History, Culture, and the Author

1. History, Culture, and the Author

2. Historical Influences • Writers respond to the world around them. Significant events could give the author a message they want to share. • Events such as: • the first moon landing • the battlefield at Gettysburg • Nazi concentration camps • 9/11

3. Historical Influences From last semester you know the cultural influences of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream Speech”, but how does this cultural stand change your perspective? Two months before the March on Washington, the civil rights leader Medgar Evers was assassinated. President Kennedy almost cancelled the march for Dr. King’s safety, but he insisted to proceed in spite of the danger.

4. Cultural Influences • When considering Dr. King’s speech: • What were the predominant values in the society of the time? • How does the author’s values align with those of society? Is the author part of the majority or minority? • How does this cultural position affect the writer?

5. The Writer’s BackgroundSome contributing factors to consider: Personal facts Birth place Where and how they’re raised Home life Religion Gender Ethnicity/National Identity

6. How does this help me interpret? • Keep the historical, cultural and background information in mind when reading. • Look for clues using: • setting • imagery • figurative language

7. What is context? While reading: 1st: Decide which details are significant and relevant. 2nd: Look for clues connecting significant details in the story to the author’s circumstance. 3rd: Consider why the details may have been brought into the story based on what you know about the author.

8. Poet PavelFriedmann’s Background Beginning in 1941 when the Holocaust was sweeping across Europe, Adolf Hitler rounded up Jews from Czechosloakia and many other countries and moved them to the small Czech Town of Terezin – the “ghetto” PavelFriedmann describes in his poem. Originally home to about 7,000 people, Terezin eventually held more than 555,000 Jews at one time. Under such conditions, thousands died from starvation and disease. Thousands more were shipped to the Auschwitz death camp. Friedmann was 21 years old when he arrived in the town of Terezin. The died two years later at Auschwitz.

9. Practice: Interpret Poetry The Butterfly by PavelFriedmann The last, the very last, So richly, brightly, dazzlingly yellow. Perhaps if the sun’s tears would sing against a white stone… Such, such a yellow Is carried lightly ‘way up high. It went away I’m sure because it wished to kiss the world goodbye. for seven weeks I’ve lived in here, Penned up inside this ghetto But I have found my people here. The dandelions call to me And the white chestnut candles in the court. Only I never saw another butterfly. That butterfly was the last one. Butterflies don’t live in here, In the ghetto.

10. What do you think?Answer the following questions in complete sentences at the end of your notes. How did John Steinbeck's culture and background affect his writing? Provide 2-3 direct examples and explain how each example of his background relates to Of Mice and Men. If you were to write a story what parts of your cultural influence, personal background and the time period you're growing up in could contribute to your writing? Think of 2-3 experiences you have had and describe a potential scenario in your story that could be influenced by your experience.