P2+Mesha+G+and+Janene+F

 **__Elysian Fie__****__lds (Greek Mythology)__ //Janene Files// ** In Greek Mythology it says it is a place where only the specially favored people of the Gods could only enter Elysium. The Elysian Fields, or the Elysian Plains, were said to be the final resting place of the souls of people that died a heroic or virtuous death. According to Aaron Atsma, "It is a place where they can live on as heros as they were before" (Island of the Blessed). Early authors such as, Hesiod of the Isles of the Blessed, have said, "people go there after death, were they are then made immortal" (Island of the Blessed). It is said to be a paradise for the dead. But only those who lived a righteous life were able to enter. It is said to be located in the depths of Haides beyond the river lethe. there are many different interpretations such as Homer, he knows of no such realm such as this one, and consigns all of his heros to the common house of Haides. While Hesiod and very many other poets know only of a paradise realm that is reserved specifically for the heros.

Atsma, Aaron. Elysium, "Island of the Blessed." Realm Elysion. Theoi Project, 2000-2008. Web January 2010. 

__**Tennessee Williams**__ //Janene Files//

Tennessee Williams was born March 26, 1911 and died February 25, 1983 . His birthname was Thomas Lanier Williams. Once he was older and moved to New Orleans in 1939, "he changed his name to 'Tennessee' the state of his fathers birth" (Thomson Gale). Tennessee Williams was an American playwriter who has won many awards in his time for his works of drama. "He won the Pulizer Prize for Drama for __//A streetcar Named Desire//__ in 1948. According to, "In 1927, Williams got his first taste of literary fame when he got third place in a natioanl essay contest that was sponserd by //The Smart Set// magazine" (Thomson Gale).in 1929, he was attending the University of Missouri where he saw a production of Henrick Iden's //Ghosts// and that was when he finally descided what he wanted to do with his life, and that was to become a playwright. during the time he was receiving his degree it was interrupted by his father. his father forced him to withdraw from the university and work at the International Show Company. when he was working there he met this young man named Stanley Kowalski who he later has him as a character in //A Streetcar Named Desire//. "Eventually he returned to his schooling. and in 1937, he had two of his very own plays one called, (//Candles to the Sun// and //The Fugitive Kind//) these two plays were produced by Mummers of St. Louis, and in 1938, he graduated from the University of Iowa. and when he couldn't find work in Chicago, he moved to New Orleans" (Thomson Gale). A little about him when he was a child, he was born in Columbus, Mississippi, in his maternal grandfather, a local priest. most of his writing comes from his childhood memories and how his life was 'problematic'. His father favored his younger brother Dakin more and he was a hard drinker as well. his mother was a borderline hysteric. Tennessee had a sister names Rose, she had a bad case of schizophrenia, and was institutionalized for the rest of her life. Rose's parents authorized a prefrontal lobotomy, it is a drastic treatment, but thought to help patients that suffer from extreme agitation. the surgery was taken place 1937. the operation incapacitated Rose for the rest of her life. Tennessee never forgave his parents for having her get the surgery. it is said that this was a contributing factor to Tennessee's alcoholism. and his dependence on various combinations of amphetamines and barbiturates. Tennessee's died from chocking on an eyedrop bottle cap in his room at the Elysee Hotel in NY. He always would place the cap in his mouth, lean back, and place his eyedrope in each eye while keeping the cap in his mouth. "The police report suggested that he had drugs in his system and alcohol which contributed to his death. they say they might have diminished his gag response by the effects of the drugs and alcohol combined" (Thomson Gale).

Thomson Gale. "Tennessee Williams." Encyclopedia of World Biography. Thomson Corporation, 2005-2006. Web January 8, 2010 Tennessee Williams from //Encyclopedia of World Biography//. ©2005-2006 Thomson Gale, a part of the Thomson Corporation. All rights reserved.

