Murry Bergtraum HS Spring 2002
English 4 Ms. Scragg

Task 3A: The American Dream in Poetry

Directions: Our class has been focusing on The American Dream as an introduction to the two plays we will be reading this semester. Read the two poems that follow: "I Hear America Singing," by Walt Whitman and "I, Too," by Langston Hughes. Both poets are making a comment on The American Dream in our society. Read the instructions below and answer the multiple-choice questions that follow. Then write the essay described in the section below entitled, "Your Task."

Your Task: Write a unified essay about how the subject of The American Dream is portrayed in both "I Hear America Singing," by Walt Whitman and "I, Too," by Langston Hughes. In your essay, use ideas from both works of literature to establish a controlling idea about the subject of The American Dream. Show how each author portrays this topic in their writing, and illustrate the similarities and differences between these two works according to this shared topic. Be sure to show how each author used specific literary elements or techniques to convey their ideas about The American Dream.

Guidelines:

o Use ideas from both plays to establish a controlling idea about how the topic of the American Dream is portrayed in both works of literature.

o Use specific and relevant evidence from both poems to develop your controlling idea and the rest of your essay.

o Show how each author uses specific literary elements (for example, theme, symbolism, irony, metaphor, simile) to address the topic of unrequited love.

o Organize your ideas in a logical and coherent manner.

o Use language that communicates ideas effectively.

o Follow the conventions of standard written English.

Murry Bergtraum HS Spring 2002
English 4 Ms. Scragg

Task 3A Multiple Choice Questions:
Based on your reading of both poems, choose the BEST answer for each question.

1) By saying that he hears America singing, Whitman gives his reader what sort of impression about Americans?
a. They are miserable in their work and they need to form labor unions.
b. They are content with doing their jobs and are happy in their work.
c. They enjoy singing.
d. Each profession has its own song which can be heard throughout each day.

2) Based on the usage of the word blithe, you could guess that it means
a. difficult
b. solid
c. happy
d. disasterous

3) Whitman uses various work songs associated with various trades to make a statement about Americans. What do you think it is?
a. Americans are different from each other in many ways, but they still share common ideas.
b. Americans may work very hard, but their hard work is not paying off.
c. Americans work all day and party all night.
d. Americans who are employed are happy, but the unemployed are miserable.

4) Hughes wrote "I Too" after reading Whitman's poem. These sorts of poems are often referred to as
a. retort poems
b. reject poems
c. response poems
d. remorse poems

5) Hughes most likely used the phrase "eat in the kitchen" to illustrate that
a. African-Americans do not enjoy eating in kitchens.
b. African-Americans have been left out of the American Dream.
c. African-Americans have not been allowed to eat with white people.
d. African-Americans have been hidden when company arrives.

6) Hughes feels a need to mention that he also "sings America" because
a. Though he has been in the kitchen, he will still sing at the table.
b. Though he has been ignored, he knows the words to "God Bless America."
c. Though times are hard, he will persevere.
d. Though he has been forgotten, he still believes in America.

Murry Bergtraum HS Spring 2002
English Department Ms. Scragg

The American Dream in poetry.

"I Hear America Singing," Walt Whitman

I hear America singing, the varied carols I hear,
Those of mechanics, each one singing his as it should be blithe and strong,
The carpenter singing his as he measures his plank or beam,
The mason singing his as he makes ready for work, or leaves off work,
The boatman singing what belongs to him in his boat,
The deckhand singing on the steamboat deck,
The shoemaker singing as he sits on the bench, the hatter singing as he stands,
The wood-cutter's song, the ploughboy's on his way in the morning,
or at noon intermission or at sundown,
The delicious singing of the mother, or of the young wife at work,
or of the girl sewing or washing,
Each singing what belongs to him or her and to none else,
The day what belongs to the day-at night the party of young fellows,
robust, friendly,
Singing with open mouths their strong melodious songs.

"I, Too," Langston Hughes

I, too, sing America.

I am the darker brother.
They send me to eat in the kitchen
When company comes,
But I laugh,
And eat well,
And grow strong.

Tomorrow,
I'll be at the table
When company comes.
Nobody'll dare
Say to me,
"Eat in the kitchen,
Then.

Besides,
They'll see how beautiful I am
And be ashamed-

I, too, am America.