King/Hughes – Seeking the American Dream

INTRODUCTION:

Martin Kuther King in a speech and Langston Hughes in a poem spoke powerfully on the topic of the American Dream. In this Web Quest you will read/hear King's speech, I Have A Dream and read Hughes' poem "Let America Be America Again". Upon completion of these activities, you will answer multiple choice questions to demonstrate your reading and listening comprehension. You will then write an essay which analyzes both author's views on the American Dream, comparing and contrasting their ideas. Finally, you will expres your views on the realities of King and Hughes' dream - demonstrate whether you believe that their goals have been achieved or if they remain unrealized.

TASK ONE:

Listen carefully to the audio of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivering his I Have A Dream speech before thousands assembled on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, Washington D.C., August 28, 1963 by clicking on the above picture

TASK TWO:

Visit the following site:

http://www.poets.org/poems/Poemprnt.cfm?prmID=1473

Read Langston Hughes poem "Let America Be America Again"

GUIDELINES FOR TASK ONE AND TWO:

When listening or reading the above be sure to:

1. Keep in mind the essay that you will be creating.

2. Take careful notes when examining each piece of work

3. Use specific, accurate and relevant information from the speech to support your essay.

TASK THREE:

Complete the following multiple choice questions:

1. In his speech King refers to three American documents associated with liberty. Which of the following did he not mention?

   a) Gettysburg Address

   b) The Declaration of Independence

   c) The Emancipation Procalmation

   d) The U.S. Consitution

2. Each of the following is an example of the use of figurative language by King EXPECT

   a) signing of a promissory note

   b) a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds"

   c) quicksand of injustice

   d) time to make justice a reality.

3. King says justice can be achieved by:

   a) the use of physical violence

   b) doing wrongful deeds to achieve equality

   c) revolting

   d)enduring with faith and effort

4. The use of the phrase "I have a Dream" is an example of

   a) repetition

   b) parallelism

   c) foreshadowing

   d) symbolism

5. Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream extends to

   a) African American

   b) freed slaves

   c) all humanity

   d) only those born in America

6. What great American does King refer to in paragraph two

   a) George Washington

   b) Malcolm X

   c) himself

   d) Abraham Lincoln

7. Hughes and King would agree

   a) America is a perfect society

   b) Only blacks can truly understand freedom

   c) All people deserve to be equal

   d) America's government should be abolished

8. The greatness and strength in American society is found ultimately in

   a) its institutions

   b) its leaders

   c) its people

   d) its past

9. The common theme of both author's work is

   a) the elimination of slavery

   b) the downfall of the wealthy

   c) the fulfillment of the American Dream

   d) the strongest will survive

10. Hughes consistently uses the words I am, this represents

    a) Hughes

    b) all Americans

    c) black Americans

    d) those who immigrated to America

THE ESSAY:

Now that you have completed all three tasks, write a unified essay about how King and Hughes think about the American Dream. Again, compare and contrast the author's point of view. Also, be sure to include your view on the realities of their dreams – have they been realized over the course of time or do they remain just dreams? Your essay must use evidence from both passages to develop your main idea. Be sure to show how each author uses specific literary elements or techniques to convey ideas (ie- metaphors, imagery, conflict, etc.)