Voices of America Project

100 points

 

This year we have read many pieces of American literature from the times of the Puritans to works of the modern era. But we have barely skimmed the surface. Though this project still will not expose you to even a fraction of attention-worthy American literature, it will enable us to cover a much larger spectrum than with the traditional classroom approach.

 

This class will break up into six groups of three students, and the groups will choose a theme with which to work. Listed with each theme are five works by American authors and poets from Unit 6 (Realism and Naturalism) and Unit 7 (Literature in Modern America) in your textbook, all somehow dealing with that theme. During this project you will be reading short stories, poems, excerpts from novels, and essays written by a wide array of authors and poets.

 

Progress versus Tradition (Shannon, Valerie, and Madeleine)

#1  The Sculptor’s Funeral by Willa Cather – pp. 470-481 (Realism & Naturalism)

#2  A Rose for Emily by William Faulkner – pp. 624-633 (Modern Fiction)

#3  Prayer of Steel by Carl Sandburg – p. 754 (Modern Poetry)

#4  Merritt Parkway by Denise Levertov – pp. 843-844 (Modern Poetry)

#5  Walden by E.B. White – pp. 866-872 ( Modern Nonfiction)

 

Success (Lizzie, Lindsey, and Caroline)

#1  George Gray and Lucinda Matlock (2 poems) by Edgar Lee Masters – pp. 501-504

            (Realism & Naturalism)

#2  A Worn Path by Eudora Welty – pp. 684-690 (Modern Fiction) – see “The Point of

the Story” immediately after the story

#3  The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock by T.S. Eliot – pp. 774-781 (Modern Poetry)

#4  The Unknown Citizen by W.H. Auden – pp. 811-814 (Modern Poetry)

#5  Tin Lizzie by John Dos Passos – pp. 894-898 (Modern Nonfiction)

 

The Minority and Immigrant Experience (Maddie, Jamie, and Kiloran)

#1  from The Jungle by Upton Sinclair – pp. 533-540 (Realism & Naturalism)

#2  Lost by Isaac Bashevis Singer – pp. 668-676 (Modern Fiction)

#3  As I Grew Older by Langston Hughes – p. 801 (Modern Poetry)

#4  Child of the Americas by Aurora Levins Morales – pp. 860-862 (Modern Poetry)

#5  from Black Boy by Richard Wright – pp. 910-914 (Modern Nonfiction)

 

A Woman’s Experience (Claire, Colleen, and Francis)

#1  from  Giants in the Earth by O.E. Rölvaag – pp. 541-548 (Realism & Naturalism)

#2  Everyday Use by Alice Walker – pp. 722-731 (Modern Fiction)

#3  The Fortress by Anne Sexton – pp. 848-850 (Modern Poetry)

#4  Who Said It Was Simple by Audre Lorde – handout (Modern Poetry)

#5  The Names of Women by Louise Erdrich – pp. 928-933 (Modern Nonfiction)

 

 

Relationships (Jenn, Katie, and Maggie)

#1  The Open Boat by Stephen Crane – pp. 450-469 (Realism & Naturalism)

#2  The Lucid Eye in Silver Town by John Updike – pp. 713-721 (Modern Fiction)

#3  Mending Wall by Robert Frost – pp. 745-746 (Modern Poetry)

#4  Any Human to Another by Countee Cullen – p. 802 (Modern Poetry)

#5  Mother Tongue by Amy Tan – pp. 922-927 (Modern Nonfiction)

 

Faith and Enlightenment (Kelly, Kristen, and Liz)

#1  The Life You Save May Be Your Own by Flannery O’Connor – pp. 703-712 (Modern

            Fiction)

#2  Field Trip by Tim O’Brien – pp. 732-737 (Modern Fiction)

#3  God’s World by Edna St. Vincent Millay – pp. 786-787 (Modern Poetry)

#4  The Ball Poem by John Berryman – pp. 826-827

#5  The Way to Rainy Mountain by N. Scott Momaday – pp. 915-921 (Modern

Nonfiction)

 

After reading each selection, you will discuss it with the other members of your group in a literary circle during class. I will not be leading your discussion; therefore, it is imperative that all group members come prepared and ready to discuss. It may also be helpful to research any terms or references you don’t understand, just as I would do in preparation for class. Many of the selections may also have commentaries following them that would be beneficial to read. You should come to class with questions for discussion; you can also use the questions provided in the textbook as a guide. You may also want to discuss any similarities with works we have already read.

 

The main purpose of this project is to discuss what each individual work of literature is saying in terms of the theme with which you are working, then show how all of these “voices” come together to create an American experience. You will then present your knowledge to the class.

 

What the presentation will consist of:

  • Explanation of your theme
  • Brief summaries/readings of your five selections
    • Poems should be read to the class
    • Short stories, novel excerpts, and essay should be summarized
  • Discussion about how each selection relates to the theme
  • Present your reflection on how these selections come together to create “the voice of your theme”

 

Presentation requirements:

  • Around 25 minutes long
  • Visual aids
    • A piece of artwork to represent each selection as a whole to show during your reading/summary (This can be original artwork – painting, sketch, collage, etc. – or a piece by a famous artist. In the second case, make sure to include the title of the piece and the artist)
    • Visuals to aid in your discussion of the theme
  • Equal participation by each group member

 

Grading

In addition to my evaluation of your project, you will also grade the other members of your group (for my information only) to ensure the individual grades are deserved.

 

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