
use satire and for what effects?
What is ironic about this novel?
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
by Mark Twain
As you read, mark passages relating to the following topics for
discussion:
Literary Techniques (style, POV, figurative lang., symbolism..)
Characterization of Huck, Tom, & other significant characters
Huck’s innocence & experience
Twain’s satire and humor
Superstitions
“sivilizing” Huck
Hypocrisy
Crime
Slavery
Freedom
Reading Quiz 1
Chapters 1-18
1. Fill in the blank: “You don’t know about me , without you have read a book
by the name of ‘The Adventures of ___________________________.’”
2. When Huck refers to the “River,” which river is he speaking of?
3. Who has a cross in his left boot-heel “made with big nails, to keep of the
devil”?
4. Who are the two people hiding on Jackson’s Island at the same time?
5. Who says, “You wouldn’ tell on me ef I ‘uz to tell you, would you,
Huck?...I—I run off”?
6. What event do Huck and Jim believe brings them bad luck starting with
Jim being bitten by a snake and continuing with various separations and
run-ins with questionable people?
7. What is the real identity of Sarah Mary Williams and George Jackson?
8. According to Huck, what is the difference between Pap’s view on
“borrowing” and the Widow Douglas’s view?
9. Who says, “I’s a free man, en I couldn’t ever ben free ef it hadn’ ben for
Huck”?
10. Who is Huck talking to when he says, “S’pose you’d a done right and give
Jim up; would you felt better than what you do now”?
Reading Quiz 2
Chapters 19-23
1. At which time of day do Huck and Jim travel? Why?
2. Huck says, “It didn’t take me long to make up my
mind that these liars warn’t no kings nor dukes, at
all, but just low-down humbugs and frauds.” Why
does Huck keep this knowledge from Jim?
3. Name one of the Shakespearean plays the Duke
and King attempt to perform.
4. Who dies—Sherburn or Boggs?
5. “He was thinking about his wife and his children,
away up yonder, and he was low and homesick;
because he hadn’t ever been away from home
before in his life.” Who is the “he” being referred to
in this passage?
Characterization
Direct Characterization: author gives the reader
specific details about the character and his/her
personality
Indirect Characterization: author reveals character and
personality traits through events, dialogue, and
interaction
Characterize Huck Finn using the diagram
provided. Be creative with your drawing.
Surround him with quotations, paraphrases,
and comments relating to his character and
personality. Include page numbers with the
quotations, paraphrases, and comments.
Discussion after Chapter 26
Literary Techniques (style, POV, figurative lang., symbolism..)
Characterization of Huck, Tom, & other significant characters
Huck’s innocence & experience
Twain’s satire and humor
Superstitions
“sivilizing” Huck
Hypocrisy
Crime
Slavery
Freedom
Religion
Morality/Ethical Behavior
Write a Response
What is the significance of Huck’s
statement, “All right, then, I’ll go to hell”?
Be sure to discuss how this comment
relates to the characterization of Huck, the
novel as a whole, and Twain claims.
Reading Quiz: Chapters 24-34
1. Who do the Duke and King impersonate in order to
steal an inheritance?
2. Who says to the King and Duke, “Take the six
thousand dollars, and invest for me and my sisters
any way you want to, and don’t’ give us no receipt
for it”?
3. Where does Huck hide the money-bag when he is
almost discovered?
4. When the lawyers says, “I wouldn’t strain myself, if I
was you, I reckon you ain’t used to lying, it don’t
seem to come handy; what you want is practice,”
who is he speaking to?
Reading Quiz: Chapters 24-34
5. Who says, “Out with you Jim, and set her
loose! Glory be to goodness we’re shut of
them!”?
6. How much money does the King get for Jim?
7. Who says, “All right, then, I’ll go to hell”?
8. Who is Huck mistaken for when he gets to the
Phelps’ plantation?
9. Who says, “I’ll help you steal [Jim]”?
10. How do Huck and his comrade intend to free
Jim?
Reading Quiz: Chapters 35-Last
1. Who says, “Well, if that ain’t just like you, Huck
Finn…Why, hain’t you ever read any books at all”?
