A Geographical Tour of Literary America

The Grand Tour of Literary Landmarks resulted from my students' success with another project that we called "Poetic License with THE AMAZING RACE." This new journey also begins and ends in my students' hometown. Chosen writers are specific to our curriculum and texts; however, teachers can adapt new selections to their students' needs. Side images are their original work. Photo images at each destination go directly to official sites or to the slideshows of my own travel photos. The main sources of written material here are www.Poets.org and Adventures in American Literature, Heritage Edition and Pegasus Edition.

Asheville, North Carolina

On the literary map, travel from Jamestown, Virginia, to Asheville, North Carolina.

Calculate:

# _____________ Miles to Asheville, North Carolina

$ _____________ Cost for Gasoline to Asheville, North Carolina

Read about Thomas Wolfe at North Carolina Historic Sites and visit Mrs. Steller's Wolfe Gallery.

In your text, read "Circus at Dawn," a piece that "demonstrates two of Wolfe's gifts as a writer - his terrific energy and his almost perfect memory for sensory details." (Adventures in American Literature 778).

Answer the following questions.

What three circus scenes are described and how does each scene convey the special qualities that might be missing during other times of day?

Find descriptive phrases that are particularly effective in appealing to the senses.

TEACHERS: Visit here for North Carolina Historic Sites and North Carolina Field Trips.