Questions of the Times

Questions of the Times Are we responsible for the whole world? Can America achieve equal rights? What makes an American? What is the American dream?

Are we responsible for the whole world? World War II brought the United States into a new role of increased power and involvement in the world, a role that expanded even further with the Cold War, Vietnam, and the “War on Terror.” Do you believe America has a responsibility to intervene in other nations’ conflicts? Does it have the right?

Can America achieve equal rights? In 1963, one hundred years after emancipation, African Americans still found themselves treated as second- class citizens, denied equal education, jobs, even the right to vote. The civil rights movement secured the legal right to equality, but in reality racism and injustice linger on. Do you believe America will ever achieve true equality?

What makes an American? American writers of the 21st century reflect the diversity of the country itself. The United States has become a multicultural society whose citizens’ experiences are endlessly varied. With no single “American experience” to bond citizens together, it seems logical to ask: What makes an American? Patriotism? Independence? Mere citizenship? Or something else?

What is the American dream? The Pilgrims and the Puritans dreamed of a new world where they would be free to practice their religion. Later, immigrants dreamed of a country where any child could grow up to be the president. In the postwar era of the 1950s, the dream focused on consumer goods – “a car in every garage.” How do you define the American dream?

Contemporary Literature 1940 – Present New Perspectives

New Perspectives In the 1950s, America entered the Space Age – a beginning foray into our modern technological times. Looking down from space, the country’s first astronauts marveled at the blue marble that was Earth floating in the blackness. From space, Earth looked peaceful and whole, with no division between nations, no conflict between races. It was a new way of looking at the world – just one of many new perspectives on modern life. How did the view of the “blue marble” adrift in the blackness of space provide a different perspective not just of the planet but also of its inhabitants?

Contemporary Literature: 1940 – Present New Perspectives Literature of the modern age reflects the uncertainty and anxiety brought on by the realities of war. The following essay provides historical context – it presents a brief overview of significant events occurring during the time period, 1940 – present, and discusses key people and ideas of the times.

Contemporary Literature: 1940 – Present New Perspectives *Kristin will distribute a copy of the essay

Contemporary Literature: Historical Context “Modern Warfare” This section of the essay (page 1149-1150) summarizes the succession of conflicts that affected America and other nations of the world, including World War II, the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union, wars in Korea and Vietnam, and the Persian Gulf War. The text also mentions the breakup of the Soviet Union, the attack on the World Trade Center, and the U.S. invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq.

Tiered Discussion Prompts “Modern Warfare” Interpret: The opening paragraph concludes with “…many Americans still clung to the dream of isolation – until Pearl Harbor woke them from their illusions.” What does the writer mean? Analyze: In what ways was World War II “a catastrophe of epic dimensions”? Synthesize: In what sense did the Cold War directly affect even more people that previous “hot” wars?

Tiered Discussion Prompts “Modern Warfare” Evaluate: You read on page 1149 that Thomas Paine wrote: “not a place on earth might be so happy as America. Her situation is remote from all the wrangling world.” In light of subsequent events, do his words ring true? Why or why not? Synthesize: John Updike wrote, “At all times an old world is collapsing and a new world arising.” How does this statement reflect the global situation from 1940 to the present?

Comprehension Check “Modern Warfare” What was the Cold War and how and when did it finally end?

Contemporary Literature: Cultural Influences “The Civil Rights Movement” This section of the essay (page 1151) focuses on the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s. The text highlights the important Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision, explains the contribution of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and discusses the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

Tiered Discussion Prompts “The Civil Rights Movement” Summarize: What important role did Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., play in the civil rights movement? Evaluate: The essay writer states that “America has still not achieved true equality and opportunity for all,” although the nation is much closer to King’s vision of a time when people will be judged by their character rather than their skin color. Do you agree with the writer’s assessment? Why, or why not?

Contemporary Literature: Ideas of the Age “The American Dream” This section of the essay (page 1152) discusses how the American dream has evolved over time. The text also discusses how several writers have addressed the idea of the American dream.

Tiered Discussion Prompts “The American Dream” Summarize: How has the American dream changed over the years? Synthesize: If Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg were alive and writing today, do you think they would still find “shallowness and conformity” to protest in American society? Explain.

Contemporary Literature: Literature of the Times “Modern American Drama” This section of the essay (pages 1153 - 1157) focuses on the mosaic of contemporary American literature since World War II: Modern drama, including the plays of Arthur Miller, Tennessee Williams, Thornton Wilder, and Lorraine Hansberry Literature responding to war, including that of John Hersey, John Steinbeck, Elie Wiesel, Joseph Heller, Kurt Vonnegut, and Tim O’Brien Civil rights and protest literature, including that of Ann Petry, Richard Wright, Gwendolyn Brooks, Ralph Ellison, James Baldwin, Anne Moody, and Dudley Randall Contrasting views expressed by Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr.

Tiered Discussion Prompts “Modern American Drama” Summarize: What were some of the defining characteristics of post-World War II American drama? Analyze: In what ways was Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman representative of post-World War II American Drama?

Comprehension Check “Modern American Drama” Explain the significance of Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun.

Tiered Discussion Prompts “Responses to War” Analyze: How have world events shaped literature in the 20th and 21st centuries? Synthesize: During the Vietnam War, young men were subject to a draft, or conscription into military service. How might this fact help to explain the popularity of such writers as Heller and Vonnegut?

Analyze Visuals “Responses to War” The World War II propaganda poster shown on page 1155 was meant to inspire support for the war. In your opinion, is it persuasive? How might the Vietnam War protesters shown in the other image have answered the question posed? How might they have responded to the intent of the poster?

Comprehension Check “Responses to War” Identify ways that each writer or pair of writers responded to war: John Hersey and John Steinbeck Elie Wiesel Joseph Heller and Kurt Vonnegut Tim O’Brien

Tiered Discussion Prompts “Civil Rights and Protest Literature” Summarize: How did African-American writers use personal experience to convey their message? Give examples. Interpret: The essay writer explains, “The success of the civil rights movement depended on getting the message of justice out to the rest of America…” How does this statement show the importance of writers during this period? Analyze: How did the viewpoints of Malcom X and Martin Luther King, Jr., differ regarding the issues affecting black people?

Tiered Discussion Prompts “A Mosaic of American Voices” Summarize: Explain how diversity has increased among American writers. Analyze: How has the increase in diversity changed the impact of each writer’s voice?

The Artists’ Gallery “A Mosaic of American Voices” American artist Mark Rothko (1903 – 1970) was born in Russia and moved to the United States at the age of ten. Although Rothko is often considered an abstract expressionist, he insisted that he was not an abstract painter and was not interested in the relationship between color and form. Rather, he said he was concerned with expressing basic human emotions through his art. Reflect on Rothko’s painting and describe the emotions it seems to convey.

Connecting Literature, History, and Culture *Kristin will distribute a copy of the timeline

Connecting Literature, History, and Culture Reading Skill: Read a Timeline The timeline is divided into three sections: American Literary Milestones Historical Context World Culture and Events Each section displays a sequence of events that occurred between 1940 and the present. By looking at the vertical columns on the timeline, you can see which events were occurring at approximately the same time.

Connecting Literature, History, and Culture Making Connections What important roles have new technologies played in this era? What evidence do you see that “American” and “world” events have become harder to separate? Which political and cultural trends have influenced American literature?