2. What do Tom and Huck attempt to dig Jim out with—
the result is blistered hands?
3. Name one of the items Huck and Tom steal from the
clothesline.
4. What is ironic about how the boys get the grindstone
into Jim’s cabin?
5. Who says, “I never knowed b’fo’, ‘t was so much
bother and trouble to be a prisoner”?
Reading Quiz: Chapters 35-Last
6. Who gets shot during Jim’s escape?
7. Who arrives back at the Phelps’ plantation
wearing “her calico dress”?
8. Who says, “They hain’t got no right to shut him
up!...Turn him loose! he ain’t no slave; he’s as
free as any cretur that walks this earth!”?
9. How much does Tom pay Jim for “being
prisoner for [Tom and Huck] so patient”?
10. When Jim says, “He ain’t a comin’ back no
mo’, Huck,” to whom is Jim referring?
Thomas C. Foster on Huck Finn
Why does he include Adventures of
Huckleberry Finn in Twenty-Five Books that
Shaped America?
What are Foster’s thoughts on social criticism,
innocent’s narrative, Huck himself, the last
chapters, Huck’s language, Twain’s contribution
to literature, and the controversy?
Archetypes in Huck Finn
Archetype denotes recurrent narrative
designs, patterns of action, character-
types, themes, and images which are
identifiable in a wide variety of works of
literature, as well as in myths, dreams, and
even social rituals
How do archetypes relate to symbolism?
What archetypes are present in Huck
Finn?
Themes in Huck Finn
The institution of slavery is immoral
Race is a filter through which individuals are judged—
yet this is unfair, even immoral
Conscience should guide morality; however, moral
standards are largely taught and determined by
society and are hard to overcome
Every person deserves personal freedom
Friendship is based on trust and respect
Check out Shmoop.com for others
Identifying Irony in Huck Finn
Irony is generally defined as the contrast between
expectation and reality
Situational Irony: events don’t occur as the character
or audience expects
Verbal Irony: meaning implied is different than the
meaning expressed (sarcasm is a crude form of verbal irony
characterized by a harmful intent and inflection of the voice)
Dramatic Irony: the audience shares with the author
knowledge of which the character is ignorant
Literary Criticism and Huck Finn
“Literary criticism is the evaluation, analysis,
description, or interpretation of literary
works. It is usually in the form of a critical
essay, but in-depth book reviews can
sometimes be considered literary criticism.
Criticism may examine a particular literary
work, or may look at an author's writings
as a whole.”
Literary Criticism and Huck Finn
What is your initial impression of the critical
analysis you have read? Do you find the
writer’s credible? Their arguments convincing?
What do the Doren, Brooks, and Johnson
essays have in common?
What else do you find insightful in these critical
analyses?
What interpretations do they share with Foster?
Literary Criticism and Huck Finn
Based on your reading of the February 20, 1885
review from the Hartford Courant, how was
Huckleberry Finn received?
What is Smiley’s interpretation of Huck Finn? What
does she argue? How does she support this
argument?
How does Pinsker respond to Smiley? What is her
argument?
Which writer, Pinsker or Smiley, has the stronger
argument? Why?
Huck Finn Test Prompt
Develop a point of view on the value of The
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn as an American
novel. Synthesize information from the essays
you have read by Foster, Pinsker, Smiley,
Brooks, Doren, and Johnson, as well as the
article from the Hartford Courant. You are
required to use information from at least three
of these sources to support your argument.
Your references must be documented with in
text citations.
Spirituals
“Go Down, Moses” & “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot”
Folk songs often sung by enslaved African Americans
What purpose did the spirituals serve in the
slave community?
Why do they have refrains?
How are they allegorical?
What allusions exist in the spirituals? What is
their purpose?
The Gettysburg Address
Abraham Lincoln
Why is the “Gettysburg Address” considered
one of America’s most important speeches?
What are Lincoln’s purposes for this speech?
How does he accomplish these purposes?
Why is his diction important?
What can we learn about rhetoric from this
speech?
Letter to His Son
Robert E. Lee
Who is Robert E. Lee?
