Olivia Hannon and Grace Bodenstein
Mrs. Kelly
Period 2
7 May 2014
Imagist Era
When you think about what the classic American Dream is, what do you picture? If you ask someone that question now, they would probably say to be rich with a husband and two kids, living in a big house with a white picket fence. However, if you would have asked someone that during the 1910’s, they probably would have said something about racial equality and women’s rights. These were two factors that contributed greatly to the change of dreams from the late 1800s and early 1900s. People were finally standing up for what they believed in; thus leading to a change of pace not only in society, but in literature as well. These changes include a more simple style, which lacked the deeper meanings that people previously used. Authors were more focused on painting a picture using minimal, yet descriptive words. Some of the authors that led this movement included H.D., Ezra Pound, and Carl Sandburg. Each leaving a mark on what we call the Imagist Period. The American Dream during the Imagist period was comprised of people wanting to achieve a simpler life; this dream being represented through more transparent style of writing, and purer poetry.
Written by Ezra Pound, A Few Don’ts by an Imagiste represents a whole new era evolving into a more simplistic style of literature. In this piece, Pound talks about what is necessary in your works in order to be considered a true imagist. For example, he says “Use no superfluous word, no adjective, which does not reveal something” (Pound). When Pound says this, he is talking about how when writing in the Imagist style, you don’t create a deeper meaning. You use the “exact word” to create the most simple and clear image as ...
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...rds. They changed the ways people read poems and how they were written; although most of the writing was the same each author had his/her own significant way of writing. The imagists were pure and simple, and they didn’t listen to what the world was telling them to do. The women in the time period fought for their equality, which was to be treated like the men were treated, with respect. They didn’t listen to the men when they said it would never happen but look at them today, they are treated with the respect that they deserve. Same with the African Americans, they were told a million times to just give up and stop this fight. The white men thought that this was right but it wasn’t and the African Americans knew that. So just like the imagist they weren’t going to follow the “traditions” of writing and life, they were going to prove that they could make this work.
The American Dream as portrayed in the 1920s is money, fame, and love. Everyone wants to have money and be known and loved. It’s not always easy to have all and in some stories it’s not possible to have it all. Therefore it’s called the “American Dream,” with the word dream because it can mean what people hope for. In the stories The Great Gatsby and “Bernice Bobs Her Hair,” the characters strive for the American Dream.
The American Dream remains viewed as the success which one obtains. The American Dream has had a great impact on literature as well as an impact on the changing of time periods. The 19th century Transcendentalists’ idea of the American Dream focuses on reaching one’s goals by honest, hard work. On the other hand, Gatsby’s idea of the American Dream in the 20th century centers on becoming successful by way of illegal money that was not acquired through working. Ultimately, the Transcendental and Gatsby’s beliefs reveal a great deal of contrast.
Women have always been viewed based on what is on the outside instead of what is on the inside. They were never handed anything but had to fight for what they believed to have. Sadly, though it’s been a struggle for women and for black women especially who want equality and a chance to do as they please. Criticized based on body parts and the color of their skin. Just as a resource stated, “ What did it mean for a black woman to be an artist in our grandmother’s time? It is a question with an answer cruel enough to stop the blood...the agony of the women who might have been poets, novelists, essayists and short story writers, who died with their real gifts stifled within them” ( Walker 2). Why is that? There is need to question society. The unfairness is out of control and the unexpected should be the expected. With the book Their Eyes were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston it breaks the chain of black women not credited for their extraordinary work. The Black Feminist Art shouldn’t be stopped in order to inspire young black girls to become more than what their hearts desire. Zora Neale Hurston did it, through the character Janie Mae Crawford and of reality intertwined. By writing a book not expected to be written by a black woman with a dialogue and concept so well crafted, it proves that women should be happy in any shape or
The early 1900s seemed like a time of great prosperity, and the American Dream was in the forefront of the working class, but was it actually good to live the American Dream? Edwin Arlington Robinson‟s poem “Richard Cory” is an example that the idea of the American Dream is not always so bright. Even though narrator of the poem seems to show envy for Richard Cory until the last stanza, the poem actually contrasts what Richard Cory has and what the workers have with each wanting what the other has; thus, the cliché of “the grass is always greener” is at the heart of this
The Significance of Dreams in Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men Works Cited Not Included The term "American Dream" became popular in the 17th century when the
That’s when I first gained an appreciation of the Harlem Renaissance, a time when African Americans rose to prominence in American culture. For the first time, they were taken seriously as artist, musicians, writers, athletes, and as political thinkers”(Kareem Abdul-Jabbar). African Americans writers during this time was capturing the beauty of black lives. Blacks were discovering many reasons to have pride in their race. Racial pride was helping them achieve equality in society. People were starting to write the way they wanted, instead of the ways whites wanted. Creating their
Its role as a catalyst for great art within the period and beyond cannot be underestimated. The movement laid groundwork for all later African American literature and had an enormous impact on subsequent black literature and consciousness worldwide. It also showed significant impacts in journalism, fiction, poetry, music, sculpture, and paintings that still stand out as important figures of African American history.The visibility and intensity of the period symbolized a major shift in the degree to which black people could and did claim the authority to speak about and represent themselves and their
The American dream has been a tangible idea, greatly sought after by many over the course of American History. The dream has eluded many, to strive for achieving in America’s open markets, and become a self-made man from the sweat of one’s brow. The idea of become self-sufficient, and have limitless dreams that take one as far as they are willing to imagine is captured very differently from The Great Gatsby to A Raisin in the Sun. Both novels seem to have the American dream as their subject, but both end up having very different outcomes to how one achieves it, and if the dream is truly in existence, namely with the characters of Jay Gatsby and Walter Younger. The books mainly brushes upon the idea of what the American dream truly is, how one achieves the dream, and what the real fulfillment the dream encompasses.
