From Depression to Cold WarFrom Depression to Cold War

1930s – 1960s1930s – 1960s

Age of:Age of:

Economic CrisisEconomic Crisis World War IIWorld War II Global ResponsibilityGlobal Responsibility Unease about Nuclear ConflictUnease about Nuclear Conflict

Historical, Social, and Cultural Historical, Social, and Cultural ForcesForces

The DepressionThe Depression

stock market crashstock market crash bank failuresbank failures unemployment unemployment

The New Deal The New Deal

public employment – public works and the public employment – public works and the artsarts

Social Security ActSocial Security Act

Persistent RacismPersistent Racism

African Americans, Jews, Native AmericansAfrican Americans, Jews, Native Americans segregation and violencesegregation and violence

The Dust BowlThe Dust Bowl

drought and poor farming methods on the drought and poor farming methods on the Great PlainsGreat Plains

winds blew topsoil as far as the Atlantic winds blew topsoil as far as the Atlantic CoastCoast

Farm Security Administration (migrants)Farm Security Administration (migrants) Soil Conservation ServiceSoil Conservation Service

World War II and the Cold WarWorld War II and the Cold War

Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor (December 7, 1941)(December 7, 1941)

United States vs The Soviet UnionUnited States vs The Soviet Union Cold War – massive buildup of armaments Cold War – massive buildup of armaments

(nuclear(nuclear weapons)weapons)

Big Ideas:Big Ideas:

Return to RegionalismReturn to Regionalism Life in the CityLife in the City The United States and the WorldThe United States and the World

The New Regionalism The New Regionalism

John Steinbeck and migrant workersJohn Steinbeck and migrant workers toughness & optimism in face of hardship toughness & optimism in face of hardship

and discriminationand discrimination a belief in the ability of ordinary people to a belief in the ability of ordinary people to

defeat despairdefeat despair

William Faulkner & Yoknapatowpha County, William Faulkner & Yoknapatowpha County, MississippiMississippi

burden of the pastburden of the past complexity of human relationships (rich and complexity of human relationships (rich and

poor, white and black, traditional and poor, white and black, traditional and modern)modern)

Flannery O’Conner & Southern GothicFlannery O’Conner & Southern Gothic characters faced with forces that threaten to characters faced with forces that threaten to

change their lives and beliefs foreverchange their lives and beliefs forever

Life in the CityLife in the City

urbanization of America (by 1920 urban population urbanization of America (by 1920 urban population exceeded rural population)exceeded rural population)

cultural life vs slums and povertycultural life vs slums and poverty E. B. White and New York CityE. B. White and New York City Ralph Ellison’s Ralph Ellison’s Invisible ManInvisible Man (racial & social stereotypes of (racial & social stereotypes of

African Americans)African Americans) Bernard Malamud and Brooklyn (urban Jews)Bernard Malamud and Brooklyn (urban Jews) Gwendolyn Brooks and Bronzeville (poverty and racism on Gwendolyn Brooks and Bronzeville (poverty and racism on

south side of Chicago)south side of Chicago) Suburbia (the American dream vs cultural wasteland) Suburbia (the American dream vs cultural wasteland)

United States and the WorldUnited States and the World

The “good war” and the home frontThe “good war” and the home front

USA role in victory – changes in US economyUSA role in victory – changes in US economy Tension on the home frontTension on the home front

racism (race riots) and ethnic animosities racism (race riots) and ethnic animosities (Japanese)(Japanese)

The HolocaustThe Holocaust The Cold WarThe Cold War

capitalism vs communismcapitalism vs communism

John SteinbeckJohn Steinbeck

1902 – 19681902 – 1968 Born and raised in Salinas, CaliforniaBorn and raised in Salinas, California Went to Stanford UniversityWent to Stanford University but left to do various odd jobsbut left to do various odd jobs

Wrote about: Wrote about:

The Great DepressionThe Great Depression society’s forgotten people (especially society’s forgotten people (especially

migrant farm workers)migrant farm workers)

Characteristics of his writing:Characteristics of his writing:

strong sense of social justicestrong sense of social justice strong characters who struggle to survive & strong characters who struggle to survive &

preserve their dignitypreserve their dignity tragedytragedy

Wrote: Wrote:

The PearlThe Pearl The Grapes of WrathThe Grapes of Wrath (Pulitzer Prize 1940) (Pulitzer Prize 1940) Of Mice and MenOf Mice and Men ““Breakfast”Breakfast”

Won Nobel Prize for Literature in 1962 Won Nobel Prize for Literature in 1962

Literary elementLiterary element

implied theme (review – under theme)implied theme (review – under theme)

William FaulknerWilliam Faulkner

1897 – 19621897 – 1962 ““Count No’count” – dropped out of high school and Count No’count” – dropped out of high school and

collegecollege Name was spelled Falkner but was misspelled by Name was spelled Falkner but was misspelled by

a printer (adding the u) which he kepta printer (adding the u) which he kept A “new regionalist” – the South (Mississippi)A “new regionalist” – the South (Mississippi) Created Yoknapatawpha County, MississippiCreated Yoknapatawpha County, Mississippi Believes that “man will prevail”Believes that “man will prevail”

