Introduction
What is American Literature? What does it mean to be "American?" What makes American Literature "American?"
These are the essential questions that you will explore as you navigate through the American Literature timeline, examining anchor texts that reflect each literary movement.
Students will be able to recognize characteristics and style of each American literary period, major historical influence, how to identify the key traits of the literary period, major authors and works, and how it fits into the American tradition.
This introductory webquest will allow students to understand how other texts studied throughout the course fit into the larger idea of American literature.
Task
- Download the graphic organizer
- Click on each link to understand the historical context and the defining characteristics
- Read the anchor text associated with each literary movement
- Fill out the graphic organizer for each literary movement
- Answer any additional questions
- Complete the project related to each of the movements
- Submit all work to Google Classroom
Graphic organizer
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ex6boBCR012su1B8BkePhznfJJhdary0pbpCkCNR7UI/edit
Process
1st: Native American
click on the link to explore the background historical context as well as the defining characteristics of this literary time period
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/106GtO06WhVfBEcM2b0nMCiKIRag2a28DP1vZD4hFv0s/edit#slide=id.p4
Anchor Text:
Pre-Reading- Click on the following links for background information before reading the poem
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wendigo
Read the poem and then click on the shmoop link to take the quizzes (be sure to post your results on a Google Doc) 1 and then discuss the following prompt on the same document: Although a modern text, how does the poem reflect the characteristics and purpose of Native American Literature? Does this reflect both past and present American ideals and themes? How? How Not? 2
Poem
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43086/windigo
Quiz and extra help link (Post-Reading)
https://www.shmoop.com/windigo-poem/
2nd: Puritan/Colonial Literature
Watch the following videos and background information
https://penandthepad.com/characteristics-colonial-american-literature-7866574.html
3 Answer the following question: What were the pressing concerns for the people during this time that would dictate both the content and style of their writing? Fears? Concerns? Purpose? Hope? Style/format?
Anchor Text:
City Upon a Hill excerpt by John Winthrop
4 Discussion Response: How does this text define the time period as well as outline the Puritan influence on American (the New World) ideals i.e. what America is known for symbolizing?
In what way is this both utopic and dystopic? UTOPIC? DYSTOPIC?
5 Evidence: Connotation for Utopic (list at least 3) Connotation for Dystopic (list at least 3)
help on connotation: What is this skill? Click the link below and complete the chart 6
https://www.englishworksheetsland.com/grade6/language/16/4feelings.pdf
3rd: The Enlightenment Period/ The Revolutionary Writers
Compare and contrast the two images: What do these images convey about the change in ideas, beliefs, purpose, and social concerns from Puritan and Colonial literature to the Enlightenment and Revolutionary period. List Specific evidence from the pictures to support your response. 7
Follow the link and complete the emotional appeals activity 8
https://www.wiley.com/college/psyc/huffman249327/resources/links/emot_app.html
Read the Anchor Text and locate two emotional appeals. What piece of textual evidence do you find the most persuasive? Why? Use this graphic organizer 9
http://derryenglish.weebly.com/uploads/7/2/1/2/7212175/henry_reading_focus.pdf
Text
http://www.history.org/almanack/life/politics/giveme.cfm
Characteristics and background
After clicking on the following links for background information and filling in the graphic organizer, discuss the following prompt: Is rhetoric and persuasive language necessary during this time period? Why? Why not? Use the phrase, "The pen is mightier than the sword," in your discussion (one paragraph) 10
Evaluation
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Jp668XaA1Eu4l9Jvm3uLmwnOl5y-9XuO-IP_rESkOmA/edit
American Literature Timeline Project