English Agenda Bitter Sweet Symphony n Quickwrite n

English Agenda “Bitter Sweet Symphony” n Quick-write - n “America” Poetic Dialogue Brainstorm n Modernism & The Harlem Renaissance n Claude Mc. Kay – Life Synopsis n Claude Mc. Kay – “America” analysis n Comparison of the Engineering Process with the Literary Process n Iteration of Design Requirements to create a Sonnet Innovation n

Bittersweet Quick-write n the bittersweet loves in life - the who or what you love that you struggle with, where the timing, velocity, and angle of the situation make it hard to hit the mark or target

“America” by Claude Mc. Kay n n n n Poetic Dialogue Today you are going to participate in an unusual and creative brainstorming technique called poetic dialogue that was developed by The Writing Project from UC Irvine and California State University, Long Beach that encourages dialogue with authors. You are going to dialogue and brainstorm with the poet about the problem he is presenting in his poem by writing lines of poetry in response as I read the poem line by line in this power point.

Poetic Dialogue Instructions n As I read this poem, write down your own line of poetry in response to the line that was just read and shown in the power point. You will write down a line of response as I read the poem, writing your line before the next line is read. You will write a line for each line of the original poem.

Engineering Brainstorming Review n A process undertaken to solve a problem by rapidly generating a variety of possible solutions. n Rules n No criticism allowed n Work for quantity – free -flowing response n New ideas welcome n

“America” by Claude Mc. Kay n n Although she feeds me bread of bitterness, And sinks into my throat her tiger’s tooth, Stealing my bread of life, I will confess I love this cultured hell that tests my youth!

n n n Her vigor flows like tides into my blood, Giving me strength erect against her hate. Her bigness sweeps my being like a flood. Yet as a rebel fronts a king in state, I stand within her walls with not a shred

n n n Of terror, malice, not a word of jeer. Darkly I gaze into the days ahead, And see her might and granite wonders there,

n Beneath the touch of Time’s unerring hand, Like priceless treasures sinking in the sand.

What picture did you form of the speaker? n In lines 1 -3, what treatment does the poet say he receives from America? What qualities of America cause the speaker to love the country anyway? n Who / what is personified? n America n

How is America personified? n Cruel, unjust, and powerful n List imagery. What does each convey? n A rebel with not “a shred n of terror, malice, not a word of jeer” – What is the paradox in these lines? n

“America” by Claude Mc. Kay Who is the speaker of this poem? n What is the diction? What is the mood & tone? n Is there any irony? n Is it verbal, dramatic, n or situational? n What is the rhyme scheme? n What is the rhythm? n What type of poem is this? n

“America” by Claude Mc. Kay Some sonnets were written in praise of what? n Think of Shakespeare’s love sonnets. n What is subtle literary allusion / comparison? n An unattainable woman n Why is the irony n of theme? n What else is it? n Bitter satire n

Literary Elements in “America” n n Subject / Theme – bittersweet love for America Metaphors Symbols Paradox

Key Elements of Modernism n n n n WWI –loss of innocence & disillusionment with tradition in the aftermath of World War I 1. American Dream - Pursuit of a promise – admiration for the New Eden: a land of beauty, bounty, and unlimited promise. But the promise is tainted with disillusionment. 2. Optimism – hope - belief in progress – 3. Importance & belief in the triumph of the self-reliant, independent individual New modernists echoing and challenging the American dream New American renaissance which questioned

The Harlem Renaissance

The Harlem Renaissance – great cultural movement of African American artists, writers, performers, & musicians A vibrant mecca of cultural inspiration & affirmation centered in Harlem, New York , after WWI Alain Locke insisted that African Americans be accepted as “ collaborators & participants in American civilization” - “I, too, sing America. ” Focus on aspects of Black life , culture, & dialect Addressed issues of race, class, religion, &

Born in Sunny Ville, Jamaica, 1889 Son of peasant farmers who instilled pride in his African heritage Studied English poetry under his brother who was a schoolteacher At age seventeen - moved to Kingston - worked one year - encountered racism for the first time before returning to Sunny Ville Wrote and received an award from the Jamaican Institute of Arts and Sciences for Songs of Jamaica, and used the money to come to America. Came to America in 1912, eventually becoming a key figure and writer of the Harlem Renaissance, living abroad in Europe extensively throughout his career, as well as America. Claude Mc. Kay

“America” by Claude Mc. Kay n How is the poem, “America” by Claude Mc. Kay, representative of Modernism and the Harlem Renaissance?

