American Lit Context Flashcards
(43 cards)
Who coined the term ‘The American Dream’
James Truslow Adams in 1931
When was the great depression and what caused it?
1929-1941, stock market crashed in 1929
When was Grapes of Wrath published?
1939
How long did the dust bowl or the ‘dirty thirties’ last for?
1930-1940
How many banks failed during the great depression?
A third
What is a hooverville?
A derogatory term for a town that was built and occupied by the unemployed homeless people during the great depression. Called a hooverville. Angered by the lack of direct assistance from President Herbert Hoover and the U.S. government, the shanty communities were nicknamed after him.
How many people were forced off their farms and migrated?
2.5 million people
How many californians picked grapes?
40%
Where did Steinbeck get the descriptive knowledge of the okie life from?
He worked on a farm during the great depression
What was Grapes of Wrath accused of being?
Communist propoganda
Why did the public at the time respond well to the Grapes of Wrath?
They liked it for its realism, and its realistic interpretation of the people. This was not a period to romanticise (no happy ending)
What are the ‘networks of iron’?
Refers to the extensive railroad networks that were being built at the time during America’s industrial revolution.
How did Abraham Lincoln describe America?
‘a house divided’
What was North America (where the Spanish and french weren’t) first called when settled by the English?
‘Virginia’ or virgin lands. People saw America as a blank slate, a fresh start, on which they could create their vision of a perfect state, free from the inequalities of the Old World. (Land of opportunity) Which led to a clash of ideas and cultures.
How many settlers did John White recruit to settle in America?
100 settlers
What was the American Dream?
A national ethos that any individual, regardless of their ethnic, religious or financial background has the opportunity to gain success, and upward social mobility through hard work, determination, and ambition. (Success should not depend on birth or priviledge but hard work)
When was the prohibition era?
1920-1933
What is hedonism?
A theme that explores the pursuit of pleasures as central values, shown through Gatsby’s parties illustrating how the relentless pursuit of pleasure can lead to loss of meaning and ethical grounding.
What is a speak-easy?
Secret illegal pubs that were opened during the prohibition era (1920-1933)
How did F. Scott-Fitzgerald come up with the idea for Gatsby and Daisy’s relationship?
Fitzgerald also was unable to marry the woman he loved due to a difference in class and wealth. (Gatsby so desperate to show Daisy his amassed wealth)
When was the Great Gatsby published?
1925
The Roaring Twenties
The Roaring Twenties and Materialism: The post world war 1 period saw an economic boom that ushered in the consumer-driven “Roaring Twenties.” Many Americans pursued wealth, entertainment, and self-indulgence as a way to escape the memories of wartime hardships. This shift towards consumerism left some feeling that American society was becoming increasingly shallow and focused on materialism rather than meaningful values or ideals.
Why are the people in Grapes of Wrath angry?
Their disillusionment of California. The “white houses” Ma dreams of is a symbol of the broken promises of the American Dream.
What is rugged individualism?
A popular ideology with republicans that people should be self reliant instead of relying on help from the government