What does this letter reveal about Lee and
his attitudes toward the impending Civil
War?
How is his diction important to our
understanding of the significance of this
letter?
Short Story Presentations
“An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge”
by Ambrose Bierce “An Episode of War”
Plot of the story by Stephen Crane
Organization of Plot Plot of the story
Point of View Naturalism & Examples
Stream of Consciousness Theme/Message
Irony Character of lieutenant
Writer’s tone & influence Irony
Theme/Message Insight into Civil War
Insight into Civil War
Realism & Naturalism
Realism originated as a reaction to Romanticism—
writers began to focus on portrayals of “real life” as
ordinary people lived it; intent was to show characters
and events in an hones, objective, almost factual way
Naturalism wanted to portray “real life” but believed
lives were controlled by forces beyond human
understanding or control
– indifferent nature, blind fate, heredity, and pure chance
determined the lives of men and women
– Naturalists questioned ideas about human goodness and the
beauty of nature
– Characters are often victims of their own choices or of a
violent world
“The Celebrated Jumping Frog of
Calaveras County” Reading Quiz
1. What story does Simon Wheeler tell the narrator?
2. What is Jim Smiley’s hobby?
3. Who is Andrew Jackson in the story?
4. What is the name of the Smiley’s frog?
5. When it’s time for the contest, why can’t Smiley’s
frog jump?
6. Does the narrator get the desired information from
Simon Wheeler?
Twain’s Humor
Humor is writing intended to amuse
Humorists’ Devices
– Incongruity: using a serious tone to describe something
ridiculous
– Hyperbole: the exaggeration of details or embellishment of
events beyond the logical
– Comic use of language: humorous names, sounds, incorrect
word usage, etc.
Twain’s purpose: social commentary
– Critique of society
– Observation of human foibles or weaknesses
Read “How to Tell a Story” (575)
Find examples of humorist devices in “Jumping Frog”
The Story of an Hour
Irony
Verbal Irony
Situational Irony
Dramatic Irony
We Wear the Mask
by Paul Laurence Dunbar
We wear the mask that grins and lies,
It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,—
This debt we pay to human guile;
With torn and bleeding hearts we smile
And mouth with myriad subtleties,
Why should the world be over-wise,
In counting all our tears and sighs?
Nay, let them only see us, while
We wear the mask.
We smile, but oh great Christ, our cries
To thee from tortured souls arise.
We sing, but oh the clay is vile
Beneath our feet, and long the mile,
But let the world dream otherwise,
We wear the mask!
Poetry
Dunbar, Robinson, & Masters
Dunbar (635)
– Form: Sonnet
– How do poems reflect the post Civil War culture in America?
Robinson (641)
– Form: Narrative
– Analyze the characters
– Analyze Robinson’s attitudes
Masters (645)
– Form: Dramatic Monologue
– Analyze the character
– Analyze Master’s attitudes
A Wagner Matinee
by Willa Cather
Characterization: the art of revealing a character’s
personalities
Direct Characterization: writer states what a
character is like (“She was a pious woman.)
Indirect Characterization: writer provides clues about
the character by using descriptions, words, thoughts,
actions, comments, and reactions
More info about characterization on page 650
A Wagner Matinee
by Willa Cather
Locate two examples of direct characterization and
two examples in indirect characterization
Do you feel sorry for Aunt Georgiana? Why or why
not?
What effect does the first-person point of view have
on your reading?
Compare Boston with Nebraska—how do these two
settings impact Aunt Georgiana differently?
What is the theme or life lesson of this story?
Defend your answer.
“To Build a Fire”
Reading Quiz
1. What is the name of the main character
in the story?
2. Who is the man’s companion in the
story?
3. What is the temperature during the
story?
4. What extinguishes the second fire?
5. Why can’t the main character build the
third fire?
Jack London
A friend, Oliver Madox Hueffer said of London:
“[He] was an ideal yarnster…and one reason why I
think him likely to be numbered as among the writers
of real mark was that he was perfectly unconscious of
it. Like Peter Pan, he never grew up, and he lived in
his own stories with such intensity that he ended by
believing them himself.”
