Do Now:

• Define the American Dream? What does it mean to you? Think about your American Dream, if you could do anything, be anyone, and have anything you desired, what would these things be? 

The American The American DreamDream

An Introduction

Suite Madame Blue

Sweet Suite

Homophones

Wife or prominent female figure

A woman who runs a brothel

Homonyms

Color Symbol

What is America being personified as in this song?

• What is your evidence?

Wife or prominent female figure

A woman who runs a brothel

Personified: Giving human qualities to something non human

What is the tone of the song?

• TONE: Attitude of the author—how does the author feel about the subject?

I’m a fool

I wait long ago

I long for the past

What is America being personified as in this song?

• What is your evidence?• Write a 5-7 sentence paragraph drawing a

conclusion and defending your response with at least one SPECIFIC example from the song.

Wife or prominent female figure

A woman who runs a brothel

Personification ReviewChoose five of the following ideas to personify in your own way. You should

have a minimum of five sentences when you are done.

Trees Leaves River OceanStars Flame Car ChairCup Paper Computer ChainsawCampfire Sun Clouds Pluto

(planet)

Example:Regular, boring sentence: The train whistle blew in the night.Personified sentence: The lonely train whistle cried out in the night.

Choose your BEST sentence to share with the class

• Be sure you can explain HOW it is personification…– What is the human quality you attributed to

the object?

Identify OpinionsIdentify Opinions• Given the Given the tonetone and and personificationpersonification, ,

how does the artist feel about current how does the artist feel about current America?America?

Phillis Wheatley Phillis Wheatley •First African American in the United First African American in the United States to States to publishpublish a a book of poetry book of poetry published. published.

•Published in England firstPublished in England first•Document had to be signed by men who Document had to be signed by men who had examined and found her to be had examined and found her to be worthy and “smart enough” to be a poet. worthy and “smart enough” to be a poet.

““To His Excellency, General To His Excellency, General George Washington”George Washington”

• Ode to George Washington. • America is personified as the goddess

Columbia. – female counterpart of Christopher Columbus (District

of Columbia, Columbia pictures, Columbia records etc.)

• Often depicted holding a liberty pole, propping up a shield of the United States, standing beside a bust or depiction of George Washington, or offering food to a bald eagle.

Personifying AmericaPersonifying AmericaAuthor Styx Wheatley

Background

Tone

Main idea

Theme• Broad idea or message that is conveyed

by a work. • What is one theme that we have already

looked at?

Phyllis Wheatley: 1753-1784

Styx:

1970’s-1980’s

You:

1990’s-2000’s

How would you personify How would you personify America? America?

• Queen/Princess• Well respected

celebrity• Soldier• Mother/Father/

Caregiver

• Drunk• Gambler• Not respected

celebrity• Hacker• Thief

PositivePositive NegativeNegative

Specific: Julia Roberts

Specific: Lindsay Lohan

Exit Slip:

• Consider the historical reasons for immigrants to flock to America. Is the American Dream the same as it was a hundred years ago? If not, how has it changed? What parts of the dream remain the same?