1. Consider the poems, short stories, and autobiographical pieces you read from the Frst half of the twenteth century. How did historical events and realiTes attrect writers who were working during this Tme? What common threads did you observe in the works of these writers? Cite specifc examples from various texts in your response.
2. Consider the poems of the Harlem Renaissance. Why does the theme of freedom play such an important role in these works? How do different poems address this theme? Cite examples and images from three Harlem Renaissance poems in your response.
3. What internal con²icts do the characters face in the Glass Menagerie? How do these confiicts result in the overall tension that exists in the WingFeld family? Describe how Tom, Laura, and Amanda cope with their con²icts and how their conficts connect to the play's theme of reality versus illusion.
4. What do the pieces you read by Richard Rodriguez and Amy ³an illustrate about the immigrant experience in twenTeth-century America? How are the children in these works different from their parents? Use speciFc examples from the text in your response.