Sunday, February 26, 2012

Allusions in American Pie

We spent two classes listening to, and reading over, Don McLean's song "American Pie" in order to gain understanding of and appreciation for allusion in literature.  I presented a powerpoint slide show of images to assist with understanding of some of the allusions, as well as a CD of songs mentioned in "American Pie."  We talked through each reference, and I shared the stories that are linked to different allusions in the song.

The song is basically an allusive history of music from the 60s and 70s, and it is focused on "the day the music died," which was a day in 1959 when Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and the Big Bopper, three very famous musicians, were killed in a plane crash.  Don McLean mourns the loss of these three artists, as well as the evolution of music over the two decades after the crash, in his song.

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