The 20th Century   1930s and 1940s

Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt

2024 - 25

(A short story approach)

Follow the early life of the McCourt family, immigrants from Ireland in the 1930s, in this 1996 Pulitzer Prize memoir (a historical account or biography written from personal knowledge or special sources ).

Irish immigration to the United States was profound from the 1820s up until the 1930s.  At one time, Irish Catholics made up 1/3 of all immigrants to the United States.  The Irish (1/2 of my family tree) were the first group of immigrants to ruin this country.  :-) Then the Italians ruined the country in the mid to late 1800s, and then the Germans ruined it in the east and Chinese in the west.  Today, the country is ruined by people from every continent on the planet.  We let immigrants' kids do anything in this country, including becoming president and vice-president.  LOL.  Of course, I am writing this with "tongue-in-cheek".  Angela's Ashes belongs on the Timeline.  Essay three.  But style is pure literary magic.  This is much different from Melville, Steinbeck, and Swift.  

ALL WORK IN YOUR COMPOSITION NOTEBOOK

First:  Read the following article:  outline the information learned.  Use the headings in the article from the History Channel to create your outline.  Provide 2-4 facts per heading.

https://www.history.com/news/when-america-despised-the-irish-the-19th-centurys-refugee-crisis

Read Chapter One:  Page 11-46

There will be a test over chapter one.  

Know the following vocab words:  loquacious, pompous, pious, cacophany, wafting, concoction

Read Chapter Two:

There will be a test over chapter two.

Know the following vocab words:  lavatory, fortnight, queue, cavort

The Film Trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPXP17JJ4GY&pbjreload=101

Thomson Reader (the following passages will shed light on more modern immigrants)

Read the following:

1. "Crossing the border without Losing your Past" - Oscar Casares page 110

2. "American Dreamer" - Bharati Mukherjee page 114

Post novel / article seminar:

Teams develop 2 seminar questions, submit questions, followed by a casual conversation

End of 2024 - 25

The Irish Potato Famine

England subjugates Ireland in 1801 with the Act of Union of Great Britain and rules until 1921 Irish Revolution

Only non-Catholic land owning males could vote for members of Parliament.  

Only non-Catholics could own land (thus all representation were Irish Protestants and Anglo-Irish)

(See family historical genetics)

Irish Catholics reduced to peasantry and share-cropping. 

(Same thing as black Americans post-Civil War throughout the Jim Crowe era)

1845-1852 Potato Crop failed.  Irish Catholics only ate potatos.  Food of the poor and only cash crop.

Thus, the Irish Catholics were thrown off the land.  They headed to America or starved.

Irish Catholics view the Famine as their own holocaust.  

Irish Population in 1845 was 8 million.  

Between 1845-1852:

1 million starved to death

1 million immigrated to the United States 

After 1852, the Irish continued to leave and continue to the United States: 6 million between 1820-1920

Current population of Ireland as of 2023:  5 million  

WARNING!

The following is a list of objectionable passages to be avoided in Angela's Ashes Skipping them will in no way disrupt the continuity of the novel; however, it may spare the reader uncomfortable or offensive material. Read at own peril....material will not be covered in class.

Chapter XI (pg. 252-257)

Chapter XIV (chapter)

Chapter XV (chapter)

Chapter XVII (pg. 344-354)

Chapter XVIII (pg. 359-end)

The 20th Century  1930s and 1940s and 1950s

The Autobiography of Malcolm X    by Alex Haley  1965

Malcolm X Reading Assignment

Chapter One (23 pages) - NIGHTMARE writing assignments for Composition Notebook

1 - Look up the philosophy of Marcus Garvey and bullet point 10 points on his belief

2 - Evaluate and critique the diction on pages 2 and 3.

3 - List 2 quotations/examples of Malcolm X criticizing blacks. React to this. Thoughts. Shocked?

4 - Based upon pages (9-23), With 3 examples/quotations, why is Malcolm X so hateful and distrustful and defiant toward whites and the government.

Chapter Two  (19 pages) - MASCOT - OWP Assignments for the Composition Notebooks

1. Look up 7-10 facts about Joe Louis and his career.

2. Beginning on page 27 and stopping at Mr. Ostrowski on page 30, defend or refute this statement, Malcolm X is too critical of white America.

3. Provide two quotations from the text (cited with MLA) that justify Malcolm X's fascination with Boston.

4. Defend Mr. Ostrowski and his advice. (Explain why he would tell Malcolm to be a carpenter)

(Think Atticus Finch)

Chapter Three (18 pages) - HOMEBOY - OWP assignments for Composition Book

1. Explain Malcolm X's attack on so-called middle class blacks. Support with 2 quotations. (41-45)

2. Look up the etymology of the term "uncle-tom" (Racial term). Explain it. (49) "For two bits-Uncle Tom a little bit-white cats especially like that."

