American Literature Unit 4: Life is a Stage!

Unit 4: Life is a Stage!

• The unit covers various concepts and terminology in literature and drama.

Key Concepts and Terminology

• American Dream: a concept that represents the idea of achieving success and happiness through hard work and determination.
• Civil Rights Movement: a social movement that aimed to end racial segregation and discrimination against African Americans.
• Structure of a Play: the organization of a play into acts, scenes, and characters.
• Dramatic Elements: components of a play, such as plot, character, setting, and theme.

Literature and Poetry

• Harlem Renaissance: a cultural and literary movement that took place in the 1920s-1930s, characterized by African American literature and art.
• Poetry Terms: understanding figurative language, including literary devices such as metaphor, simile, and personification.
• A Raisin in the Sun: a play by Lorraine Hansberry that explores the dreams and aspirations of an African American family.
• Characters: Walter, Ruth, Beneatha, and Mama, each with their own struggles and motivations.
• Plot: the storyline of the play, revolving around the Younger family's struggles with identity, class, and racism.
• Realist v. Idealist: contrasting perspectives on the American Dream, with realists seeing it as unattainable and idealists believing it is possible.

Langston Hughes Poetry

• Theme: the central idea or message in Hughes' poetry, often exploring the African American experience.
• Speaker: the voice or narrator in Hughes' poetry, often reflective and expressive.
• Audience: the intended readers or listeners of Hughes' poetry.
• Tone: the emotional tone or atmosphere in Hughes' poetry, ranging from hopeful to despairing.

Study Resources

• Texts: A Raisin in the Sun, Poetry Packet, and other class materials.
• Class Notes: notes taken during class, summarizing key points and concepts.
• Unit 4 PDF Slides: slides providing an overview of the unit and its topics.
• American Dream and Civil Rights Movement Collaborative Work: group work on the American Dream and Civil Rights Movement.
• Characterization Chart: a chart used to analyze and understand characters in A Raisin in the Sun.
• Themes - A Raisin in the Sun: a study of the themes present in the play, including identity, class, and racism.

Test your knowledge of American literature with this quiz on the Civil Rights Movement, Harlem Renaissance, poetry terms, and A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry. Covers characters, plot, themes, and literary devices.