Langston Hughes’ poems “50-50” and “I, Too” develops a connection when it comes to the theme of isolation. In Hughes’,“50-50”, the woman describes how she feel that does not have support and is feeling detached from others. The woman explains to herself how she is, “all alone in this world, she said, /Ain’t got nobody to share my bed, /Ain’t got nobody to hold my hand” (1-3).The words “share my bed” (2) and “hold my hand” (3) suggest that the woman lacks fulfillment and moral support. In Hughes’, “I, Too”, the narrator explains how he is segregated from other people. The narrator explains that, “I, too, sing America./I am the darker brother./They send me to eat in the kitchen/When company comes” (1-4). The words “I, too, sing America” describe …show more content…
how he longs to be noticed as an equal, because of how segregated he feels. Hughes creates the narrators to feel a similar feeling of feel alone without a voice to be heard. Langston Hughes’ poems “50-50” and “I, Too” can also differ in themes when it comes to the resolution of the poems problems. In Hughes’, “50-50”, the woman has met a man named “Big Boy” talk to her and they resolve by him wanting for her to share her materials; instead of emotions to lose the feeling of isolation. Big Boy tells her that in order to fill that void, “Share your bed/ And your money, too” (13-14). The woman sharing her “bed” and “money” describes that her situation is not free. She has to do some materialistic sacrifices in order to have happiness. In Hughes’, “I, Too”, the narrator expresses how he will to resolve his problems with faith and spirit. The narrator explains how they will see “how beautiful I am/ And be ashamed/ I, too, am America” (16-18). When the narrator says “am America”, he’s explaining how he expresses confidence in himself that he is fill the void and be equal. Later, after the the Harlem Renaissance, Hughes publishes ¨Harlem¨.
Hughes In Langston Hughes’ poem, “Harlem”, the speaker asks, “What happens to a dream deferred?”(1) The speaker then gives several responses: “Does it dry up\ like a raisin in the sun\ Or fester like a sore” (2-4) in order to give examples that relates to the dreams drying up and dying off after a while. The speaker mentions if the dream “then run?”(5) The word The speaker also question,“Does it stink like rotten meat?”(6), to ask the readers if the dream sits out for too long and rots overtime. The Speaker then says “Or crust and sugar over\ like a syrupy sweet” (7-8), which suggests that the dreams are too good to be true. In the end, the Speaker questions if the dreams “explode” (11), which could mean two things. Are the dreams dangerous, or do dreams blow up to be more than you want them to …show more content…
be? “Harlem” is a poem in which Langston Hughes gives the readers many questions of what happens after dreams are rejected through the Speaker’s use of similes and question. Hughes starts off by asking the readers “what happens when dreams are deferred” (1)? The question sets the reader’s attention to want to give off answers. Hughes then uses the similes of drying up to asks the readers if the dreams dry up and becomes old. Hughes is also implying that once the dream dries up, it fades away and becomes a forgotten dream. Next, Hughes uses personification in the poem in order to describe the dream being deferred. Hughes mentions the dream running. When Hughes mentions how the dream is running, he is describing the rejection of the dream as if it is a painful sore infecting the soul. Finally, Hughes uses a hyperbole in order to surprise and shock the reader. The Speaker concludes the poem by asking, “Or does it Explode!”(11) The word, “explode!” (11), could mean does this dream blows up, and causes destruction. Hughes’ poem “Harlem”: Deferred dreams can leave a person in questioning of if the dream was ever important to others. After learning about Langston Hughes, I would describe Hughes is also a person who is for the people.
Hughes is an impactful poet who cares about African American voices being heard. The Harlem Renaissance, and a fight to keep equal rights for African Americans is an influence to his creative poems are. One of the most compelling aspects of Hughes’s poetry is his form of his poems. Hughes’ poems I read use free verse structures. In my opinion, I think Hughes uses this form in order to stick out from other African American poets in the Harlem Renaissance. Another compelling aspect of Hughes’ poetry is his choice of storylines to the poems to fit a specific moral. In “The Weary Blues”, Hughes uses a female character to express how lonely she is until she meets a man who tells her what she has to do in order to not be lonely anymore; which is to give up half of what she already has to him. In my opinion, the female is the African American who wants to know how to become accepted in America, and the man is the White American telling her how to get accepted in American without being discriminated. In the end of the poem, Hughes As a reader of Hughes’ poems, I have learned that a reader has to learn about his complete life story, find the significance, and search for deeper meanings of the poem in is order to analyze his poems. If a person is writing an essay about Langston Hughes, they also have to use references to figure out what some words meant, and what the early 1900's
dialect meant to get a better idea of what Hughes was saying.
The Negro Speaks of Rivers and Mother to Son, explained the importance of the woman, light and darkness and strength in the African-American community. Hughes made a very clear and concise statement in focusing on women and the power they hold, light and darkness, and strength. Did his poems properly display the feelings of African-American’s in that time period? It is apparent that Hughes felt a sense of pride in his culture and what they had to endure. After all “Life ain’t been no crystal stair!”(Norton, Line 2, 2028)
A common theme shared by "Dreams" and "A Dream Deferred" is that you should keep on working to fulfill your dreams because if you don't, you will never achieve them and your life will be miserable. Hughes uses imagery and figures of speech to showcase and develop this theme throughout the two poems. In "Dreams," Hughes writes,"Hold..." This decisive use if a metaphor illustrates how life would be much more difficult and sad if we gave up on our dreams. In "A Dream Deferred," Hughes writes,"Does...?"
