Define dreams. What does it mean to dream? Think of all the connotations of this word as you respond in quadrant 1 What is your biggest dream? Explain in quadrant 2 The Harlem Renaissance & Effects 1920s-1930s Review… • Where is Harlem? • Renaissance is like a “new beginning” or “resurgence” • What does “Harlem Renaissance” literally mean? • What connotations does it have? Harlem Renaissance • African American migration to Harlem, NY (1921-1930s) o Burst of creativity o Celebrated cultural identity o Depended on one another for support and inspiration o Poetry • rhythms of spirituals and jazz • Lyrics based on blues o Diction based on slang o Gave Americans a language to begin discussion of Racism What is the Dream of the Harlem Renaissance writers? How does this compare to the American dream? What obstacles do people have to overcome to pursue their dreams? Reading Harlem Renaissance Poetry Group Work Round One • Individually: you have approximately 7 minutes to read your poem and complete part I and II on your worksheet. Make sure you are being specific and detailed with your responses. Black Authority & power; stability & strength; intelligence (doctorate in black robe; black horn rimmed glasses etc.); thinning; somber; sometimes evil; grief; easily overwhelming with too much White Purity; cleanliness; safety of bright light; projects absence of color; projects neutrality; eastern world—mourning; creativity; compression of color Gray Practical; timeless; middle ground; solid; too much leads to feeling nothing, but a bit helps add a rock solid feeling; some shades equal old age, death, taxes, depression or lost sense of direction Silver Red Round 2 • Helping Using the psychology of color, decide on an hand, strong character appropriate represent the poem. Explain Draws attention; draws the color eye; color ofto energy; associated with movement and excitement; causes the heart to beat faster; not good to over use, but used in the right places can help; symbolizes life, love, and giving your response in detail. Pink True color of love; most calming of all colors; drains energy and calms aggression; symbolizes love and gentle feelings to sooth Blue Causes the body to produce chemicals that are calming (some shades); too much can send a cold, uncaring message; calm and restful; symbolizes steadfastness, dependability, wisdom and loyalty; elicits productivity by encouraging focus; sports are enhanced in a blue surrounding Green Color of growth, nature and money; calming color that is pleasing to the senses; dark green associated with conservatism, masculinity and wealth; used in hospitals to promote calm; associated with envy, good luck, generosity and fertility; traditional color of peace, harmony, comfortable nurturing, support and well paced energy. Yellow Cheerful; associated with laughter, happiness and good times; promotes optimistic b/c the brain actually releases more serotonin when around the color; when intense it has been shown to make babies cry more and tempers flare; has the power to bring out creative thoughts (yellow legal pads!!!!) but can be overpowering; some shades associated with cowardice; golden shades promise better times Orange Flamboyant; tied to fun times, happiness and energy as well as warmth; associated with ambition; nothing calming; new dawn attitude Purple Royalty; associated with wealth, prosperity, rich sophistication; stimulates the brain used in problem solving; overuse equals ostentation and artificiality; used carefully can lend an air of mystery, wisdom, and respect. Brown reliability, stability, and friendship; color of earth; natural and organic; India it is the color of mourning Round 3 • Using your knowledge of symbolism and language arts, decide on an appropriate symbol to represent the content of the poem. Explain your response. • Consider the image the poet used, and then move beyond that and connect the image to a symbol OUTSIDE the text. Round 4 • Choose a line that would attract someone to your poem and make them want to read more about it. Be sure to explain it. Round 5 • Teach your group all about your poem. • In the box provided draw the picture that would represent each of the poems you will talk about with your group. • Write the theme and title of each poem as well! Round 6 • How does the Harlem Renaissance give America a language to talk about racism and discrimination for the first time? • Does the HR call for an egalitarian society? Explain your response in the reflection section Egalitarianism: a belief in human equality especially with respect to social, political, and economic rights and privileges; a social philosophy advocating the removal of inequalities among people Harlem Renaissance • African Americans wanted ___________ during the Harlem Renaissance but… Langston Hughes • Most influential/well known writer that emerged from the Harlem Renaissance • He was not born in Harlem, but flourished as a writer there Raisin “Harlem: A Dream Deferred” Langston Hughes Sight: 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? Taste: Touch: Smell Sound: Questions: • How does the sum total of all the imagery add up to answering the question put forth by the speaker in line one, “ What happens to a dream deferred? • What is the unspoken message the speaker is telling the reader about going after their own dreams? THEME Main idea that can be applied universally Setting the Scene Notorious BIG≠ Harlem Renaissance BUT “Juicy”= lit. tradition of Harlem by addressing Dreams AND Ambition Despite Setbacks often associated with Race “Juicy” By Notorious B.I.G. • • • • Poetic Theme: Reach for Your Dreams How do both sets of verses reflect this theme? Line 16 claims that birthdays were the worst days. Why do you think the poet felt this way? What images from the verse does the poet use to demonstrate the poverty he endured prior to achieving Hip-Hop fame? What images from the verse doe the poet use to demonstrate the rewards of wealth and Hip-Hop fame in the reader’s mind? Setting the Scene Loraine Hansberry ≠ Harlem Renaissance BUT A Raisin in the Sun = lit. tradition of Harlem by addressing Racism AND Discrimination And Dreams Deferred What happens to a dream deferred? And what should that encourage you to do about your own dreams? Turn in • Staple your quadrant sheet to your worksheet and turn everything in—you want to make sure you get credit for your hard work! A Raisin in the Sun How does Hansberry use Hughes’ imagery to further the plot of her play? A Raisin in the Sun • Who: The Youngers—an African-American family • When: 1950s • Where: South Side of Chicago • Basic Plot: The Youngers are about to receive an insurance _________ for $___________. o Who died? o Competing dreams of the adults Walter Lee Jr, Beneatha, Ruth, and Mama Big Picture Questions • Walter Lee and Ruth. o What are their expectations of each other? • Walter Lee and Beneatha. o Are they sensitive to each other’s needs, or have they become locked into the “sibling rivalry” syndrome? • Walter Lee and Lena. o Is she unconsciously emasculating him? Is he behaving more like a son than a husband and father? What cultural traditions affect their relationship? • Lena and Ruth. o Is Lena trying to undermine Ruth’s maternal authority by commenting on what Travis eats, how he dresses, and her excusing his lapses as “he’s just a little boy” [31] • Beneatha and Asagai. o What cultural differences cause tension in their relationship? How does he prove he really cares for her? Theme and Conflict • What problems occur if your expectations and others’ expectations of you differ? Give a specific example from experience or the experience of someone you know.