The Mission of Mountain Ridge High School is to provide real world connections within highly engaging classrooms that prepare graduates to meet the rigors and demands of 21st  century global citizens.

ENH 242 - American Literature after 1860

Don't forget to look at our document page to find important handouts and power points!
 
 
"It is only the story . . . that saves our progeny from blundering like blind beggars into the spikes of the cactus fence. The story is our escort; without it, we are blind. Does the blind man own his escort? No, neither do we the story; rather, it is the story that owns us."
- Chinua Achebe Anthills of the Savannah
 
 
Need Accuplacer information?
 
 
 
 
 
Outside Reading Novel Links
Here are a few places you and your group may want to explore to help choose a book! 
 
 
Genre Fiction (This is off Amazon.com - you can choose subjects on the left side of the screen)
 
 
 
 

Don't forget the parameters:

  • Original copyright must be 2000 or more recent!
  • Minimum of 300 pages
  • Must be American Literature (take place in America)
  • Adult Fiction
 

Reading Links:

 
 Realism
 
*Please note you can find the Realism Readings packet in the ENH 242 Documents!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

“War Is Kind”

Stephen Crane (1899)

 

Do not weep, maiden, for war is kind,

Because your lover threw wild hands toward the sky

And the affrighted steed ran on alone,

Do not weep.

War is kind.

 

Hoarse, booming drums of the regiment,

Little souls who thirst for fight,

These men were born to drill and die.

The unexplained glory flies above them.

Great is the battle-god, great, and his kingdom--

A field where a thousand corpses lie.

 

Do not weep, babe, for war is kind.

Because your father tumbles in the yellow trenches,

Raged at his breast, gulped and died,

Do not weep.

War is kind.

 

Swift blazing flag of the regiment,

Eagle with crest of red and gold,

These men were born to drill and die.

Point for them the virtue of slaughter,

Make plain to them the excellence of killing

And a field where a thousand corpses lie.

 

Mother whose heart hung humble as a button

On the bright splendid shroud of your son,

Do not weep.

War is kind!

 
 
 
Naturalism
 
 
All men lead their lives behind a wall of misunderstanding they have themselves built, and most men die in silence and unnoticed behind the walls. Now and then a man, cut off from his fellows by the peculiarities of his nature, becomes absorbed in doing something that is personal, useful and beautiful. Word of his activities is carried over the walls. - Sherwood Anderson
 
 
Harlem Renaissance
 
Harlem Renaissance Poets:
Gwendolyn Brooks
Countee Cullen
Paul Laurence Dunbar - Not in our textbook!
Langston Hughes
Claude McKay - Not in our textbook!
Jean Toomer - Not in our textbook!
 
Harlem Renaissance Project Description:


Steps for Your Assignment:
1. Choose a power point background. Everything you do must be on one slide only.
2. Select a theme to unite all the pieces you will include on your slide - include the theme somewhere on your slide.
3. Select a painting from the Harlem Renaissance time period. Go to http://images.google.com/ and search "Harlem Renaissance Paintings" choose a painting that fits your overall idea.
4. Choose one of the poets to work with, you will find links on my web page or in our text book! The poets you can work with are: Gwendolyn Brooks, Countee Cullen, Paul Laurence Dunbar, Langston Hughes, Claude McKay, and Jean Toomer. You do not have to use the entire poem, just select a part of the poem that works with your theme - be sure to put the poet, title, and the line(s) you chose.
5. Select a quote from A Raisin in the Sun.
6. Research the literary period called The Harlem Renaissance. Find a fact or point of interest to include on your slide. Be sure you label this: Historical Point. Also, if you take something as a quote, be sure to cite where you got the information or who said it! Don't plagiarize!
7. Select a symbolic image of your choice to tie together your ideas - a piece of clip art can be included for this. Choose carefully and with purpose!
8. Print out your entire slide, if you can, print it in color! You want it to be the full size of your paper - just like your example!

If you do not have power point at home, don't forget that you can go to the media center to complete this assignment! You can also complete this using Microsoft Word if that is easier for you! You choose!

Use the example to help you! Remember that there are additional resources available on my web page! Finally, be creative!

Harlem Renaissance: A Brief Introduction by Paul Reuben

The Harlem Renaissance Multimedia Resource

Rhapsodies in Black

Getty Images

Southern Gothic

"A Good Man is Hard to Find"

"The Lottery"

The Lottery Study Questions
1. What is the tone at the beginning of the story?
2. How are the men depicted in the beginning of the story?
3. How are the women depicted in the beginning of the story?
4. How do the villagers treat the black box?
5. Why did Mr. Summers use paper slips instead of wooden chips in the lottery.
6. How is the lottery different than what it used to be?
7. How was the lottery conducted?
8. What was Mrs. Hutchinson doing before she came to the town meeting? Does this have any significance?
9. Who is Old Man Warner? What attitude does he represent?
10. "Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon." What meanings can be derived from this?
11. Why do the people do the lottery?
12. Why does Mrs. Hutchinson keep saying that it isn't fair?
13. Who is Davy Hutchinson? Does he represent more than just a child?

"A Rose for Emily"

"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"

Modernism and Post Modernism

"Harrison Bergeron"