3. OWP - Write about anything that shocked you, challenged your thinking, supports your thinking, extends your thinking, or makes you question your thinking in the first three chapters.

4. Analyze the tragedy of the Conk. Support with 2 quotations. (54-58).

Chapter 4 (14 pages)  - LAURA - OWP assignments for the composition book

1. Youtube 2 of the following: "Lindy Hopping, the flapping eagle, the kangaroo, or the split. Also, listen to Count Basie and Duke Ellington while reading the chapter. React to the music. Likes? Dislikes? Views today?

2. Laura represents a Mea Culpa on Malcolm X's part. In a half a page, comment on how society may have pushed Malcolm X away from Laura. Support with one quotations.

Chapter 5 (14 pages) - HARLEMITE - OWP assignments for the composition book

1. In describing his attire, Malcolm X states, "many white people simply stopped in their tracks to watch me pass" (Haley 81). React to this. Why would Malcolm X dress this way to draw attention to himself? Does modern society see this from young black males today? Explain.

2. Look up 10 facts on the history of the Harlem Renaissance.

3. Review the history of Harlem between pages of 84-86. Can this "white flight" be seen in the greater Cincinnati area? Can you explain?  See the video below for insight into Cincinnati's Over-The-Rhine district

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRPsLnmiXDk 

Chapter 6 (24 pages) - DETROIT RED - OWP assignments for the composition book.

1 Malcolm X states, "All women, by their nature, are fragile and weak: they are attracted to the male in whom they see strength" (Haley 96). React. Defend. Dispute.

2. React to the prostitution discussed in this chapter. React from a racial stand point? A feminine viewpoint. A social standpoint. A masculine standpoint. A moral standpoint. (Pick one or two)

3. Selling drugs, dressing flashy, packing guns, and subverting the law were all part of the Harlem world Malcolm X found himself caught up in. React. Compare/contrast to today.

4. In this chapter pick one quote to expound upon. Why did you pick it? Was it disturbing? Eye opening? Thought provoking? Explain!

Chapter 7  (18 pages) - Hustler - OWP assignments for the composition book.

1. Look one of the following riots for facts (L.A. 90s, Watts 60s, Baltimore 15, Ferguson 14),then compare and contrast it to the mood of the 1940s Harlem riot from Malcolm X

2. React to the prostitution section that Malcolm X found himself working in. How does this conflict with the romanticized version of the 1940s (the greatest generation). React to the shocking stories.

Chapter 8 (8 pages) - Trapped - OWP assignments for the composition book.

2020 UPDATED VERSION

1. Watch / listen to this song by Billie Holiday which in mentioned on page 131.  Look up Billie Holiday and write down 5-7 facts about her life while you are listening to her music.  It's beautiful music.  Use Wikipedia.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6P96s6bIeQk 

2.  Remember Henry Louis Gates?  The Harvard professor that got arrested for breaking into his own house?  He was part of the famous beer summit with President Obama?  He also did this video.  He is a magnificent historian.  Watch the following video of his view of the Harlem Renaissance and juxtapose it with the first hand account of Malcolm X in this chapter right now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gboEyrj02g 

2019 and back.  Forget this question from Chapter 8.

1. Compare and Contrast the chapter with the experiences of Jack Kerouac's regarding music, sex, drugs and the underworld. This could be a 5 paragraph AP Lang Test question. Try and write a page on the mood, tone, and perception of the similar worlds.

Chapter 9 (17 pages) - Caught - OWP assignments for the composition book

1. React to Malcolm X's view of women between 137-139. Do you see that in America today? In the world?

2. It is white America's fault that Malcolm X turned to a life of crime. Defend or refute in 1/2 page.

3. Look up modern day prison racial demographics. How much is caused by the inherent racism built into the system? How much is caused by poverty? How much caused by the broken black community?

I, Too by Langston Hughes

(Remember Walt Whitman's "America Singing")

BY LANGSTON HUGHES.

I, too, sing America..

I am the darker brother.

They send me to eat in the kitchen

When company comes,

But I laugh,

And eat well,

And grow strong..

Tomorrow,

I’ll be at the table

When company comes.

Nobody’ll dare

Say to me,

“Eat in the kitchen,”

Then..

Besides,

They’ll see how beautiful I am

And be ashamed—.

I, too, am America...

Harlem by LANGSTON HUGHES

.

What happens to a dream deferred?.

Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?

Or fester like a sore— And then run?

Does it stink like rotten meat?

Or crust and sugar over— like a syrupy sweet?.

Maybe it just sags

like a heavy load..

Or does it explode?

