New England Renaissance 1800-1850

Fireside Poets
Read page 127 (background information about the Fireside Poets)
Read page 139 (About James Russell Lowell)
Read Stanzas on Freedom
Poetry often uses formal language but Stanzas on Freedom
contains many single-syllable words. Write a one paragraph
literary analysis that examines the effect of the diction, or word
choice, in the poem.
Choose another Fireside poem and complete a TPCASTT
Transcendentalism
Read page 153
Read page 184 (Before Reading Thoreau and Emerson)
Read From Civil Disobedience page 185-189
Read from Self-Reliance
Answer questions 1a-5a and 1b-5b on page 192
Compare Literature: Thesis and Irony page 192
American Gothic
Read page 197 (Background information)

Read page 211 (Background about Poe)

Read The Raven page 212-215
Complete TPCASTT
How does Poe create the mood, or atmosphere, in The Raven?
What descriptive and narrative details express this feeling of
sadness and desolation?
Read The Tell Tale Heart
Watch example
Create a comic strip for The Raven

THETELLTALEHEART
byEdgarAllanPoe
1843

TRUE!nervousvery,verydreadfullynervousIhadbeenandam;butwhywillyousaythatIam
mad?Thediseasehadsharpenedmysensesnotdestroyednotdulledthem.Aboveallwasthesenseof
hearingacute.Iheardallthingsintheheavenandintheearth.Iheardmanythingsinhell.How,then,amI
mad?Hearken!andobservehowhealthilyhowcalmlyIcantellyouthewholestory.
Itisimpossibletosayhowfirsttheideaenteredmybrain;butonceconceived,ithauntedmedayandnight.
Objecttherewasnone.Passiontherewasnone.Ilovedtheoldman.Hehadneverwrongedme.Hehad
nevergivenmeinsult.ForhisgoldIhadnodesire.Ithinkitwashiseye!yes,itwasthis!Hehadtheeyeof
avultureapaleblueeye,withafilmoverit.Wheneveritfelluponme,mybloodrancold;andsoby
degreesverygraduallyImadeupmymindtotakethelifeoftheoldman,andthusridmyselfoftheeye
forever.
Nowthisisthepoint.Youfancymemad.Madmenknownothing.Butyoushouldhaveseenme.You
shouldhaveseenhowwiselyIproceededwithwhatcautionwithwhatforesightwithwhat
dissimulationIwenttowork!IwasneverkindertotheoldmanthanduringthewholeweekbeforeIkilled
him.Andeverynight,aboutmidnight,Iturnedthelatchofhisdoorandopeneditohsogently!Andthen,
whenIhadmadeanopeningsufficientformyhead,Iputinadarklantern,allclosed,closed,thatnolight
shoneout,andthenIthrustinmyhead.Oh,youwouldhavelaughedtoseehowcunninglyIthrustitin!I
moveditslowlyvery,veryslowly,sothatImightnotdisturbtheoldman'ssleep.Ittookmeanhourto
placemywholeheadwithintheopeningsofarthatIcouldseehimashelayuponhisbed.Ha!woulda
madmanhavebeensowiseasthis,Andthen,whenmyheadwaswellintheroom,Iundidthelantern
cautiouslyoh,socautiouslycautiously(forthehingescreaked)Iundiditjustsomuchthatasinglethin
rayfelluponthevultureeye.AndthisIdidforsevenlongnightseverynightjustatmidnightbutI
foundtheeyealwaysclosed;andsoitwasimpossibletodothework;foritwasnottheoldmanwhovexed
me,buthisEvilEye.Andeverymorning,whenthedaybroke,Iwentboldlyintothechamber,andspoke
courageouslytohim,callinghimbynameinaheartytone,andinquiringhowhehaspassedthenight.So
youseehewouldhavebeenaveryprofoundoldman,indeed,tosuspectthateverynight,justattwelve,I
lookedinuponhimwhileheslept.
UpontheeighthnightIwasmorethanusuallycautiousinopeningthedoor.Awatch'sminutehandmoves
morequicklythandidmine.NeverbeforethatnighthadIfelttheextentofmyownpowersofmy
sagacity.Icouldscarcelycontainmyfeelingsoftriumph.TothinkthatthereIwas,openingthedoor,little
bylittle,andhenoteventodreamofmysecretdeedsorthoughts.Ifairlychuckledattheidea;andperhaps

