The American Dream

What it is and how people live it

Definitions:American Dream

• “The American Dream is "that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement.” ~ James Truslow Adams

• “…to every man, regardless of his birth, his shining, golden opportunity ….the right to live, to work, to be himself, and to become whatever thing his manhood and his vision can combine to make him.” ~ Thomas Wolfe

• Some say that the American Dream has become the pursuit of material prosperity - that people work more hours to get bigger cars, fancier homes, the fruits of prosperity for their families - but have less time to enjoy their prosperity. Others say that the American Dream is beyond the grasp of the working poor who must work two jobs to insure their family’s survival. Yet others look toward a new American Dream with less focus on financial gain and more emphasis on living a simple, fulfilling life (Library of Congress).

Activity: What is your American Dream?

• http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=120897

• In your writer’s notebook, define your American Dream. Is the dream about obtaining material riches? A good family? The ability to live your life fully on your own terms? Safety? Diversity?

• After defining the American Dream, write what you think you need to do to achieve it.

American Dream &Creation Myth

• Correlative– Dreams of life can feed the myth

• Michelangelo's “David”– Reaching for the divine

• Botticelli’s “The Birth of Venus”– Beauty and order from chaos

Creation Myths

What they are and how to write them

Definition of Creation Myth• What it is

– Symbolic narrative of the creation and organization of the world as understood in a particular tradition

• May include latent power of the earth

• Earth may be offspring of primordial parents

– Egg– Waters

• What it is not– Always including a

creator

Religion vs. Myth

• Religion– Beliefs that can be

universal• Contains moral

codes• System of worship• Nature & purpose of

universe

• Myth– Stories from

particular culture or group

• Supernatural elements

• About culture’s origin, history, ancestors, heroes

• Instructional & inspirational without necessarily imparting a system of belief or moral codes

Activity:Create a Creation Myth

• In your writer’s notebook, design a creation myth around your American Dream.– Poem– Story– Play/Skit– Drawing– Comic– Song– Illustrated story

Works CitedCreation Myth. Brittanica Concise Encyclopedia. Web. 14 Aug.

2010. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/142144/creation-myth>.

"Difference Between Religion and Mythology, The." Articles, Blogs and Information on Mythology. Myths-and-Mythology. Web. 14 Aug. 2010. <http://www.myths-and-mythology.com/>.

Learning Page, The. "What Is the American Dream?" Library of Congress. 19 Dec. 2002. Web. 14 Aug. 2010. <http://memory.loc.gov/learn/lessons/97/dream/thedream.html>.

"Today's American Dream." Interview by New York Times. Teacher Tube. Khaughey, 12 Aug. 2009. Web. 14 Aug. 2010. <http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=120897>.