August Wilson & the Pittsburgh Cycle

"The Pittsburgh Cycle" is a series of ten plays written by

• Troy Maxson
• Denzel Washington
• Eugene O'Neill
• August Wilson

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.10

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.10. RL.11-12.10

CCSS.RL.8.10

This cycle of plays includes decades from

• 1900-1920
• 1900-1950
• 1900-1990
• 1900-2010

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.10

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.10. RL.11-12.10

CCSS.RL.8.3

The setting of "Fences" is

• Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the 1950s
• Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the 1960s
• Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the 1970s
• Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the 1980s

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.10

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.10. RL.11-12.10

CCSS.RL.8.10

The overarching theme of Wilson's ten plays spanning his "Pittsburgh Cycle" is 

• the Harlem Renaissance
• the evolving African-American experience
• the Civil Rights Movement
• the Black Panthers movement

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.10

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.10. RL.11-12.10

CCSS.RL.8.3

"Fences" concerns the character of Troy Maxson who earns a living as a

• baseball player
• garbageman
• builder
• gambler

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.10

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.10. RL.11-12.10

CCSS.RL.8.3

Troy Maxson's fence metaphor is an image he creates for himself as a way to

• protect his home and family
• make his sons independent
• keep the Grim Reaper away
• show his work ethic

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RI.11-12.9

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Wilson stated that all of his plays are about a character who is "The Best Blues Singer in the World" and who

• builds fences to keep his family secure.
• strives to be someone important in life.
• struggles against white racism.
• is drowning in his own private ocean.

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.2.6

August Wilson described Troy Maxson as a garbageman who struggles with the issues of

• racism, injustice, pride, anger, and marriage.
• loneliness, hostility, hope, joy, and forgiveness.
• love, honor, beauty, betrayal, and duty.
• ambition, dreams, honor, courage, and achievement.

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.11-12.6

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

"Fences" is one of two Wilson plays that won

• the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
• the Oscar for Best Play.
• an Emmy for Best Play.
• the Nobel Prize for Drama.

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.10

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.10. RL.11-12.10

CCSS.RL.8.7

The genre of "Fences" is drama, which means that it is

• emotional and intense.
• tragic and sad.
• intended to be performed.
• full of deep feeling.

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.10

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.10. RL.11-12.10

CCSS.RL.8.10