LITERATURE AND CULTURE (2ND TERM) MARTIN LUTHER KING JR: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a religious and philosophical leader who fought for civil rights for African-Americans. He worked hard for equal treatment of black people. Before the 1960s there were many laws in the southeastern part of the United States which made a system of segregation between white people and black people. There were separate schools, drinking fountains, toilet facilities, etc. Black people were not allowed to use the same things as white people, and white people got better service in restaurants and shops. On the bus, black people had to sit at the back. One of his famous speeches was the ‘I have a Dream’ speech: He said that he dreamed of a day when black people and white people could live together as friends and not discriminate against each other. People would be judged based on whether they were a good or bad person, not on the colour of their skin. MARK TWAIN AND “THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER”: Samuel Langhorne Clemens, also known as Mark Twain, was a major American writer from Missouri. His stories and novels are famous for their humor, vivid details, and memorable characters. His best-known works are “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” and “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”, both classics in American literature. “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” tells the story of Tom and his friend, Huckleberry Finn, two boys who get into a lot of trouble. Although the story is set in a small town on the banks of the legendary Mississippi River sometime during the 1840s, readers from all parts of the world have enjoyed the adventures experienced by Tom and his band of friends. For example, when Tom manipulates others to paint a fence he himself had to paint, or when Tom, Huck and Joe escape to an island and try to live without adults. Or when Tom witnesses a murder, searches for treasures and gets lost in caves. The characters -Tom himself, Becky Thatcher, Huck Finn, Injun Joe, and Aunt Polly- have become part of the American heritage. HAIKU POEMS: Definition: Haiku is a poetic form and a type of poetry from the Japanese culture. Themes: They talk about everyday things. Many themes include nature, feelings, or experiences. Format: The most common form for Haiku is three short lines. The first line usually contains 5 syllables, the second line 7 syllables, and the third line contains 5 syllables.
PRESIDENT’S DAY: In the United States people celebrate President’s Day on the third Monday of February. This festivity celebrates the birthdays of two great presidents, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. President’s Day is a national holiday in many states. Many people put the American flag outside their homes, or re-enact battles from the Independence War, or the Civil War, and some go to visit Washington’s home in Virginia, or Lincoln’s home in Illinois. There are 3 requirements to be president of the US: o
To be a natural born US citizen.
o
To be at least 35 years old.
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To have lived in the USA for at least 14 years.
THE OSCARS CEREMONY: The Academy Awards, or "Oscars", is a group of 24 artistic and technical honors given annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) to recognize excellence in cinematic achievements. The winners are awarded a copy of a statuette, commonly known as "Oscar." The awards were first presented in 1929 at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. The Oscars award the films in many different categories, such as best picture, best director, best actor and actress, best costume design, best makeup and hairstyling, best sound editing, best animated feature, best original screenplay, best foreign language film, best visual effects, etc. Nowadays, the Oscars do not only represent the ceremony, but also a glamourous red carpet and fashionable costumes and jewellery. This year (2017) LA LA LAND has been the most nominated movie: an American musical comedy-drama film with 14 nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Ryan Gosling), Best Actress (Emma Stone), and Best Original Song ("City of Stars").