Friday, April 29, 2016

Authors We've Read and Their American Voice



Your group has been assigned an author/authors.  *Dickinson and Bradstreet (Pg 1 Group), Whitman (Pg 2 Group), Thoreau and Emerson (Pg 3 & Pg 4 groups), William Carlos Williams and other modern poets (Pg 5 & Pg 6 Groups)

You need to find the notes/information you have on that author/authors and answer these questions about their American Voice.  Make sure one of you types up the answers as a comment to this post, but all of you write it down in your notes.

*Overall Question: How does their writing exemplify the (or an) American voice?
*How does their writing show America at their point in time?
*What does their writing say about people and society?
*Thinking of all, what aspect(s) of America are not reflected with the voices so far? 

Once you have posted these ideas, work on your current poet research.  




11 comments:

  1. The American voice focuses a lot on God and trusting in him, individual freedoms, and and the importance of doing what you believe is right.

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  2. Group 5: Alyssa, Breanna, Carolina, and Holly
    The American Voice is expressing our freedom and ourselves by being an individual in society.

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  3. Walker, Kaminzie, and Whitney

    The American Voice signifies that everyone has a voice in our democracy. Freedom of Speech. WE have the right to say whatever WE want without persecution.
    The American Voice: The freedom to be whoever you want to be and achieve your goals without being pressured to conform by the government.
    The American Voice: Equality.

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  4. Group Four; Erica, Kaylea, Tymber, Kathryn: Thoreau and Emerson
    The American Voice is...
    Freedom is important to the survival of our country, along with equality and a democratic government.

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  5. Adam, Jake, and Tyler:
    The American Voice is a (the best) format for communication that expresses united freedom of individuality through rights and amendments of the constitution in order to allow the “Pursuit of Happiness” for all

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  6. Group Four; Erica, Kaylea, Tymber, Kathryn: Thoreau and Emerson

    1) It shows the controversy around the World war and what it was doing to our country and people's conflicting opinions. Thoreau and Emerson both bring out their opinions on trusting in yourself and questioning those of authority.

    2) People need to be their own person and act as conscience commands. They cannot always relay on others when making life choices no matter how simple or difficult they can be.

    3) Both authors are speaking of the things that we must do to become better rather than speaking of things that American's have achieved to become the country that it was at the time. They seem to have an almost negative outlook on society and government rather than a constructive outlook. Equality is not an issue with Thoreau and Emerson; the issue for them is a sort of corrupt government without morals.

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  7. Emerson and Thoreau's writing express the American voice by explaining through their works that by letting people be who they want to be without persecution, they can become who they actually are and who they want to be. They show the simplicity in life and all the ways you can show your own voice. You can be Self-Reliant or not. There are no rules or guidelines to the American Voice and Emerson and Thoreau do a great job by explaining that in their works.

    In their day, They showed the American Voice by showing the freedoms that we have today. Thoreau was against the government and he had the right to say that BECAUSE he had freedom of speech. He had that American Voice. Emerson showed the American Voice within his writings by saying what he wanted to say. He didn't care the consequences. He was going to say what he wanted to say no matter how "Politically correct" it was.

    Their writings say that people need to be themselves and not be so worried about fitting into a group or in society. Their writings show that you need to work to achieve your goals. Nothing will be handed to you on a Silver Platter.

    Judgement that is present in the modern day. They express all the good things but never the bad.
    Glass Ceiling: They talk about equality and how we should all be equal but don't mention the glass ceiling and the idea that women will never fully be on the same level that men are on.

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  8. Adam, Jake, and Tyler:
    The American Voice is a (the best) format for communication that expresses united freedom of individuality through rights and amendments of the constitution in order to allow the “Pursuit of Happiness” for all

    ReplyDelete
  9. Group 5: Alyssa, Breanna, Carolina, and Holly
    Modernists show the American Voice in their poetry by putting their characters in the hopeless situation and having them overcome their situation. The war left people feeling hopeless so they showed this in their writing.
    Modernists also dealt with the importance of equality. The Harlem Renaissance showed this because African Americans expressed their feelings about being discriminated against.

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  10. 1. During the Puritan Age, Dickinson and Bradstreet's writing was mainly focused on God and the course of life. The American voice shows the readers that life happens and God is in control so we shouldn't be worried. This follows along with Dickinson's writing in 'Because I could not stop for Death'. Dickinson talks about how death is just a part of life and we need to accept it and be ready for when it comes. In the story, Dickinson had a pleasant walk with death and was ready to die and unite with God.
    Bradstreet's poem 'Verses upon the Burning of our House' explains to the reader her thoughts and feelings while her house was burning down. She realizes that even though she is sad that all of her possessions are gone, they were never hers in the first place and they were God's to take. Which connects to the American voice that God is the center of life.

    2. Both of Dickinson and Bradstreet's writing was written around the Puritan Age, which focuses on God and how society needs to be right with God spiritually. 'Verses upon the Burning of our House' talks about how the individual needs to expect the unexpected in life because you never know what will happen to yourself and society. Bradstreet's writing expresses this through her feelings and emotions while her house was burning down. 'Because I could not stop for Death' shows the individual that everyone dies and you need to be ready for it. During the Puritan era, the people again focused on God and eternal life, Dickinson's poem shows us that she was ready for it and welcomed it in a way.

    3. Aspects of the American voice that are not expressed throughout these poems, are the ideas of freedom, trusting yourself and opinions, and the importance of fulfilling your dreams.

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  11. William Carlos Williams shows America’s point of view by embodying the freedom of the reader’s mind by prompting it to decide what they think a wheelbarrow means to them. This lets no restrictions from life apply themselves to the wheelbarrow, but more importantly; your mind. He shows that you can find freedom in nature and the simple things in life. Modern poets in America often try to put as many of the things that are in America’s voice as possible so people will like their poems.
    His writing is saying that people need to step back and enjoy the simple things in life. Most people initially only picture what is given, and not what can be symbolized by it. You can find joy in things that are very simple that most people would not find any beauty in at all.
    The American dream of working hard to accomplish what you want and get where you want to be is not shown. Sometimes modern poets purposefully show the opposite of what people believe just to stir the water.

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