Assignment Note: As in previous weeks, this week’s readings
include multiple genres, but for this particular discussion we will focus on
poetry. On the Perspectives in American Literature site, Paul Reuben claims,
“Although the modernist poets do not explicitly concern themselves with gender,
race, or class issues, there are exceptions to this statement.” For this
assignment, you are asked to disprove his first contention and indicate the
exceptions by discussing the gender, race, and/or class issues in any two poems
from this week’s reading list. Please remember to show how each poem reflects
its period. Your response should be written in 3rd person, consist of at least
400 words, and comport with MLA style and format. Remember to use quoted
material from each poem to validate your claims and note that the rules for
citing poetry are somewhat different. For information, please see MLA Style –
Poetry. To set up your response, do the following: Devote one paragraph of at
least 200 words for each poem in which you examine how the poet discusses
gender, race, and/or class issues. Discuss the poem and the selected issue(s)
in context of their periods. Provide textual examples to support your
contentions. Cite all examples using proper MLA format. TWO POEMS THAT YOU LIKE
THE MOST: Carl Sandburg, “Chicago” Carl Sandburg, “A Fence” Claude McKay, “If
We Must Die” Claude McKay, “Harlem Shadows” Langston Hughes, “The Negro Speaks
of Rivers” Langston Hughes, “Harlem” Langston Hughes, “Lonesome Place” Langston
Hughes, “Bound No’th Blues” Langston Hughes, “Hard Luck” Langston Hughes, “Down
an’ Out” Langston Hughes, “Feet O’ Jesus” Please also select at least one of
the following prose works from your digital textbook: Theodore Dreiser, “The
Second Choice” F. Scott Fitzgerald, “Winter Dreams” Ernest Hemingway, “Big
Two-Hearted River: Part I and Part II” John Dos Passos, excerpt from U.S.A—The
42nd Parallel John Dos Passos, excerpt from U.S.A.—1919 John Dos Passos,
excerpt from U.S.A.—The Big Money
Recent Comments