Unheard Voices, Unseen Faces, Words Not Spoken
An Integrated, Interdisciplinary, Thematic, Standards-based Study of Literature, History, and the Arts of the Early 19th Century for Grades 10-11 In the early 1800s, society was controlled by a minority of wealthy, educated, white men. This group of men enforced power over every aspect of life, dominating in political, economic, educational, and social areas. Control was not within reach of the majority: those male and female whites who were poor or uneducated and all non-whites, regardless of gender or social class. They lived in a society that would not allow their voices to be heard.
With this in mind, students must realize that literature also reflects that control. Literary giants of that time were in that minority group; other voices and points of view were forced into being voices unheard.
Students will learn that in such times and regardless of not being widely received, human beings use language and the arts to express their emotions and ideas, to record their history, and to make their voices heard. Hearing those voices today is just as important as it was then, perhaps more so.
With this in mind, students must realize that literature also reflects that control. Literary giants of that time were in that minority group; other voices and points of view were forced into being voices unheard.
Students will learn that in such times and regardless of not being widely received, human beings use language and the arts to express their emotions and ideas, to record their history, and to make their voices heard. Hearing those voices today is just as important as it was then, perhaps more so.