Wrote in an experimental new style Wrote in an experimental new style of fiction which included:of fiction which included:

RepetitionRepetition Multiple points of viewMultiple points of view Stream of consciousnessStream of consciousness Creative sentence structure and punctuationCreative sentence structure and punctuation Won Nobel Prize for Literature in 1950Won Nobel Prize for Literature in 1950

Wrote:Wrote:

The Sound and the FuryThe Sound and the Fury ““A Rose for Emily”A Rose for Emily”

Literary element:Literary element:

Foreshadowing (review)Foreshadowing (review)

Eudora WeltyEudora Welty

1909 – 20011909 – 2001 Lived her whole life in Jackson, MississippiLived her whole life in Jackson, Mississippi Was a writer for the Works Progress Was a writer for the Works Progress

Administration (wrote articles about Administration (wrote articles about construction and art projects for them)construction and art projects for them)

A “Southern Gentlewoman” (wrote about A “Southern Gentlewoman” (wrote about Southern values and complicated history)Southern values and complicated history)

Wrote:Wrote:

““A Worn Path”A Worn Path”

Literary element:Literary element:

description – (review) a detailed portrayal of description – (review) a detailed portrayal of a person, a place, an object, or an event. a person, a place, an object, or an event. Good descriptive writing appeals to the Good descriptive writing appeals to the senses through imagery. Eudora Welty’s senses through imagery. Eudora Welty’s description of Phoenix Jackson in “A Worn description of Phoenix Jackson in “A Worn Path” is a good example of description.Path” is a good example of description.

Richard Wright Richard Wright

1908 – 19601908 – 1960 At 8 years old, witnessed the lynching of his At 8 years old, witnessed the lynching of his

uncle by a group of white menuncle by a group of white men Wrote about: racism, violence, injustice, Wrote about: racism, violence, injustice,

poverty, and despair experienced by African poverty, and despair experienced by African AmericansAmericans

Moved to Paris in 1947Moved to Paris in 1947

Wrote:Wrote:

Uncle Tom’s ChildrenUncle Tom’s Children Native SonNative Son Black BoyBlack Boy (autobiography) (autobiography)

Literary elements:Literary elements:

Autobiography (review)Autobiography (review) flash-forward – An interruption in the flash-forward – An interruption in the

chronological sequence of a narrative to chronological sequence of a narrative to leap forward in time. Richard Wright uses leap forward in time. Richard Wright uses this device in his autobiography, this device in his autobiography, Black BoyBlack Boy, , when he describes a visit to his father that when he describes a visit to his father that occurs many years after the time of the occurs many years after the time of the story.story.

Flannery O’ConnorFlannery O’Connor

1925 – 19641925 – 1964 From GeorgiaFrom Georgia Attended Iowa Writer’s Workshop at the Attended Iowa Writer’s Workshop at the

University of IowaUniversity of Iowa Writing is classified as “Southern Gothic”Writing is classified as “Southern Gothic” (eccentric / grotesque characters living in (eccentric / grotesque characters living in

small Southern towns)small Southern towns) Died at 39 of lupusDied at 39 of lupus

Wrote:Wrote:

““The Life You Save May Be Your Own”The Life You Save May Be Your Own”

Literary elementLiterary element

Dialogue – conversation between characters Dialogue – conversation between characters in a literary work. Dialogue can contribute to in a literary work. Dialogue can contribute to characterization, create mood, advance the characterization, create mood, advance the plot, and develop theme.plot, and develop theme.

Franklin Delano RooseveltFranklin Delano Roosevelt

1882 – 19451882 – 1945 Married to EleanorMarried to Eleanor Contracted polio in 1921Contracted polio in 1921 Elected to New York State SenateElected to New York State Senate Governor of New YorkGovernor of New York President of the United States 4 timesPresident of the United States 4 times New DealNew Deal World War IIWorld War II Died of a stroke a few months before the end of Died of a stroke a few months before the end of

the warthe war

Wrote:Wrote:

““War Message to Congress”War Message to Congress” December 8, 1941December 8, 1941

Literary ElementLiterary Element

Oratory (review)Oratory (review) Author’s purpose (review)Author’s purpose (review)

Elie WieselElie Wiesel

1928 – 1928 – A Holocaust survivor – at 15 sent to Auschwitz – A Holocaust survivor – at 15 sent to Auschwitz –

Birkenau – Mother and younger sister sent to gas Birkenau – Mother and younger sister sent to gas chamber – Father died at Buchenwaldchamber – Father died at Buchenwald

Called “conscience of the Holocaust”Called “conscience of the Holocaust” Spoke at dedication of U.S. Holocaust MuseumSpoke at dedication of U.S. Holocaust Museum ““For the dead and living, we must bear witness.”For the dead and living, we must bear witness.” Became a U.S. citizenBecame a U.S. citizen Won Nobel Peace Prize in 1986Won Nobel Peace Prize in 1986 Warned against “danger of indifference”Warned against “danger of indifference”

Wrote:Wrote:

NightNight ““All Rivers Run to the Sea”All Rivers Run to the Sea”

Literary element:Literary element:

Narrator – the person who tells a story. The Narrator – the person who tells a story. The narrator may be a character in the story or narrator may be a character in the story or outside the story.outside the story.