heheardme;forhemovedonthebedsuddenly,asifstartled.NowyoumaythinkthatIdrewbackbut
no.Hisroomwasasblackaspitchwiththethickdarkness,(fortheshutterswereclosefastened,through
fearofrobbers,)andsoIknewthathecouldnotseetheopeningofthedoor,andIkeptpushingiton
steadily,steadily.
Ihadmyheadin,andwasabouttoopenthelantern,whenmythumbslippeduponthetinfastening,andthe
oldmansprangupinbed,cryingout"Who'sthere?"
Ikeptquitestillandsaidnothing.ForawholehourIdidnotmoveamuscle,andinthemeantimeIdidnot
hearhimliedown.Hewasstillsittingupinthebedlistening;justasIhavedone,nightafternight,
hearkeningtothedeathwatchesinthewall.
PresentlyIheardaslightgroan,andIknewitwasthegroanofmortalterror.Itwasnotagroanofpainor
ofgriefoh,no!itwasthelowstifledsoundthatarisesfromthebottomofthesoulwhenovercharged
withawe.Iknewthesoundwell.Manyanight,justatmidnight,whenalltheworldslept,ithaswelledup
frommyownbosom,deepening,withitsdreadfulecho,theterrorsthatdistractedme.IsayIknewitwell.I
knewwhattheoldmanfelt,andpitiedhim,althoughIchuckledatheart.Iknewthathehadbeenlying
awakeeversincethefirstslightnoise,whenhehadturnedinthebed.Hisfearshadbeeneversince
growinguponhim.Hehadbeentryingtofancythemcauseless,butcouldnot.Hehadbeensayingto
himself"Itisnothingbutthewindinthechimneyitisonlyamousecrossingthefloor,"or"Itismerely
acricketwhichhasmadeasinglechirp."Yes,hehadbeentryingtocomforthimselfwiththese
suppositions:buthehadfoundallinvain.Allinvain;becauseDeath,inapproachinghimhadstalkedwith
hisblackshadowbeforehim,andenvelopedthevictim.Anditwasthemournfulinfluenceofthe
unperceivedshadowthatcausedhimtofeelalthoughheneithersawnorheardtofeelthepresenceof
myheadwithintheroom.
WhenIhadwaitedalongtime,verypatiently,withouthearinghimliedown,Iresolvedtoopenalittlea
very,verylittlecreviceinthelantern.SoIopenedityoucannotimaginehowstealthily,stealthilyuntil,
atlengthasimpledimray,likethethreadofthespider,shotfromoutthecreviceandfellfulluponthe
vultureeye.
Itwasopenwide,wideopenandIgrewfuriousasIgazeduponit.Isawitwithperfectdistinctnessall
adullblue,withahideousveiloveritthatchilledtheverymarrowinmybones;butIcouldseenothing
elseoftheoldman'sfaceorperson:forIhaddirectedtherayasifbyinstinct,preciselyuponthedamned
spot.
AndhaveInottoldyouthatwhatyoumistakeformadnessisbutoveracutenessofthesense?now,Isay,
therecametomyearsalow,dull,quicksound,suchasawatchmakeswhenenvelopedincotton.Iknew
thatsoundwell,too.Itwasthebeatingoftheoldman'sheart.Itincreasedmyfury,asthebeatingofadrum
stimulatesthesoldierintocourage.
ButevenyetIrefrainedandkeptstill.Iscarcelybreathed.Iheldthelanternmotionless.Itriedhowsteadily
Icouldmaintaintherayupontheeve.Meantimethehellishtattoooftheheartincreased.Itgrewquicker
andquicker,andlouderandloudereveryinstant.Theoldman'sterrormusthavebeenextreme!Itgrew
louder,Isay,loudereverymoment!doyoumarkmewellIhavetoldyouthatIamnervous:soIam.And
nowatthedeadhourofthenight,amidthedreadfulsilenceofthatoldhouse,sostrangeanoiseasthis
excitedmetouncontrollableterror.Yet,forsomeminuteslongerIrefrainedandstoodstill.Butthebeating
grewlouder,louder!Ithoughttheheartmustburst.Andnowanewanxietyseizedmethesoundwouldbe
heardbyaneighbour!Theoldman'shourhadcome!Withaloudyell,Ithrewopenthelanternandleaped
intotheroom.Heshriekedonceonceonly.InaninstantIdraggedhimtothefloor,andpulledtheheavy
bedoverhim.Ithensmiledgaily,tofindthedeedsofardone.But,formanyminutes,theheartbeaton
withamuffledsound.This,however,didnotvexme;itwouldnotbeheardthroughthewall.Atlengthit