2. The African American culture blossomed during the Harlem Renaissance, particularly in creative arts, and the most influential movement in African American literary history. Embracing literary, musical, theatrical, and visual arts, participants sought to reconceptualize “the Negro” apart from the white stereotypes that had influenced black peoples’ relationship to their heritage and to each other. They also sought to break free of Victorian moral values and bourgeois shame about aspects of their lives that might, as seen by whites, reinforce racist beliefs. Never dominated by a particular school of thought but rather characterized by intense debate, the movement laid the groundwork for all later African American literature and had an enormous
Other than being a topic of the novel, The American dream identify with a few characters. Lennie and George's fantasy of owning their little homestead and rabbits with Candy was a case of what a normal American dream was amid the 1930s Great Depression. The Great Depression has changed throughout the year relying upon the condition of the country. Amid the Great Depression the normal dream was simply singular fulfillment. To fulfill one's self amid the Great Depression was distinctive. Getting another or surprisingly better occupation was restricted of gaining fulfillment, yet the place where there is fresh chances to succeed was filled with emergency after the share trading system smashed. The American dream had lost its impact on America amid the 1930s, yet was still vivacious when men like George and Lennie sought after a superior and distinctive life and perpetual miracle into the desire for the better of individual
The Harlem Renaissance gave African American women new opportunities in literature. “The Harlem Renaissance was the name given to the cultural, social, and artistic explosion that took place in Harlem between the end of World War 1 and the middle of the 1930s.” (Wormser) It was a challenge for women poets during the Harlem Renaissance because they were both black and women. (Walton) Jessie Fauset, Georgia Douglas Johnson, Regina Anderson, and Nella Larson all played important roles in the Harlem Renaissance. (Lewis) These women inspired many generations of women to come. (Walton)
The American Dream seems almost non-existent to those who haven’t already achieved it. Every character in the novel has moments of feeling happy and endures a moment where they believe that they are about to achieve their dreams. Naturally everyone dreams of being a better person, having better things and in 1920’s America, the scheme of getting rich is quick. However, each character had their dreams crushed in the novel mainly because of social and economic situations and their dream of happiness becomes a ‘dead dream’ leading them back to their ‘shallow lives’ or no life at all.
The American Dream: wealth, passion, power, love, an enormous house, luxurious cars, the finest clothing. The American Dream is something people have strived to achieve for centuries. The Great Gatsby is a novel of twisted love triangles, whose characters are trying to capture and live the American Dream. Dreams can fall to pieces when they are being perused for the wrong reason and the in the wrong ways. F. Scott Fitzgerald creates an ideal piece of literature that shows flaws, mistaken beliefs, and the ignorance of society in its belief of the American Dream.
In conclusion, the American dream targeted the individual working hard in the pursuit to become successful and wealthy, with high-quality job and prosperity. In the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, the American dream symbolizes being free from any kind of restrictions and the ability to have the pleasure in the wide-open Western edge. However, The Great Gatsby criticizes the American dream due to moral and social value decay of the society.
Ben Johnson and Zach Tom English 11 Honors Mr. Slater 2, May 2014 The Imagist movement and the American Dream Mass culture, consumerism, and the dream of wealth define the American culture at the turn of the 17th century. The American dream of upward mobility was becoming the common dream as people strived to obtain the next and newest fad of the time. Contrary to this paradigm shift, the imagists focused on breaking the mold of the mass culture that was devouring the country. The imagist era, lasting from 1912-1917, broke away from the previously undisputed style of writing and arts. The participants of the imagist movement had an American dream of straying away from the mass culture and accepted style to live a life that expressed their individuality. Contrary to the imagist movement, Americans of the early 1900s focused on improving their lives through new technology and innovations. This advanced machinery included cars and radios, which made The United States more mobile and far more connected as a whole; a theory called consumerism. Since everyone in America craved for possession of new technology, businesses had a broad spectrum of customers for their goods. This also made for a nation of conformity; people were striving to be normal, and normality was the image of being like everybody else. The average American values did not comply with what the Imagist movement sought after. Imagists wanted to break away from society and create a new vision of life, which is displayed throughout the writing and art of the era. The imagist era stressed new ideas and anti-conformity through the writing of the period. The authors of the time believed that poetry can be made purer by concentration on a precise and clear image. Instead of exp...