Do you think London is a “writer of real mark”?
Cause & Effect Plot Line
Plot
Event or Resulting
Situation Event
Theme Other elements
of literary
importance
“To Build a Fire” (594)
by Jack London
Characterize the man and the dog? What type of
characterization is used to develop these
characters?
How does conflict develop plot? Is the conflict
internal or external?
How does the setting create conflict?
Do you consider this story ironic? Why? What
types of irony exist?
What symbolic elements exist in the story?
What is the theme of the story?
“Heading West” &
“I Will Fight No More Forever”
What are the characteristics of a personal history?
Where are these characteristics best illustrated in
Colt’s writing?
What does Colt’s “Heading West” reveal about the
realities of westward expansion?
How do Chief Joseph’s words expand your
understanding of the displacement of Native
Americans as a result of westward expansion?
Analyze the diction and tone of both texts.
Unit 5
Emerging Modernism
Focus on early 20th Century American
Literature—Harlem Renaissance & “The Lost
Generation”
Trace the emergence of modernism and the
literature of “disillusionment” that followed WWI
Explore a modernist vision of nature—Robert
Frost (compare to transcendental and
naturalist)
Examine the alienation of modern man—
Fitzgerald & Hemingway
Unit 5
Emerging Modernism
Objectives
– Define & explain the origins of the Harlem Renaissance.
– Explore the relationship between historical events and
literature.
– Define and explain “The Lost Generation,” noting
experimental aspects of some works.
– Note the relationship between themes in early twentieth
century American literature and nineteenth century American
thought.
– Identify modernist ideas.
– Analyze the relationship between modernist style and
content.
– Examine evidence of the alienation of “modern man.”
The American Dream
Writing Prompt
What is the American Dream? What
does it take to achieve this dream?
Who determines your success in the
dream – you or others?
The Great Gatsby
Video
The Great Gatsby
Written by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Considered a “masterpiece” of American
literature
Concerned with the disillusionment of the
American dream
Notable Literary Aspects
Point of View
Characters/Characterization
Symbolism
Theme
Character Physical Personality Quotes
Traits Traits Describing
Symbol Description Meaning of Quotes to
of Symbol Symbol Identify
F. Scott Fitzgerald
The Great Gatsby
Chapters 1-2 Reading Quiz
1. Who is the narrator of the novel?
2. Who said, “Whenever you feel like criticizing
anyone, just remember that all the people in
this world haven’t had the advantages that
you’ve had”?
3. On which Egg does the narrator live?
4. Who is the narrator’s neighbor?
5. Who is described as having a “sad and lovely
[face] with bright things in it”?
The Great Gatsby
Chapters 1-2 Reading Quiz
6. What “minute” and “far away” image does
Gatsby stand and look toward?
7. True or false? The relationship between
Daisy and Tom is loving and friendly.
8. Who is Tom’s “woman”?
9. What does Tom buy his mistress that
costs $10?
10. Whose nose does Tom break?
Discussion
“ I was within and without, simultaneously
enchanted and repelled by the
inexhaustible variety of life.”
Nick Carroway
page 40
Preface to The Great Gatsby
Read the preface to The Great Gatsby by
Matthew J. Bruccoli.
Note and record at least 3 statements that
you would like to discuss with the class.
Think—Pair--Share
The Great Gatsby
Video
The Great Gatsby
chs. 3-6 Reading Quiz
1. “Men and girls came and went like moths among the
whisperings and the champagne and the stars.”
Where is it they are coming to and going from?
2. Who says, “[The books are] real…Absolutely real—
have pages and everything”?
3. Who is described as “standing alone on the marble
steps and looking from one group to another with
approving eyes”?
4. Who does Nick describe as “incurably dishonest”?
5. What is Meyer Wolfshiem known for? Be specific.
The Great Gatsby
chs. 3-6 Reading Quiz
6. Which character is from Louisville, Kentucky?
7. When Gatsby and Daisy meet at Nick’s, how long has
it been since their last meeting?
8. Explain the significance of Dan Cody in Gatsby’s life.
Be specific.