ceased.Theoldmanwasdead.Iremovedthebedandexaminedthecorpse.Yes,hewasstone,stonedead.
Iplacedmyhandupontheheartandheldittheremanyminutes.Therewasnopulsation.Hewasstone
dead.Hisevewouldtroublemenomore.
Ifstillyouthinkmemad,youwillthinksonolongerwhenIdescribethewiseprecautionsItookforthe
concealmentofthebody.Thenightwaned,andIworkedhastily,butinsilence.FirstofallIdismembered
thecorpse.Icutofftheheadandthearmsandthelegs.
Ithentookupthreeplanksfromtheflooringofthechamber,anddepositedallbetweenthescantlings.I
thenreplacedtheboardssocleverly,socunningly,thatnohumaneyenotevenhiscouldhavedetected
anythingwrong.Therewasnothingtowashoutnostainofanykindnobloodspotwhatever.Ihad
beentoowaryforthat.Atubhadcaughtallha!ha!
WhenIhadmadeanendoftheselabors,itwasfouro'clockstilldarkasmidnight.Asthebellsounded
thehour,therecameaknockingatthestreetdoor.Iwentdowntoopenitwithalightheart,forwhathadI
nowtofear?Thereenteredthreemen,whointroducedthemselves,withperfectsuavity,asofficersofthe
police.Ashriekhadbeenheardbyaneighbourduringthenight;suspicionoffoulplayhadbeenaroused;
informationhadbeenlodgedatthepoliceoffice,andthey(theofficers)hadbeendeputedtosearchthe
premises.
Ismiled,forwhathadItofear?Ibadethegentlemenwelcome.Theshriek,Isaid,wasmyownina
dream.Theoldman,Imentioned,wasabsentinthecountry.Itookmyvisitorsalloverthehouse.Ibade
themsearchsearchwell.Iledthem,atlength,tohischamber.Ishowedthemhistreasures,secure,
undisturbed.Intheenthusiasmofmyconfidence,Ibroughtchairsintotheroom,anddesiredthemhereto
restfromtheirfatigues,whileImyself,inthewildaudacityofmyperfecttriumph,placedmyownseat
upontheveryspotbeneathwhichreposedthecorpseofthevictim.
Theofficersweresatisfied.Mymannerhadconvincedthem.Iwassingularlyatease.Theysat,andwhileI
answeredcheerily,theychattedoffamiliarthings.But,erelong,Ifeltmyselfgettingpaleandwishedthem
gone.Myheadached,andIfanciedaringinginmyears:butstilltheysatandstillchatted.Theringing
becamemoredistinct:Itcontinuedandbecamemoredistinct:Italkedmorefreelytogetridofthe
feeling:butitcontinuedandgaineddefinitenessuntil,atlength,Ifoundthatthenoisewasnotwithinmy
ears.
NodoubtInowgrewverypale;butItalkedmorefluently,andwithaheightenedvoice.Yetthesound
increasedandwhatcouldIdo?Itwasalow,dull,quicksoundmuchsuchasoundasawatchmakes
whenenvelopedincotton.Igaspedforbreathandyettheofficershearditnot.Italkedmorequickly
morevehemently;butthenoisesteadilyincreased.Iaroseandarguedabouttrifles,inahighkeyandwith
violentgesticulations;butthenoisesteadilyincreased.Whywouldtheynotbegone?Ipacedthefloorto
andfrowithheavystrides,asifexcitedtofurybytheobservationsofthemenbutthenoisesteadily
increased.OhGod!whatcouldIdo?IfoamedIravedIswore!IswungthechairuponwhichIhadbeen
sitting,andgrateditupontheboards,butthenoisearoseoverallandcontinuallyincreased.Itgrewlouder
louderlouder!Andstillthemenchattedpleasantly,andsmiled.Wasitpossibletheyheardnot?
AlmightyGod!no,no!Theyheard!theysuspected!theyknew!theyweremakingamockeryofmy
horror!thisIthought,andthisIthink.Butanythingwasbetterthanthisagony!Anythingwasmore
tolerablethanthisderision!Icouldbearthosehypocriticalsmilesnolonger!IfeltthatImustscreamor
die!andnowagain!hark!louder!louder!louder!louder!
"Villains!"Ishrieked,"dissemblenomore!Iadmitthedeed!tearuptheplanks!here,here!Itisthe
beatingofhishideousheart!"
THEEND

