2008 Appalachian Heritage Writer-in-Residence

WebQuest

 

Overview:  In this WebQuest, you will learn about Appalachian Literature and the life and work of our 2008 Appalachian Heritage Writer-in-Residence, Adriana Trigiani.  You will also find several resources for relevant issues found in her novels.  As you work through this WebQuest, you’ll want to find the Appalachian/Italian connections that are so prevalent throughout Trigiani’s works.

Step 1:  What is Appalachia?

What is Appalachia?  What are the characteristics of Appalachian writing? Take a look at this map to get an idea of what areas of the U.S. are located in the Appalachian region.  You may even enjoy planning a hiking trip on the Appalachian Trail

Now, enjoy and take note of how Appalachian culture spills over into art and music.  Listen to three examples of Appalachian music:  “Loving Henry”, by Kyle Wooten; “Sweet Farm Girl” by Tom Ashley; and a banjo piece called “Foggy Mountain Breakdown”.  You can also browse this same site to listen to other audio clips.  Take a look at this Appalachian quilt collection.

Step 2: Learn about Shepherd’s Writer-in-Residence Program.

What is a Writer-in-Residence?  Check out the Shepherd University Writer-in-Residence website to see what the program is about and who our past writers have been.  Be sure to take a look at the schedule and activities that have been planned around Trigiani’s visit, and make plans to attend one or more.  Print off or bookmark the schedule page so that you don’t miss this opportunity!  Also, learn more about the West Virginia Fiction Competition that is linked to the Writer-in-Residence program.  You may be interested in entering the competition next year. 

Step 3:  Who is Adriana Trigiani ?

Who is Adriana Trigiani?  Read about her and her rich background.  You may also want to peruse her personal website which includes a biography, family history, photos, recipes, and much more! 

Locate her birthplace (and the inspiration for Queens of the Big Time) of Roseto, Pennsylvania.  Here you will read a brief history of Roseto. Roseto, Pennsylvania, is a sister-city to Roseto Valfortore in Italy.  

You’ll also want to explore Big Stone Gap, Virginia.  Trigiani grew up here, and several of her works are set in this part of western Virginia.   For critical insights about Tirgiani’s artistic life and works, see “The Voice of the ‘Ferriner”: the Fiction and Film of Adriana Trigiani.”

Step 4:  Set the stage for reading Trigiani’s works. 

The Big Stone Gap Books

Review this site, a favorite of Trigiani’s regarding mountain-top removal.  Appalachian voices also has extensive information and several links regarding this important issue.  What does this site tell you about the Big Stone Gap books?    

You may also want to peruse this site about Bergamo, Italy, which plays an important role in the novels.  Also, take a look at this slideshow.   In many of the books, you’ll read about trips and references to this area of Italy. 

 

The Queen of the Big Time

In addition to studying the Roseto site in “step 3” above, you may want to survey the following before reading.  Explore this site to learn about women of the 1920’s.  Read Eleanor Roosevelt’s essay Women Must Learn to Play the Game as Men Do” in order to get an understanding of women’s status in the 1920s.

Lucia, Lucia and Rococo

As you prepare to read Lucia, Lucia, start with this overview.  Next, review this information about the Garment District in New York City.  You may find it useful to scan this excerpt from “Ready to Wear Boom,” which explains the garment and fashion cultures of the 1950s and 1960s. 

You may also find that this article from Publisher’s Weekly offers you more information about Trigiani’s Italian American novels.

 Step 5:  Looking for additional resources and information to help you understand Trigiani’s fiction?

Here is the link to the Trigiani’s AHWIR website; click on other teaching tools, the Interview with Trigiani, and the Literary Essay on her writing and scholarship.  What do you learn about Trigiani’s themes, narrative style, and writing process by looking at these resources?