__**Napoleonic Code**__ //By: Mesha Goodheart//

The Napoleonic Code was introduced on March 21, 1804. The Napoleonic Code was French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte’s new framework for France. According to Napoleon Bonaparte, emperor of France, “the French civil code gave France its first coherent set of laws concerning property, colonial affairs, the family, and individual rights”(//Code Approved in France// ). All male citizens were granted equal rights under the law. According to Jimmy Wales, founder of wikipedia, “th e Napoleonic Code was one of the few documents which have influenced the whole world”( //Napoleonic Code// ). The documents lead to other countries adopting their ideas and making it into law. The Code was based on earlier French laws as well as Roman laws to divide civil law. The Code lead to considerable debate within France’s legislative individuals.

"Napoleonic Code approved in France".History Made Every Day.A&E,1996-2010.Web.6 January 2010.

Wales, Jimmy."Napoleonic Code".Wikipedia.Wikipedia Foundation Inc, 15 December 2009.Web.6 January 2010.

//By: Mesha Goodheart// The Varsouviana Polka is a country-dance that is combined with elements of waltz, mazurka, and polka. Jazz and swing music were crucial to the era. According to Annette Davison, a performing arts coordinator,"the Varsouviana Polka was a dance that orginated in France in the mid-nineteenth century and traveled to America soon after"(//A street Car//). It is described to be a variation of the mazurka and elements of the waltz. This tiem and era is when people would go to smokey lounges and cocktail bars. At these eventsw they would be engulfed in dance music(Varsouviana Polka) and the slow sounds of the trumpets and trombones. It was a popular dance back in the day that people would go to. The Varsouviana Polka is a dance that will never be forgotten since it originated from France and now traveled to the United States.
 * __Varsouviana Polka__**

Works Cited: Davison, Annette."A Street Car".a film guide.Rowman and Littlefield,2008.Web.6 January 2010.

By: Mesha Goodheart
 * __Tragedy__**



Tragedy is one's downfall or serious drama that shows conflict between two people. There is classical, romantic, today's, and tragic comedy. Classical tragedy shows a tragic hero of superiority falling due to an error of judgement. Romantic tragedy is excess of love or passion which takes a downfall. Today's Tragedy portrays victims of social, hereditary, and environmental forces. Tragic Comedy is mot likely to end in disaster it is sarcastic. There is always tragedy's in books along with plays that can end in a disaster or a way to fix their problems. Tragedy is what keeps a reader interested and pondering what is going to happen next and hoping that it would end in a happy way.

//Randi Gardner// ** Belle Reve means “beautiful dream” in French, but it is more than a phrase, it is a place of hope. Belle Reve is a housing service for people with “HIV/AIDS-related infections” (Belle Reve New Orleans). It was founded in 1993, so it is fairly young. This facility is the first of it’s kind in Louisiana. The point is to make the patients feel completely comfortable, and give them hope. There is no discrimination presented at the facility, none at all, so ethnicity, race, sex and sexual orientation are completely disregaurded. According to Belle Reve New Orleans, Belle Reve offers 24-hour personal care as well as three meals per day (Belle Reve New Orleans). Much effort is put into the patients occupying the house to ensure they are comfortable.
 * __Belle Reve__

"Belle Reve New Orleans." AT&T. Web. 07 Jan. 2010

//Randi Gardner//
 * __New Orleans 1940-1950__**

New Orleans, Louisiana is a very important piece to understanding the background of __A Street Car__ __Named Desire__. Many major events occurred between the 1940's and 1950's in New Orleans that shaped the attitude of the city. During the early 1940's New Orleans was occupied by 494,537 people and by the end of the 1950's New Orleans was the home to 570,445. This time period was vital for the formation of the Civil Rights movement, which didn't actually occur until 1965. DeLesseps "Chep" Morrison was elected as mayor of New Orleans in 1946 and was said to have betrayed the black community of New Orleans. He played a big role when it came to race and discrimination because during his term the government integrated blacks into white schools. Morrison did not agree nor disagree with the decision he sort of sat on the fence, which caused him to lose the respect of many blacks. "New Orleans History." //Tureaud and more Tureaud//. Web. 08 Jan. 2010.