BEGIN READING The Great Gatsby published in 1925

Biography:

Synopsis
F.ScottFitzgeraldwasbornonSeptember24,1896,inSt.Paul,Minnesota.Hisfirstnovel'ssuccessmade
himfamousandlethimmarrythewomanheloved,buthelaterdescendedintodrinkingandhiswifehada
mentalbreakdown.FollowingtheunsuccessfulTenderistheNight,FitzgeraldmovedtoHollywoodand
becameascriptwriter.Hediedofaheartattackin1940,atage44,hisfinalnovelonlyhalfcompleted.

Early Life
F.ScottFitzgeraldwasbornFrancisScottKeyFitzgeraldonSeptember24,1896,inSt.Paul,Minnesota.
Hisnamesake(andsecondcousinthreetimesremovedonhisfather'sside)wasFrancisScottKey,who
wrotethelyricstothe"StarSpangledBanner."Fitzgerald'smother,MaryMcQuillan,wasfromanIrish
CatholicfamilythathadmadeasmallfortuneinMinnesotaaswholesalegrocers.Hisfather,Edward
Fitzgerald,hadopenedawickerfurniturebusinessinSt.Paul,and,whenitfailed,hetookajobasa
salesmanforProcter&GamblethattookhisfamilybackandforthbetweenBuffaloandSyracusein
upstateNewYorkduringthefirstdecadeofFitzgerald'slife.However,EdwardFitzgeraldlosthisjobwith
Procter&Gamblein1908,whenF.ScottFitzgeraldwas12,andthefamilymovedbacktoSt.Paultolive
offofhismother'sinheritance.
Fitzgeraldwasabright,handsomeandambitiousboy,theprideandjoyofhisparentsandespeciallyhis
mother.HeattendedtheSt.PaulAcademy,andwhenhewas13,hesawhisfirstpieceofwritingappearin
print:adetectivestorypublishedintheschoolnewspaper.In1911,whenFitzgeraldwas15yearsold,his
parentssenthimtotheNewmanSchool,aprestigiousCatholicpreparatoryschoolinNewJersey.There,he
metFatherSigourneyFay,whonoticedhisincipienttalentwiththewrittenwordandencouragedhimto
pursuehisliteraryambitions.
AftergraduatingfromtheNewmanSchoolin1913,FitzgeralddecidedtostayinNewJerseytocontinue
hisartisticdevelopmentatPrincetonUniversity.AtPrinceton,hefirmlydedicatedhimselftohoninghis
craftasawriter,writingscriptsforPrinceton'sfamousTriangleClubmusicalsaswellasfrequentarticles
forthePrincetonTigerhumormagazineandstoriesfortheNassauLiteraryMagazine.However,
Fitzgerald'swritingcameattheexpenseofhiscoursework.Hewasplacedonacademicprobation,and,in
1917,hedroppedoutofschooltojointheU.S.Army.AfraidthathemightdieinWorldWarIwithhis
literarydreamsunfulfilled,intheweeksbeforereportingtoduty,Fitzgeraldhastilywroteanovel
calledTheRomanticEgotist.Thoughthepublisher,CharlesScribner'sSons,rejectedthenovel,the
reviewernoteditsoriginalityandencouragedFitzgeraldtosubmitmoreworkinthefuture.
FitzgeraldwascommissionedasecondlieutenantintheinfantryandassignedtoCampSheridanoutsideof
Montgomery,Alabama.Itwastherethathemetandfellinlovewithabeautiful18yearoldgirlnamed
ZeldaSayre,thedaughterofanAlabamaSupremeCourtjudge.ThewarendedinNovember1918,before

