Welcome to the English culture and literature course (year 1)!
💡Les classiques de Charles Dickens en séries (Arte)
🖱https://www.arte.tv/fr/videos/RC-026097/les-classiques-de-charles-dickens/
AMERICAN DREAM (INTRO) par MBINTRODUCTION
I- EXPRESSION ORALE
II- VIDEO: “Do you believe in the American dream?”
PART 1 – THE ROOTS
A– ZOOM ON HISTORY (Faire des recherches sur les origines du rêve américain.)
B – The roots of the American dream
4 documentsThe New World par MB
PART 2 – DREAMING OF AMERICA
I- DREAMING OF AMERICA (text)
II- BOUND FOR AMERICA (writing)
EE (Stefan’s letter) par MBImagine the letter Stefan leaves for his parents on the night he leaves for America /200 words/.
- His reasons for leaving
- what he wants, what he plans to do
- his dreams
- his emotions/ feelings
Burgdorf, November 2nd 1894
Dear Mother, Father, and everyone at home,
By the time you find this letter, I will already be far away—farther than any of us has ever been. I am sorry to leave without saying goodbye, but… I know you would have tried to stop me. You didn’t believe in my dreams. Lately, I have felt that I cannot stay in our town anymore. Life here will never change. People are afraid of new ideas, and they prefer to keep everything the same. But I long for change! I want to discover the world and see what I can become.
I have heard so many stories about America, the land of hope. People say it is a place where you can start from scratch and build a new life. People earn a decent living, some make a fortune! Maybe these stories are not all true, but I want to seize this opportunity and try my luck anyway. I dream of a better life in America, and I’m determined to achieve my goals. I heard that through hard work, anyone can succeed. So why not me? I’m so eager, so determined! No one can stop me from fulfilling my dreams!
I hope you can understand my choice one day.
When I arrive in America, I plan to find a job, probably an odd job, as I know it will take time to climb the social ladder. But don’t worry about me, I will be fine.
I will write to you, I promise, but it may take a long time before you get my letter.
Thank you for everything you have done for me. I will carry you in my heart as I start this new chapter of my life.
With love,
Stefan
III- WEST SIDE STORY 1/2 The balcony Scene
West Side Story (1961) | Tonight | MGM Studios
IV- ‘I HEAR AMERICA SINGING’ (poem)
- The people Whitman describes in his poem:
a- Who are they? Whitman lists ordinary American workers i.e. mechanics, carpenters, masons, boatmen, shoemakers, mothers, and young men at work.(A2)
b- Why are they significant for the American Dream? They are significant because the American Dream traditionally celebrates hard work and the idea that every individual contributes to the nation’s success (through hard work, they are building the nation) (B1+)
🔎FYI: Whitman wrote the poem in 1860, at a time when the United States was experiencing rapid industrialisation and receiving large numbers of immigrants
c- What effect is created by the enumeration of all these workers? (different ideas)
– Whitman includes a wide range of jobs and both men and women, showing that the American Dream includes people from different backgrounds and roles. Everyone “sings,” meaning everyone contributes and participates.
– All the workers’ “songs” blend into one collective American song, symbolising unity in diversity: all voices together form the song of America. This reflects the American Dream’s belief in a shared national identity built by many different individuals (B2) - How does the metaphor of “singing” reflect the American Dream? Their “song” symbolises joy, pride, freedom and unity. Singing suggests that each worker feels fulfilled and valued, reinforcing the idea that everyone has a unique voice and place in America, which is central to the American Dream.(B1)
- Does the poem show any limitations or inequalities in the American Dream? The poem does not explicitly show inequalities; it focuses on a positive, idealised vision. However, the absence of certain groups (e.g., enslaved people, immigrants, the unemployed) suggests that Whitman presents a selective and idealised version of America, which can be criticised (B2).
- Conclusion:
a- What vision of America does Whitman present in the poem? Whitman presents an optimistic and harmonious /hɑːˈməʊniəs/ America, where every worker participates in building the nation. This reflects an idealised American Dream based on unity, opportunity, and shared purpose.
b- In your opinion, is Whitman’s vision of America realistic or idealised? Why? Whitman’s vision is mostly idealised, because he focuses only on the positive aspects of work and ignores social divisions, discrimination or inequalities. However, his optimism reflects the aspirational side of the American Dream.
EVALUATION
1) Where and when does this story take place? /B1→B2/
The story takes place on a ship crossing the Atlantic Ocean, from Europe to America. The events happen during the journey, before the narrator arrives in the United States. [The context suggests a time of mass European immigration to America, probably at the end of the 19th /beginning of the 20th century].
2) The narrator’s home country/
a- Where does the narrator come from? /A2→B1/
The narrator comes from Sicily, in Italy. This is shown by expressions such as “For a Sicilian, home is everything” , his references to Etna and the use of Italian words (famiglia).
b- What does the narrator remember about his life in his home country? What sort of memories are they? /B1 → B2/
He remembers his family, his homeland, and Mount Etna, which caused destruction and death. His memories are mixed: they include danger, suffering and fear, but also a strong emotional attachment to his home (like many Sicilians).
c- What can you guess about his origins and living conditions in his home country? Justify your answer by quoting the text. /B1 → B2/
The narrator seems to come from a poor, working-class background. He mentions “the petty nuisances of a stonemason”, which suggests manual labor, probably in a poor village. The volcano Etna also damaged his family and community, showing that he could not afford to protect himself from the threat of the volcano.
Besides, the narrator travels in “steerage” class on the ship and is insulted by the wealthy passengers for being poor and filthy, which shows that he is not from a wealthy background.
d- Is the narrator going to miss his native land? Why/ why not? /B1 → B2/
Yes and no.