Engineering Design Requirements & Sonnet Design Requirements n Specific, concise written information about the n n requirements that must be met in order to attain the intended outcome There are specific design requirements for your sonnet iteration. Design Specifications include: n n Criteria –Specific criteria unique to your sonnet is from Claude Mc. Kay’s sonnet on “America” and your launching a projectile project. Constraints –The specific constraints are the Shakespearean sonnet form. Must be specific and unambiguous - Sonnet content must be understandable. Client must be involved - your client, your audience, the

Engineering Design Requirements & Sonnet Design Requirements Design Specification: Precise and explicit information about the requirements for a successful solution to a problem Sonnet Design Specification: Precise & detailed requirements from “America” for a successful solution Product (Technical) Specification: Explicit set of requirements that must be met in order for a product to operate as designed Sonnet Technical Specification: Explicit Shakespearean sonnet requirements

Engineering Concept Development & Sonnet Concept Development n n n n Define Problem: Design Specification Claude Mc. Kay’s Shakespearean sonnet, “America, ” defined the problem of bittersweet love with special identified specifications. Generate Ideas: Brainstorm Class generated ideas in a brainstorm – poetic dialogue. Research - published literature - Journals, conference proceedings, trade magazines, government reports, etc. Class lesson provided research input – historical context. Develop Multiple Product Concepts Class will each develop a product concept – a Shakespearean sonnet (the constraints) with specific criteria to develop multiple concepts, and then iterate,

Sonnet Design Requirements n n n SUBJECT OF POEM - A BITTERSWEET LOVE SHAKESPEAREAN SONNET DESIGN CONSTRAINTS 14 LINES IAMBIC PENTAMETER = 10 SYLLABLES OR, IN OTHER WORDS, THERE ARE 5 FEET OF IAMBIC - UNSTRESSED/STRESSED SYLLABLE PAIRS - DA-DUH, DA-DUH RHYME SCHEME – ABAB, CDCD, EFEF, GG ENDING COUPLET (GG) SHOULD HAVE AN IRONIC TWIST.

Sonnet Design Requirements n n n n SONNET DESIGN CRITERIA SUBJECT - A BITTERSWEET LOVE POEM MUST HAVE A METAPHOR. POEM MUST HAVE A SYMBOL. POEM MUST HAVE A PARADOX. POEM MUST USE THE CONCEPTS OF VELOCITY, TIME, AND ANGLE AND EXPLAIN HOW THEY WORK FOR OR AGAINST THE TARGET OF THE BITTERSWEET LOVE. POEM MUST HAVE AN ILLUSTRATION. FOR A BONUS – POEM MAY ALSO INCLUDE SATIRE.

Additional Requirements n n n n ALSO, TURN IN ORIGINAL - HANDWRITTEN WORK. HIGHLIGHT GREEK MYTHOLOGICAL ALLUSION AND EXPLAIN IN A KEY BELOW THE POEM. HIGHLIGHT THE METAPHOR AND EXPLIAN IN A KEY BELOW THE POEM. HIGHLIGHT THE SYMBOL AND EXPLAIN IN A KEY BELOW THE POEM. HIGHLIGHT THE PARADOX AND EXPLAIN BELOW IN A KEY BELOW THE POEM. HIGHLIGHT WHERE VELOCITY, TIME, AND ANGLE WORK FOR OR AGAINST THE TARGET OF THE BITTERSWEET LOVE AND EXPLAIN IN A KEY BELOW THE POEM. IF POEM INCLUDES SATIRE, EXPLAIN IN A KEY BELOW THE POEM.