Fitzgeraldwaseverdeployed,anduponhisdischargehemovedtoNewYorkCityhopingtolauncha
careerinadvertisinglucrativeenoughtoconvinceZeldatomarryhim.Hequithisjobafteronlyafew
months,however,andreturnedtoSt.Paultorewritehisnovel.

Study Questions
Pre-Reading
1. Why are we still reading a book written in the 1920's? What gives a book its longevity?
2. How was the 1920's a reaction to WWI?
3. Some people think that having money leads to happiness. Do you agree? Why or why
not? What are the advantages or disadvantages of being wealthy.
4. What is the "American Dream"? Where did it originate, and how has it changed over the
centuries?
5. Have you ever wanted to relive a moment from your past, to redo it? Describe the
situation. How and why would you change the past?
Chapter 1
1. Notice how many times Fitzgerald uses the words hope, or dream. Why does he do this?
2. Nick starts the novel by relaying his father's advice "Whenever you feel like criticizing
anyone, just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that
you've had." List Nick's advantages. Does he reserve judgement in the novel?
3. Pay attention to time. What is the day and year during the first scene at Daisy's house?
4. Describe Nick. What facts do you know about him, and what do you infer about him?
What kind of a narrator do you think he will be?
5. What image does the author use to describe Jordan Baker? What does it mean?
6. How does Nick react to Jordan?
7. What does Tom's behavior reveal about his character?
Chapter 2
1. Describe the "valley of ashes." What does it look like and what does it represent?
2. Describe Mr. Wilson and Myrtle. Do they seem to fit into the setting?
3. What more have you learned about Nick in this chapter? Is he similar or different than the
people he spends his time with?
4. Describe the violent act Tom committed against Myrtle. What does this reveal about him?

Chapter 3
1. Pay attention to Nick's judgments. What do they reveal about his character that he does
this (especially in relation to his opening comments)?
2. Describe Gatsby the first time Nick sees him.
3. What rumors have been told about Gatsby? Why does Fitzgerald reveal rumors rather
than fact?
4. What does Nick think of Gatsby after meeting him?
5. How is Gatsby different from his guests?
6. Why does Nick choose to share his thoughts and feelings with Jordan?
7. Nick thinks he's one of the few honest people he knows, why? Do you think he is honest?
Chapter 4
1. List all of the rumors told about Gatsby.
2. Why does Fitzgerald list all of Gatsby's party guests?
3. Why does Gatsby tell Nick about his life? Do you believe Gatsby? Does Nick?
4. What role does Meyer Wolfsheim play in the novel? Why is there so much focus on his
nose and what does this tell you about Fitzgerald's politics?
5. What does Jordan's story of Daisy's marriage reveal about Daisy?
6. Why did Gatsby want Daisy to see his house?
7. Nick says, "There are only the pursued, the pursuing, the busy and the tired." What does
Nick mean? How does each character in the novel fit into this schema?
Chapter 5
1. Why does Gatsby deliver so many goods and services to Nick's house?
2. Describe the effect of rain on the plot.
3. Why does Gatsby offer Nick work? How does Nick feel about this?
4. Explain the significance of the green light.
5. Why does Gatsby get so many phone calls? What does this say about him?
Chapter 6

