Multi-genre Text Set Freedom and dreams and there depictions in American literature

1. Multi-genre Text SetFreedom and dreams and there depictions in American literature Text set: • Novels: • I know Why the Caged bird Sings • A novel / autobiography by Maya Angelou • Plays • “A Raisin in the Sun” • Poems: • “I know why the caged bird Sings” • Poem by Maya Angelou • “Sympathy” • Poem by Paul Laurence Dunbar • “Harlem” • Poem by Langston Hughes • Paintings • Freedom 2008 • Painting by Humberto Castro • Prints • Freedom • Painting by Patrycja Mueller • Music • “Blackbird” • The Beatles • “Summertime” • From “Porgy and Bess,” by Heyward and Gershwin • Movie Clips • Provincial Life • Clip from Beauty and the Beast • Articles • The flying Americans: extent and strength of the myth in the Americans • Article by L. McDaniel

2. I know Why the Caged Bird Sings • 1969 autobiography by Maya Angelou • Main text in text-set • Essential Question • What is freedom? • How are dreams and freedom depicted in American Literature? • Unit Question • How does Angelou depict freedom in the the novel • What is the relationship between dreams and freedom in the novel? • What does the reading of the poem do to add to the novel and the metaphor of the bird?

3. A Raisin in the Sun • A play by Lorraine Hansberry • First perform in 1959 • Themes of dreams, their importance and the results of their fruition or deferment

4. “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings”-Maya Angelou I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings The free bird leaps on the back of the win and floats downstream till the current ends and dips his wings in the orange sun rays and dares to claim the sky. But a bird that stalks down his narrow cage can seldom see through his bars of rage his wings are clipped and his feet are tied so he opens his throat to sing. The caged bird sings with fearful trill of the things unknown but longed for still and is tune is heard on the distant hillfor the caged bird sings of freedom The free bird thinks of another breeze an the trade winds soft through the sighing trees and the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright lawn and he names the sky his own. But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream his wings are clipped and his feet are tied so he opens his throat to sing The caged bird sings with a fearful trill of things unknown but longed for still and his tune is heard on the distant hill for the caged bird sings of freedom.

5. SYMPATHY-Paul Laurence Dunbar Sympathy I KNOW what the caged bird feels, alas! When the sun is bright on the upland slopes; When the wind stirs soft through the springing grass, And the river flows like a stream of glass; When the first bird sings and the first bud opes, And the faint perfume from its chalice steals — I know what the caged bird feels! I know why the caged bird beats his wing Till its blood is red on the cruel bars; For he must fly back to his perch and cling When he fain would be on the bough a-swing; And a pain still throbs in the old, old scars And they pulse again with a keener sting — I know why he beats his wing! I know why the caged bird sings, ah me, When his wing is bruised and his bosom sore,— When he beats his bars and he would be free; It is not a carol of joy or glee, But a prayer that he sends from his heart's deep core, But a plea, that upward to Heaven he flings — I know why the caged bird sings!

6. “Harlem”Langston Hughes 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? -Langston Hughes

7. 1. Humberto Castro Freedom 2008

8. 2. Patrycja Mueller

9. Blackbird-The Beatles Blackbird singing in the dead of night Take these broken wings and learn to fly All your life You were only waiting for this moment to arise Black bird singing in the dead of night Take these sunken eyes and learn to see all your life you were only waiting for this moment to be free Blackbird fly, Blackbird fly Into the light of the dark black night. Blackbird fly, Blackbird fly Into the light of the dark black night. Blackbird singing in the dead of night Take these broken wings and learn to fly All your life You were only waiting for this moment to arise, You were only waiting for this moment to arise, You were only waiting for this moment to arise

10. Summertime-Heyward and Gershwin Summertime, and the livin’ is easy Fish are jumpin’ And the cotton is high Your daddy’s rich And your mamma’s good lookin’ So hush little baby Don’t you cry One of these morning You goin' rise up singing Then you'll spread yo' wings an you'll take the sky But till that mornin' there's a nothin' can harm you With Daddy and Mammy standin’ by Summertime, and the livin’ is easy Fish are jumpin’ And the cotton is high Your daddy’s rich And your mamma’s good lookin’ So hush little baby Don’t you cry -Heyward and Gershwin 1935:16

11. Movie Clips:Beauty and the Beasthttp://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=vyP4kuvXe9A

12. Article:The flying Americans: extent and strength of the myth in the Americans • L. McDaniel The flying Africans: extent and strength of the myth in the Americas In: New West Indian Guide/ Nieuwe West-Indische Gids 64 (1990), no: 1/2, Leiden, 28-40 • This PDF-file was downloaded from http://www.kitlv-journals.nl

13. Summative project for unit: • Each student will create a multi-media depiction of freedom. • They will incorporate symbols, motifs and themes addressed in the texts discussed over the unit. • Each student will take an essay test. • Test will concentrate on I know Why the Caged Bird Sings • Other texts will be addressed as well.