The Strength of God by Sherwood Anderson (1876-1941)

Activity 1: Read About the Author website and write a brief autobiography about him in your own words based on his life, works and his impact on later generations.

Activity 2:

1. Journal Writing: In your journal, define yourself- your self image( outer and inner). You may ask yourself: What kind of person am I? What is  important to me? What characteristics make me who I am? What makes you happy and sad? etc. Get in touch with your true self.
2. Read the story The Strength of God and answer the following questions:
   • How did the hero Reverend Curtis Hartman in the story discover his true self- his identity? What was his identity? How different was it from his previous image of himself?
   • What triggered this self-discovery ?
   • Would Hartman change his way of living after the revelation?
   • If you could continue to write the story, what would the new ending be?
   • What did you learn from the story? How does it relate to you?
3. Analysis-
   • Who are the main character(s)?
   • What is the setting?
   • What is the conflict?
   • How does the conflict develop?
   • What is the conclusion? How is the conflict resolved?
4. Read another short story by Anderson "Godliness "

HW #1
a) Write a brief autobiography about S. Anderson in your own words based on his life, works and his impact on later generations( 150-200 words in three separate paragraphs).

b) Journal Writing#1: In your journal, define yourself- your self image( outer and inner). You may ask yourself: What kind of person am I? What is  important to me? What characteristics make me who I am? What makes you happy and sad? etc. Get in touch with your true self.

HW #2 : Answer the questions-

• How did the hero Reverend Curtis Hartman in the story discover his true self- his identity? What was his identity? How different was it from his previous image of himself?
• What triggered this self-discovery ?
• Would Hartman change his way of living after the revelation?
• If you could continue to write the story, what would the new ending be?
• What did you learn from the story? How does it relate to you?

HW#3: Use the questions as guidelines to write an essay on identity using examples from your life experiences and the short story" The Strength of God"( First Draft).

HW#4: Based on our class discussion about the essay, revise it and write the 2nd draft.

Structure of the Essay "Self-Identity"

Introduction:
1. Describe your understanding of self identity
2. Describe how this topic is addressed in the story.
 

Body:
1. Describe the different stages that R. Hartman experienced in this story before he saw the "light."
2. Describe the stage in your own words and then support it with details from the story.

Conclusion:
1. Describe the themes of the story.
2. What did you learn from the story about discovering one's self.

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