1. How truthful was Gatsby when he relayed the story of his life to Nick? Why does
Fitzgerald tell the story of Jay Gatz now?
2. Describe the meeting of Tom and Gatsby. What does this meeting reveal about them?
3. Why did Daisy and Tom find Gatsby's party loathsome?
4. How did Gatsby measure the success of his party?
5. When Nick told Gatsby that "you can't repeat the past", Gatsby replied, "Why of course
you can!" Do you agree with Nick or Gatsby?
Chapter 7
1. Who is Trimachio? Explain how this describes Gatsby.
2. Describe Daisy and Gatsby's new relationship.
3. Compare George Wilson and Tom. What did each man learn about his wife and how did
they each react?
4. If Daisy says she's never loved Tom, is there someone whom she thinks she loves?
5. Describe the fight between Gatsby and Tom. What do these men think of each other?
How are they similar and how are they different?
6. What was significant about Nick's 30th birthday?
7. What do you think Tom and Daisy were saying to each other in the kitchen? Do you think
that Tom knew Daisy was driving the "death car"? Why, why not?
8. At this point, how would you end the novel?
Chapter 8
1. How does Fitzgerald achieve a melancholic mood in the beginning of this chapter?
2. How are seasons used in constructing this novel?
3. Who is Dan Cody and what is his significance in Gatsby's life?
4. How does Nick's statement "You're worth the whole bunch put together" show a change
in Nick from the beginning of the novel?
5. How does T. J. Eckleberg affect Mr. Wilson?
Chapter 9
1. Why did Nick take care of Gatsby's funeral?
2. How was Jay Gatz's childhood schedule consistent with the adult Gatsby's behavior?

3. Who attended Gatsby's funeral? How and why is this significant?

4. What is the purpose of Nick's last meeting with Jordan?
5. Why does Nick call Tom and Daisy "careless people"?
Post Reading
1. Does this novel have villains and heroes? Why, why not? If yes, who fits into these
categories and why?
2. Nick is both part of the action and acting as an objective commentator. Does this
narration style work? Why, why not?
3. How did Fitzgerald use weather to reflect the mood of the story?
4. Again, why are we still reading a book written in the 1920's? What gives a book its
longevity? And which of its themes are eternal in the American psyche.

Slavery and the Civil War 1850-1865

A Nation Divided
Read page 272-274 (Background information)
Read page 276 (Background on Fredrick Douglass)
Read p. 277-280 Excerpts from Narrative of the Life of Fredrick
Douglass, an American Slave, Written by Himself
Douglas says hearing the songs sung by slaves deepens his
hatred of slavery. What song or sound reminds you of a bad
experience?
Read Fredrick Douglass page 281
Answer questions 1a-5a and 1b-5b
Lyric Poets
Read page 315-317 (Background on Lyric Poets)
Read Song of Myself page 326-332
Complete a TPCASTT
Read page 349 (Background about Emily Dickinson)
Read Much Madness is Divinest Sense, I Heard a Fly Buzz
When I Died, Because I Could Not Stop for Death
Complete a TPCASTT for one of the poems
Expanding Frontiers 1865-1910
Realism and Naturalism
Read page 379 (Realism background)
Read page 381 (Mark Twain background information)
Read The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County page
282-286

