1. Camille Roberts 2. Mr. Anthony

3. 1st hour English IV

4. 17 November 20—

5. A Powerful Poet

6. Paul Laurence Dunbar was a famous American poet and novelist. 8. Dunbar was one of the first African American writers to gain national attention, and his works were greatly influenced by his African American heritage. 9. Dunbar was born in 1872 in Dayton, Ohio. 10. His parents were freed slaves and his father fought during the Civil War. 11. Dunbar's mother shared with him her love of poetry. When Dunbar was a boy, his mother read lines of poetry to him (Slurry 97). 12. Soon, began to recite the lines and write short poems.

13. During his formative years, Dunbar attended a school in Ohio that was populated mostly by white students. 14. Because Dunbar excelled at writing in school, and because he helped edit his school newspaper. 15. He and his classmate Orville Wright—who would later go on to invent the airplane with his brother Wilbur—published a daily newspaper together for a very brief time (110 Slurry).

16. After high school, Dunbar did not have the opportunity to attend college, he worked as an elevator attendant. 17. Because Dunbar's job was monotonous, thinking of concepts for his poetry. 18. In 1893 Dunbar published a poetry collection titled Oak and Ivy (Zane 219). 19. To spread his work, Dunbar distributed a number of copies of his collection. 20. Soon, people began to take notice of Dunbar's eloquent work.

21. Although Dunbar's first collection was mildly successful, he experienced financial difficulties and had to go back to work as an elevator attendant (Wong). 22. Dunbar did not despair and he continued to write doggedly. 23. In 1895 he printed a second collection of poetry titled Majors and Minors. 24. When Dunbar published his book and when it became a successful piece of literature. 25. Dunbar incorporated a number of different types of poems in this collection. 26. Including some that featured a distinct African American dialect. 27. Dunbar included this dialect to honor his heritage and he included it to explore African Americans' lives. 28. In the years to come, Dunbar would become famous for poems that used this dialect (American Writers Almanac). 29. In America during the late 1800s and early 1900s, many intolerant people. 30. Dunbar tried to show the plight of African Americans; however, he also tried to celebrate African Americans' rich heritage.

31. In 1986, Dunbar received a favorable review in the magazine Harper's Weekly (Wong). Print. 32. Almost instantly becoming one of the most famous writers in the country. 33. Dunbar continued to write he traveled to Europe, too. 34. Dunbar married Alice Moore in 1898; however, soon separated in 1901. 35. When he was only thirty years old, contracted an illness called tuberculosis. 36. Dunbar fought the illness for almost three years. 37. During this time, he also wrote another book called Heart of Happy Hollow. 38. This book was not as successful as his other works. 39. Dunbar died of tuberculosis in 1906; he was only thirty-three years old (Zane 260).

40. By the end of his life, Dunbar had authored twenty-two books. 41. Although Dunbar was most famous for his poetry, he also wrote novels, song lyrics, and essays. 42. Today, because Dunbar's poems are still being read and enjoyed. 43. Paul Laurence Dunbar leaves behind an important legacy many young authors look to Dunbar and his work for inspiration.

Works Cited

44. "Books that I Used"

45. Bing, Eliza. "Dunbar, Paul Laurence." American Writer’s Almanac, edited by Patrice Lansing, Gregory Publishing, 1999.

46. Slurry, Markus. "Early Life." San Francisco, CA: Quality Books, 2001. The Life of Paul Laurence Dunbar. 87-126.

47. Encyclopedia of American Writers. 2002 ed. Wong, Samantha. "Dunbar, Paul Laurence."

48. Zane, Francis. Famous African American Writers. Reinhart and Weston, 2005.

Decide if these are correct

Dunbar's mother shared with him her love of poetry. When Dunbar was a boy, his mother read lines of poetry to him (Slurry 97). Y or N

He and his classmate Orville Wright—who would later go on to invent the airplane with his brother Wilbur—published a daily newspaper together for a very brief time (110 Slurry). Y or N

In 1893 Dunbar published a poetry collection titled Oak and Ivy (Zane 219). Y or N

Although Dunbar's first collection was mildly successful, he experienced financial difficulties and had to go back to work as an elevator attendant (Wong). Y or N

In the years to come, Dunbar would become famous for poems that used this dialect (American Writers Almanac). Y or N

Dunbar died of tuberculosis in 1906; he was only thirty-three years old (Zane 260). Y or N

"Books that I Used" Y or N

Bing, Eliza. "Dunbar, Paul Laurence." American Writer’s Almanac, edited by Patrice Lansing, Gregory Publishing, 1999. Y or N

Encyclopedia of American Writers. 2002 ed. Wong, Samantha. "Dunbar, Paul Laurence." Y or N

Zane, Francis. Famous African American Writers. Reinhart and Weston, 2005. Y or N