The Great Depression and the Arts
A Unit of Study for Grades 8-12
Home | Teachers' Guide | Lesson Plans | Project Information | Credits
|
Student Handouts: Documentary Film—"The Plow that Broke the Plains"
- Lesson Plan | Document | Handouts
Reading the Script
- How does the film's title present the irony of the function of a plow and the devastation of the plains?
- Define the Great Plains (e.g. size, location, climate, etc.)
- Why is this section a repeat of the Prologue?
- What is the key feature of the Great Plains?
- Why is the Great Plains a "Cattleman's Paradise"?
- What do cattle replace?
- How does industrialism come to the Great Plains?
- What changes does industrialism bring?
- Who follows the cattleman?
- What problems does this create?
- Explain the warning, "Settler, plow at your peril!"
- What warning did nature provide?
- Was the warning heeded?
- What war is this?
- What happens because of the war?
- This section tells of great success. What is it?
- Why is this section called "Blues"?
- Look back over the script. What words/phrases are repeated often? Why?
- Why is the drought of the 1930s more devastating than previous Great Plains droughts?
- Describe the devastation.
- What role does nature play? Humans?
- What solution do people try?
- "The sun and winds wrote the most tragic chapter in American agriculture." Is this tragedy only the work of nature? Explain.
- What are the lessons to be learned from this New Deal document? Consider its critique of capitalism and the values associated with capitalism.
- What are the elements of this documentary film that would have made it such a critical and popular success?
- Consider the script as a poem. Analyze those elements which are most effective as poetry.
- Is the film government propaganda? Assume it is and evaluate its effectiveness as propaganda.
Home | Teachers' Guide | Lesson Plans | Project Information | Credits
The Great Depression and the Arts