On the one hand, the narrator is going to miss his native land because, as a Sicilian, home is very important to him. He says, “For a Sicilian, home is everything.” However, he also decides never to return, because of too much suffering in his native country. He believes in a better future in America.
3) The journey /B1 → B2/
a- What can you say about the traveling conditions for the narrator? Give 3 examples from the narrator’s story to justify your answer.
The traveling conditions were HARSH → APPALLING (and inhumane). For example:
- The food and water are spoiled and unsafe.
- It was dark and overcrowded (“stale and fetid” air)
- There were rats, lice, vomit and excrement that led to sickness, even death on board.
- There were fights and violent people among the passengers
b-Were the traveling conditions the same for every traveler? Explain clearly using the details from the narrator’s story.
No, traveling conditions varied greatly depending on social class. Wealthy passengers travelled in the best conditions: they stayed on the upper decks, where they enjoyed sunlight, music, and fine meals served on china. In contrast, poor immigrants in steerage endured overcrowded and unsanitary conditions. This stark difference clearly highlights the deep social inequality of the time.
4) What is the attitude of the “well-dressed” couple towards the narrator? Why? What is the narrator’s reaction? Why? /B1-B1+/
The well-dressed couple look down upon the narrator. They look at him as inferior because he is poor, dirty, and an immigrant.
The woman’s scornful/ contemptuous remark, “Poveri sì, sporchi no” clearly shows her disdain/ scorn/ contempt/ lack of compassion for the working class/ the poor/the less fortunate.
This passage reveals the social gap between the rich and the poor. The narrator is socially excluded and feels humiliated.It also shows his anger and wounded pride. The scene marks a turning point, as his dream of America becomes driven by revenge and the desire for social ascent/improvement.
5) Where is the narrator going? What kind of life does he dream of when he arrives in this new country? /B1 → B1+/
The narrator is going to America for a better life. He dreams of becoming successful and wealthy. He believes that in America, he will be able to climb the social ladder and change his destiny. Then, he will take revenge on those who humiliated him.
6) Why are some words/ sentences written in Italics? Explain. /B1 → B2/
The words and sentences in italics represent the narrator’s inner thoughts and strong emotions. This shows that even though he is determined to start a new life (new country, different language), he is still attached to his origins and has not abandoned his identity. This emphasises his future status as an immigrant and may foreshadow future obstacles/ hardships (difficulties) that he will have to overcome, particularly in terms of adaptation.
7) What is the role of the passage about the dolphins? What does this story tell us about the narrator’s vision of the future? /B1 → B2/
The dolphins symbolise hope, freedom and luck. They appear during a moment of despair and are seen as a positive omen/sign. This shows that the narrator still believes in a better future, despite the hardships he experiences.
8) To conclude, to what extent is the extract linked to the notion of the American dream? Develop your answer. /B1+ → B2/
The extract is strongly linked to the notion of the American Dream. America is presented as a land of hope, opportunity, and fresh start for immigrants like the narrator, who left everything behind and holds on to his dreams of a better life in America.
However, the text also questions this dream by showing the obstacles: a difficult journey, appalling travelling conditions, the journey itself is an ordeal and already highlights the future tensions that many immigrants will experience: inequality, discrimination, humiliation and harships.
To conclude, the American Dream appears both as a promise of success and as a harsh illusion, especially for poor immigrants.
PART 3 – AMERICAN NIGHTMARE?
I- WEST SIDE STORY 2/4 “America” (song/scene)
II- “thousands are sailing” (SONG)
“The song Thousands Are Sailing, released in 1988 by the Irish band The Pogues, deals with Irish immigration to the United States. It gives a very emotional and critical view of the American Dream, showing how it can be both a dream of hope and a nightmare of loss.”
To what extent does this song illustrate the dream vs. nightmare of the American dream for immigrants?
At first, America appears as a land of opportunity, escape, and renewal (start from scratch)
At the beginning of the song, America is presented as a place of hope. The immigrants leave Ireland to escape poverty, famine, and oppression. The line ‘Where e’er we go, we celebrate the land that makes us refugees’ shows that leaving is painful, but necessary to survive.
The dream quickly turns into alienation and suffering.
However, the song does not idealize America. It also shows the dark side of immigration. Once in the United States, immigrants often face poverty, prejudice, discrimination, and loneliness. The “dream” turns into disappointment → disillusionment.
PART 3 – FROM RAGS TO RICHES?
I- INTRODUCTION
💡Important concepts to know: do some research and take notes.
- American tycoons: A tycoon is a powerful, wealthy, and influential businessperson.
It’s usually applied to leaders of big industries — people who control huge amounts of money, companies, or resources. - The Gilded Age:
- From rags to riches (expression)
- Self-made man
II- EVA LONGORIA’S AMERICAN DREAM (speech)
III- PRINCE OF PEACE (text)
🏠HOMEWORK
Choose a SELF-MADE MAN or WOMAN you admire (dead or still alive) in any field (politics, industry, economy, sports, show-business …).
🔎Look for information about him/her and fill in the grid.
| date & place of birth | was born in |
| childhood / young adulthood residence | –grew up in/ doing… -moved to (another town or country) |
| studies? | studied |
| former jobs/occupations? | -worked as -lived on … -wrote/ taught/ sold/ bought/ made/ founded… |
| interests/motivations/ hobbies (all sorts) dreams | -was interested in -was keen on -was into -had confidence in (repeated) -believed in (repeated) -dreamt of |
| turning-point in his/er/ career | -(…) became |
| charitable donations to… | |
| repetitive habit | -whenever (he/she) …… |
| always ≠ except | always [did something] except … |
💡 Pour retrouver les documents de début d’année: 🖱ici
🏴
llce anglais par Manuelle