Twains use of a regional dialect adds color and interest to his

story. How do Simon Wheeler and the narrator use English
differently? How does Twain use language to characterize
Wheeler and the narrator?
Struggling for Equality
Read page 459 (background about Equality)
Read page 460-461 (speeches!)
Read page 462 (Background about Sojourner Truth)
Read Keeping the Thing Going While Things Are Stirring page
463-464
Write your own speech
Read page 469 (Background about Stanton and Anthony)
Read The Destructive Male page 470-472
Read Womans Right to Suffrage page 473-474
What argument is each speaker making? Identify each argument
as inductive or deductive. Analyze the different ways each
speaker supports her conclusions. Whose approach is more
effective in achieving its aim? Explain your answer.
Early Twentieth Century 1910-1929
Modernism
Read page 522-525 (Modernism background)
Pick two Modernist poems and complete a TPCASTT for each
The Waste Land TS Eliot
Harlem Renaissance
Read page 639 (Background on the Harlem Renaissance)
Read page 641 (Background on Langston Hughes)
Read The Negro Speaks of Rivers page642-643 and I, Too,
Sing America
What qualities do you infer about the speaker in each poem?
How are the speakers in the two poems alike and different How
is each speakers perspective different from or similar to that of
the author? Use details from the poems to support your analysis.
Claude McKay: Sonnets
o Pick two and complete a TPCASTT
o Sonnet structure
o Write your own sonnet
Biography

Synopsis
ClaudeMcKaywasborninSunnyVille,ClarendonParish,Jamaica,onSeptember15,1890.McKay
movedtoHarlem,NewYork,afterpublishinghisfirstbooksofpoetry,andestablishedhimselfasaliterary

voiceforsocialjusticeduringtheHarlemRenaissance.Heisknownforhisnovels,essaysandpoems,
including"IfWeMustDie"and"HarlemShadows."HediedonMay22,1948,inChicago,Illinois.

Early Life
FestusClaudiusMcKaywasborninSunnyVille,ClarendonParish,Jamaica,onSeptember15,1890.His
motherandfatherspokeproudlyoftheirrespectiveMalagasyandAshantiheritage.McKayblendedhis
AfricanpridewithhisloveofBritishpoetry.HestudiedpoetryandphilosophywithEnglishmanWalter
Jekyll,whoencouragedtheyoungmantobeginproducingpoetryinhisownJamaicandialect.

Literary Career
ALondonpublishinghouseproducedMcKay'sfirstbooksofverse,SongsofJamaicaandConstab
Ballads,in1912.McKayusedawardmoneythathereceivedfromtheJamaicanInstituteofArtsand
SciencestomovetotheUnitedStates.HestudiedattheTuskegeeInstitute(nowTuskegeeUniversity)and
KansasStateCollegeforatotaloftwoyears.In1914,hemovedtoNewYorkCity,settlinginHarlem.
McKaypublishedhisnextpoemsin1917underthepseudonymEliEdwards.Morepoemsappeared
inPearson'sMagazineandtheradicalmagazineLiberator.TheLiberatorpoemsincluded"IfWeMust
Die,"whichthreatenedretaliationforracialprejudiceandabuse;thisquicklybecameMcKay'sbestknown
pieceofwork.McKaythenlefttheUnitedStatesfortwoyearsofEuropeantravel.In1920,hepublisheda
newcollectionofpoems,SpringinNewHampshire,containing"HarlemShadows."
McKayreturnedtotheUnitedStatesin1921andinvolvedhimselfinvarioussocialandpoliticalcauses.
HeworkedwiththeUniversalNegroImprovementAssociationandcontinuedtoexploreCommunism
eventravelingtotheSovietUniontoattendtheCommunistParty'sFourthCongress.Afterspendingsome
timeintheUnitedStates,McKayagainleftthecountry,spendingwhatwouldprovetobe11extremely
productiveyearsinEuropeandNorthAfrica;hewrotethreenovelsHometoHarlem,BanjoandBanana
Bottomandashortstorycollectionduringthisperiod.HometoHarlemwasthemostpopularofthethree,
thoughallwerewellreceivedbycritics.
ReturningtoHarlem,McKaybeganworkonanautobiographyentitledALongWayfromHome,which
focusesonhisexperiencesasanoppressedminorityandagitatesforabroadmovementagainstcolonialism
andsegregation.ThebookhasbeencriticizedforitslessthancandidtreatmentofsomeofMcKay'smore
controversialinterestsandbeliefs.HisconsistentdenialofhavingjoinedtheCommunistParty,despite
multipletripstotheSovietUnion,isapointofparticularcontention.