Sympathy by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR

I know what the caged bird feels, alas!

...When the sun is bright on the upland slopes;

When the wind stirs soft through the springing grass,

And the river flows like a stream of glass;

...When the first bird sings and the first bud opes,

And the faint perfume from its chalice steals—

I know what the caged bird feels!.

I know why the caged bird beats his wing

...Till its blood is red on the cruel bars;

For he must fly back to his perch and cling

When he fain would be on the bough a-swing;

...And a pain still throbs in the old, old scars

And they pulse again with a keener sting—

I know why he beats his wing!.

I know why the caged bird sings, ah me,

...When his wing is bruised and his bosom sore,—

When he beats his bars and he would be free;

It is not a carol of joy or glee,

...But a prayer that he sends from his heart’s deep core,

But a plea, that upward to Heaven he flings—

I know why the caged bird sings!

The 20th Century   1946-1950

On the Road by Jack Kerouac   1957

Assignment Due 

NOVEL ASSIGNMENT

1. The novel. First make sure you have post-it notes. If you need them, I have them. Remember, this book shall be returned; don't write in it. You must read Part I - (pages 1-99). Each chapter has different tasks. (Warning: some of the novel contains objectionable material - most in Parts II & III)

Chapter 1 & 2 - Using mini-post-its...tag three spots of Kerouac's reckless style in the novel. Comment on post-it why you picked it.

Chapter 3 - tag with a post-it a spiritual part, a rebellious part, and a romantic part. (remember what romantic means)

Chapter 4 - In you Composition Book respond to a humorous part of the chapter....How does it fit with free-spirit of the novel?

Chapter 5 - On a post-it, pick 3-4 lines which reflect upon the post-World War II "loneliness" experienced by Kerouac. Briefly, write why you picked the passage.

Chapter 6 & 7 - Personally react to Dean's situation. Comp Book. What does it reflect about this generation? How does it make you feel as a reader?

Chapter 8 & 9 - Tag a passage from each chapter which reflects the chaotic writing of the novel. Listen to Charlie Parker or Miles Davis on Pandora while reading these chapters. Then, in the Comp Book, pick a passage about the party and relate it to the restlessness of Kerouac.

Chapter 10 - Comp Book - Support with a quote or two the lugubrious nature of this chapter.

Chapter 11 - On post-its, tag three passages and bullet point on them how it reflects the lost or rebellious nature of the era.

Chapter 12 - Sal meets a girl (Terry). Reflect upon, with support, the tone of the chapter.

Chapter 13 - Tag three different moods reflected in the chapter. Then describe on the post it the mood (i.e. fear, anxiety, joy, fleeting hope)

Chapter 14 - Find a thematic passage in 14, reflect upon it in Comp Book in regards to how it reflects Kerouac's message of part I.

The 20th Century   1960s

Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck - 1962

Part I and some of Part II

Read Part One: Pages 3 to 16

IN YOUR COMP BOOK (not in the book)

1. Name the chapters (be creative)

2. Find and jot down two passages and comment on them.  Why you like them?  Agree?  Disagree? Etc.

Read Part Two: Pages 19 to 26 Stop "I had promised"

Activities:

1. Re-read "Seven Ages of Man" and list out the ages

2. In Part II, read poem below, think of the "Tomorrow" speech, and then react to Steinbeck's philosophy on life at the beginning of this section.

3. Begin marking the motif "Ftt".  (SKIP 2019)

4. Read 33-42, pick one passage that strikes you and react. Analyze theme, philosophy, style, personal connection. Whatever!

Seven Ages of Man, by William Shakespeare

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtEUySDDg-I 

(Benedict Cumberbatch reading above)

All the world's a stage,

And all the men and women merely players,

They have their exits and entrances,

And one man in his time plays many parts,

His acts being seven ages. At first the infant,

Mewling and puking in the nurse's arms.

Then, the whining schoolboy with his satchel

And shining morning face, creeping like snail

Unwillingly to school. And then the lover,

Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad

Made to his mistress' eyebrow.

.

Then a soldier,

Full of strange oaths, and bearded like the pard,

Jealous in honour, sudden, and quick in quarrel,

Seeking the bubble reputation

Even in the cannon's mouth. And then the justice

In fair round belly, with good capon lin'd,

With eyes severe, and beard of formal cut,

Full of wise saws, and modern instances,

And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts

Into the lean and slipper'd pantaloon,

With spectacles on nose, and pouch on side,

His youthful hose well sav'd, a world too wide,

For his shrunk shank, and his big manly voice,

Turning again towards childish treble, pipes

.

And whistles in his sound.

Last scene of all,

That ends this strange eventful history,

Is second childishness and mere oblivion,

Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.