A Project Work by Cosimo Cannata2006

A Taste of America

Cosimo Cannata 2

In this lesson you will learn about…

America as an English-speaking country

Origins of American society Americans and Puritans American Independence and new

role of the United States of America An American identity American 19th century culture American “Renaissance”

Cosimo Cannata 3

The Making of the American identity

The colonial experience had a great role Most people left England to create a new

society, the “City of God”, an utopian dream

The Puritans encouraged the writing of sermons, pamphlets, personal diaries

The American mind was influenced by the ideas of the Enlightment: exalted faith in reason, human progress, and self-confidence

Cosimo Cannata 4

Some historical facts…

First English colonial setting in North America, Jamestown, Virginia, 1607

The Pilgrim Fathers, Massachussets, 1620. They formed a group of Anglican Dissenters escaping from James I’s absolutism

Boston Tea Party, 1773 and war with Great Britain American Declaration of Independence, 4 July 1776 American Civil War (North vs. South, 1861-1865) US participation to World Wars (1917-1945)

Cosimo Cannata 5

American settlers

Go to document

Cosimo Cannata 6

America as an English-speaking country

North America was colonized by the mid- 1550 by the English under Queen Elizabeth I

The first settlers had a strong calvinist mentality and funded a sort of teocratic regime intended to stress prayer, hard work and self-realization.

As a colony, all past cultural experiences (Native Americans, Spanish) were absorbed or ignored by the English

Cosimo Cannata 7

American Civil War and abolition of slavery

Was segregation really abolished?

Why were slaves used in America?

Cosimo Cannata 8

Cosimo Cannata 9

A nation in constant expansion

Cosimo Cannata 10

A nation that evolves in the distance. Do you remember this music…?

And the film Dance with Wolves…?

Cosimo Cannata 11

Expansion is at a cost…

The progressive expansion of white settlers (= coloni) implied the steady decrease of the number of Native Americans

Cosimo Cannata 12

Not real now, just folk for tourists’ shots (= photos)

Cosimo Cannata 13

The United States of America Some key

concepts…

• Ex pluribus unum, the official motto

• The U.S.A., a concentration of white immigrants, former black slaves, etc.

Immigrants in search of fortune, land, adventure

Cosimo Cannata 14

Keyfacts about Walt Whitman

Born in 1819, Long Island, State of New York

Started to work as a printer and journalist

Travelled around America Knew a great variety of people

living and working Started to write poetry, Leaves

of Grass Died in 1892

Cosimo Cannata 15

Notable aspects of Whitman W’s poetry pervaded by:1) Optimism2) Romantic faith in the dynamic future of

USA3) Celebration of America4) Physical love, direct and frank > Unity of

body and soul The poet asserts and celebrates, does not

evoke

Cosimo Cannata 16

Stylistic features of W’s poetry

Leaves of Grass, 18551

Written in free verse Long lines Rhythm naturally determined by

thought or emotion expressed Mix of dialect and common speech Avoidance of metaphors, similes, etc.