LLCE 1

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/

INTRODUCTION

AMERICAN DREAM (INTRO) par MB

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 documents
The New World par MB

PART 2 – DREAMING OF AMERICA

I- DREAMING OF AMERICA (text)

II- BOUND FOR AMERICA (writing)

EE (Stefan’s letter) par MB

Imagine 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)

  1. 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)
  2. 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)
  3. 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).
  4. 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.

PART 3 – AMERICAN NIGHTMARE?

I- WEST SIDE STORY 2/4 “America” (song/scene)

📚LISTE A
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💡 Pour retrouver les documents de début d’année: 🖱ici

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llce anglais par Manuelle