“Rags To Riches” – from Wikipedia.org – 2/26/09
Rags to riches refers to any situation in which a person rises from poverty to wealth, or sometimes from obscurity to fame. This is a common theme in literature and popular culture.
These stories give the poor hope that they can rise to fame and wealth. They are most popular in societies such as the United States, where confidence in the ability to move between social classes is an important part of the national identity, of which lays the foundation of the "American Dream".
The American Dream is the freedom that allows all citizens and most residents[1] of the United States to pursue their goals in life through hard work and free choice.
The phrase's meaning has evolved over the course of American history. The Founding Fathers used the phrase, "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." it began as the opportunity to achieve greater material prosperity than was possible in their countries of origin. For others it is the opportunity for their children to grow up and receive an education and its consequent career opportunities. It is the opportunity to make individual choices without the restrictions of class, caste, religion, race, or ethnic group.
Many stories feature a "rags to riches" theme.
Classical times
· Fairy tales, such as Cinderella and Aladdin
· Religious figures, such as Moses, Joseph and Muhammad
· The Arthurian story of Sir Gareth, who rises from a lowly kitchen boy to a prominent Knight of the Round Table.
Modern times
· Movies, such as Rocky, Citizen Kane, Scarface, The Pursuit of Happyness, Charlie Chaplin in The Gold Rush, and Slumdog Millionaire
· Video games, such as Rags to Riches, a 1985 computer game released for the Commodore 64
· Game shows like The Price is Right, Queen for a Day, and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
· Reality television shows such as American Idol, Joe Millionaire, and The Apprentice.
· Rags to Riches (TV series)
· Rags to Riches (song), from 1953, by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross, popularized by Tony Bennett
· Rags to Riches (novel) a 1981 romance novel by Joanne Kaye (Rachel Cosgrove Payes)
Notable people
These are some people who have personally experienced a rags-to-riches life story.
· Sheldon Adelson
· Florence Ballard
· Travis Barker
· Fantasia Barrino
· Halle Berry
· James J. Braddock
· Mariah Carey
· Shawn Carter
· Jackie Chan
· Li Cunxin
· Eminem
· Gordon Ramsay
· Sir Alan Sugar
· Erin Brockovich
· Andrew Carnegie
· Jim Carrey
· Brian Piccolo
· Ray Charles
· Bill Clinton
· Tom Cruise
· Cher
· Celine Dion
· Larry Ellison
· Benjamin Franklin
· Chris Gardner
· Whoopi Goldberg
· Napoleon Hill
· John Ilhan
· Curtis Jackson
· Li Ka-shing
· Chad Kroeger
· Jewel
· Ralph Lauren
· John D. MacArthur
· Eddie McGuire
· Marilyn Monroe
· Liz Murray
· Sidney Myer
· Lakshmi Mittal
· Ozzy Osbourne
· Eva Peron
· Tyler Perry
· Elvis Presley
· Sidney Poitier
· John D. Rockefeller, Sr.
· J.K. Rowling
· Mark Wahlberg
· Madam C.J. Walker
· Oprah Winfrey
· Theo Paphitis
*Please circle the examples of the simple past tense below, ignore unknown vocabulary
Benjamin Franklin (January 17, 1706 [O.S. January 6, 1705] – April 17, 1790) was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America. A noted polymath (a person who’s knowledge is not restricted to one subject area), Franklin was a leading author and printer, satirist, political theorist, politician, scientist, inventor, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat. As a scientist, he was a major figure in the Enlightenment and the history of physics for his discoveries and theories regarding electricity. He invented the lightning rod, bifocals, the Franklin stove, a carriage odometer, and the glass 'armonica'. He formed both the first public lending library in America and first fire department in Pennsylvania. He was an early proponent of colonial unity and as a political writer and activist he supported the idea of an American nation[1] and as a diplomat during the American Revolution, he secured the French alliance that helped to make independence possible.
John Davison Rockefeller (July 8, 1839 – May 23, 1937) was an American industrialist and philanthropist. Rockefeller revolutionized the petroleum industry and defined the structure of modern philanthropy. In 1870, he founded the Standard Oil Company and ran it until he officially retired in 1897.