Later Life
McKaywentthroughseveralchangestowardtheendofhislife.HeembracedCatholicism,retreatingfrom
Communismentirely,andofficiallybecameanAmericancitizenin1940.Hisexperiencesworkingwith
CatholicrelieforganizationsinNewYorkinspiredanewessaycollection,Harlem:NegroMetropolis,
whichoffersobservationsandanalysisoftheAfricanAmericancommunityinHarlematthetime.McKay
diedofaheartattackinChicago,Illinois,onMay22,1948.
In2012,aresearcherdiscoveredanunpublishedClaudeMcKaynovel,AmiablewithBigTeeth,inthe
ColumbiaUniversityarchives.

America
Althoughshefeedsmebreadofbitterness,
Andsinksintomythroathertiger'stooth,
Stealingmybreathoflife,Iwillconfess
Ilovethisculturedhellthattestsmyyouth!
Hervigorflowsliketidesintomyblood,
Givingmestrengtherectagainstherhate.
Herbignesssweepsmybeinglikeaflood.
Yetasarebelfrontsakinginstate,
Istandwithinherwallswithnotashred
Ofterror,malice,notawordofjeer.
DarklyIgazeintothedaysahead,
Andseehermightandgranitewondersthere,
BeneaththetouchofTime'sunerringhand,
Likepricelesstreasuressinkinginthesand.

To Winter

Stay, season of calm love and soulful snows!

There is a subtle sweetness in the sun,
The ripples on the stream's breast gaily run,
The wind more boisterously by me blows,
And each succeeding day now longer grows.
The birds a gladder music have begun,
The squirrel, full of mischief and of fun,
From maples' topmost branch the brown twig throws.
I read these pregnant signs, know what they mean:
I know that thou art making ready to go.
Oh stay! I fled a land where fields are green
Always, and palms wave gently to and fro,
And winds are balmy, blue brooks ever sheen,
To ease my heart of its impassioned woe.

The Harlem Dancer

Applauding youths laughed with young prostitutes

And watched her perfect, half-clothed body sway;
Her voice was like the sound of blended flutes
Blown by black players upon a picnic day.
She sang and danced on gracefully and calm,
The light gauze hanging loose about her form;
To me she seemed a proudly-swaying palm
Grown lovelier for passing through a storm.
Upon her swarthy neck black shiny curls
Luxuriant fell; and tossing coins in praise,
The wine-flushed, bold-eyed boys, and even the girls,
Devoured her shape with eager, passionate gaze;
But looking at her falsely-smiling face,
I knew her self was not in that strange place.

Birds of Prey

Their shadow dims the sunshine of our day,

As they go lumbering across the sky,
Squawking in joy of feeling safe on high,
Beating their heavy wings of owlish gray.
They scare the singing birds of earth away
As, greed-impelled, they circle threateningly,
Watching the toilers with malignant eye,
From their exclusive haven--birds of prey.
They swoop down for the spoil in certain might,
And fasten in our bleeding flesh their claws.
They beat us to surrender weak with fright,
And tugging and tearing without let or pause,
They flap their hideous wings in grim delight,
And stuff our gory hearts into their maws.

TPCASTT: Poem Analysis Method: title,

paraphrase, connotation, diction, attitude,
tone, shift(s), title revisited and theme
Title
of poem means

Paraphrase
parts of the Poem

Connotatio
n
of some of the
words changing
literal meaning to
implied or
associated values

Attitude

What is the attitude

of the author,
characters or
yourself?

Shift
At first we think or
feel one way then
there is a
shift: identify the
shifts and explain
them

Title
revisited
Any new insights
on meaning or
significance of
title?

Theme
Vocabulary Assignment
Every week you will be responsible for TEN of the words/terms in the
vocabulary packet. Your vocabulary is due by Friday of that week, regardless of
whether our class meets that day.
You must include
The term
The definition (you may paraphrase)
An example or sample sentence
Example:
Ad Hominem
Definition: Form of fallacy. An attack on the person making an argument that
does not address the issues being argued.

Sample Sentence: The politician resorted to an Ad Hominem attack during the

debate when he criticized his opponent for not wearing an American flag pin
instead of addressing her foreign policy plan.