Introduction

There are so many wonderful benefits of living in San Francisco—the food, the sights, the weather. Just one more advantage of living here is the plethora of remnants of a major 20th Century literary movement: The Beats. In this webquest, you will investigate how San Francisco inspired the Beats and how the Beats inspired San Francisco.

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Guiding Question

What was the importance of the Beats movement in San Francisco? How did the city inspire the writers?

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Questions

1. When did the Beat movement begin? Where did the name “Beat” come from? How was it used to describe people in the Beat movement?
2. Who was Jack Kerouac? Who was Neal Cassady? Describe their early lives.
3. When did they come to San Francisco? Why did they come to San Francisco?
4. What major work chronicles their trip across the country? What are the names of the main characters?
5. What books did Jack Kerouac write that were set in San Francisco? Describe the plots.
6. Where was Allen Ginsberg educated? When did he come to San Francisco?
7. What is Allen Ginsberg’s famous poem that tells the story of his fellow Beats?
8. Where was Howl originally published? Is this store still around today?
9. What was the controversy surrounding Howl?
10. What legacy do the Beats still have in San Francisco? Where can you find information about them?

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Internet Resources

A Brief Guide to the Beat Poets
NY Times: This Is the Beat Generation
How Beat Happened
Jack Kerouac
Neal Cassady
Wikipedia: Allen Ginsberg
Jack Kerouac Novels
SparkNotes: On the Road
Howl - Ginsberg
City Lights Books
The Beat Museum
Beat Generation in North Beach

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Activities

1. Make a chart comparing Jack Kerouac and Neal Cassady to their counterparts in On the Road.
2. Imagine you are a Beat living in San Francisco in the 1950s. Write a short poem or story in the style of the Beats.
3. Read Howl and research at least 3 allusions made in the poem.