9. Who says, “I wonder where in the devil he met Daisy.
By God, I may be old-fashioned in my ideas but
women run around too much these days to suit me.
They meet all kinds of crazy fish”?
10. What is Gatsby’s real name?
Setting
Reread the first seven paragraphs of
chapter 2, and list words and phrases that
describe the setting and its mood
(atmosphere).
Reread the first six paragraphs of chapter
3, and list words and phrases that
describe the setting and its mood.
Character Matching
Judge
Gatsby
Clinging Vine Daisy
Protector
Tom
Weakling
Nice Guy Nick
Dictator Jordan
Calculator
Bully George
Myrtle
Identify a quotation from the text to support each decision/match.
Foster on Gatsby
Why “a whole heap of ashes”?
The title: The Great Gatsby
According to Foster, what is the novel
really about?
What is the theme?
Anything else…?
Chapter 7 Discussion
What “truths” are revealed in this chapter?
What do Gatsby, Tom, and George have
in common.
Examine the text—what stands out?
Gatsby Reading Quiz
Chs. 7-9
1. Who said, “Oh, you want too much! I love you now—
isn’t that enough?”
2. Who was driving the “death car” that killed Myrtle
Wilson?
3. Who did Nick leave “standing there in the
moonlight—watching over nothing”?
4. Who said, “Of course she might have loved him, just
for a minute, when they were first married—and
loved me more even then”?
5. Who said, “You’re worth the whole damn bunch put
together”?
Gatsby Reading Quiz
Chs. 7-9
6. Who said about Myrtle, “I told her she might
fool me but she couldn’t fool God”?
7. Who kills Gatsby?
8. Who saw the news of Gatsby’s death in the
Chicago newspaper and came right away?
9. What is ironic about Gatsby’s funeral?
10. Who says, “when I went up to the flat I saw
that damn box of dog biscuits sitting there on
the sideboard I sat down and cried like a baby”?
Literary Elements in Gatsby
How are they used and for what effect?
Modernism and Poetry
During the modernist movement writers and artist
experimented with forms to create new way of seeing
and understanding. They “violated accepted
conventions” of writing.
How is Elliot’s dramatic monologue “The Love Song of
J. Alfred Prufrock” (708) an example of modernist
poetry?
How does Sandburg (868) exemplify modernist
thought in “Chicago” and “Grass”?
How does Frost’s (874) poetry reflect modernistic
thinking and creativity?
The Harlem Renaissance
Langston Hughes (902), Claude McKay
(923), Arna Bontemps, & Countee Cullen
How does the poetry reflect cultural
identity?
Characteristics of Southern Literature
(Literature of the American South)
Focus on common Southern history
Significance of family
Sense of community & one’s role within it
Sense of justice/injustice
Religion (Christianity)
Issues of Racial Tension
Agriculture vs. Industry
Land and its significance
Sense of social class and place
Southern dialect
William Faulkner’s
“A Rose for Emily”
Discuss Faulkner’s writing style.
How does this short story reflect the
characteristics of Southern literature?
Flannery O’Connor’s
“The Life You Save May Be your Own”
Gothic Southern Literature (extension of
traditional Gothic literature)
– Remote settings
– Dark and/or Violent topics and actions
– Questions moral issues
– Grotesque characters
Literature of the Grotesque—exemplified by
characters who are twisted in either the physical
or mental sense (or both); characters and
actions are often bizarre
A Raisin in the Sun
by Lorraine Hansberry
Robert Nemiroff says the drama speaks to
issues that are now inescapable (and I
would posit universal in most cases)…
Class and generational conflicts
The relationships of husbands and wives
Feminism (female identity)
African American Identity
Ongoing life struggles
A Raisin in the Sun
by Lorraine Hansberry
Harlem
BY LANGSTON HUGHES
What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore—
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over—
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?
Other Themes Explored in
A Raisin in the Sun
The value and purpose of dreams
– Complications inherent in the dream
– Disillusionment associated with the dream
The need to fight racial discrimination
– Race inhibits the dream
The importance of family
– Private and public family
Poverty and Suffering must be tolerated and
overcome (struggle)
Pride is a means of retaining dignity