A poem by E.E. Cummings and Langston Hughes appeared to share some similarities. The poems are “i sing of Olaf glad and big” and “I, Too” and both are closely related to Walt Whitman’s, Song of Myself. Whitman wrote a long poem celebrating himself. Cummings writes about how war is considered good, but Olaf feels very opinionated about the topic. Cummings express his opinions through this character, "i sing of Olaf glad and big/ whose warmest heart recoiled at war"(1-2). Cummings informs the reader that Olaf recoils at the topic of war which indicates that Cummings too dislikes war. Hughes poem expresses his thoughts about the topic of racism. In the poem hughes says, “I, too, sing America”(1), which goes along with the title of Cummings poem. Both authors talked about touchy subjects around their time period. I think both brought back the whole idea of Whitman’s “Song of myself” of being out of society’s norms of keeping opinions to oneself.
“Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is broken winged bird that cannot fly.” -Langston Hughes The struggle in America that African Americans face throughout America’s history is a saddening story where it can apply to any type of people facing the same problems of inequality. The poem I, too and Mother to Son are both similar with the message that it represents but different in the way the message is said. Mother to Son highlights the struggles that Americans who are poverty stricken may face.
To begin, these two poems discuss racism in the United States of America towards African Americans. Both poems were written during two completely different eras. One being from 1926 while the other dates from 2014. These two poems have been written almost 100 years apart, yet this subject is still as relevant today as it was in 1926. When Langston Hughes wrote “I, Too,” in 1926, I don’t think that he would’ve ever expected that a century
When reading the literature of Langston Hughes, I cant help but feeling energetically charged and inspired. Equality, freedom, empowerment, renaissance, justice and perseverance, are just a taste of the subject matter Hughes offers. He amplifies his voice and beliefs through his works which are firmly rooted in race pride and race feeling. Hughes committed himself both to writing and to writing mainly about African Americans. His early love for the “wonderful world of books” was sparked by loneliness and parental neglect. He would soon lose himself in the works of Walt Whitman, Paul Laurence, Carl Sandburg and other literary greats which would lead to enhancing his ever so growing style and grace of oeuvre. Such talent, character, and willpower could only come from one’s life experiences. Hughes had allot to owe to influences such as his grandmother and great uncle John Mercer Langston - a famous African American abolitionist. These influential individuals helped mold Hughes, and their affect shines brightly through his literary works of art.
“Poetry is the rhythmical creation of beauty in words.” –Edgar Allan Poe. Poetry is one of the world’s greatest wonders. It is a way to tell a story, raise awareness of a social or political issue, an expression of emotions, an outlet, and last but not least it is an art. Famous poet Langston Hughes uses his poetry as a musical art form to raise awareness of social injustices towards African-Americans during the time of the Harlem Renaissance. Although many poets share similarities with one another, Hughes creatively crafted his poetry in a way that was only unique to him during the 1920’s. He implemented different techniques and styles in his poetry that not only helped him excel during the 1920’s, but has also kept him relative in modern times. Famous poems of his such as a “Dream Deferred,” and “I, Too, Sing America” are still being studied and discussed today. Due to the cultural and historical events occurring during the 1920’s Langston Hughes was able to implement unique writing characteristics such as such as irregular use of form, cultural and historical referenced themes and musical influences such as Jazz and the blues that is demonstrative of his writing style. Langston Hughes use of distinct characteristics such as irregular use of form, cultural and historical referenced themes and musical influences such as Jazz and the blues helped highlight the plights of African-Americans during the Harlem Renaissance Era.
Looking at the historical context of each poem shows that the political movements of the time had a large effect on Hughes’s two poems. The timeline between the two poems is an interesting one to analyze. “I, Too” was written in nineteen twenty-six and “Theme for English B” was written in nineteen fifty-one (Rampersad). Many events relating to the civil rights movement happened during the years between the two poems. The nineteen twenties were filled with racism, intolerance, and
The writing of Langston Hughes in “I too” is significantly dependant on his point of view. The actions that occur in the poem are as realistic as they can get because Langston Hughes is speaking from the heart. He passed through the Harlem Renaissance and faced constant struggles with racism. Because of that, his writing seems to manifest a greater meaning. He is part of the African-American race that is expressed in his writing. He writes about how he is currently oppressed, but this does not diminish his hope and will to become the equal man. Because he speaks from the point of view of an oppressed African-American the poem’s struggles and future changes seem to be of greater importance than they ordinarily would.
In today’s modern view, poetry has become more than just paragraphs that rhyme at the end of each sentence. If the reader has an open mind and the ability to read in between the lines, they discover more than they have bargained for. Some poems might have stories of suffering or abuse, while others contain happy times and great joy. Regardless of what the poems contains, all poems display an expression. That very moment when the writer begins his mental journey with that pen and paper is where all feelings are let out. As poetry is continues to be written, the reader begins to see patterns within each poem. On the other hand, poems have nothing at all in common with one another. A good example of this is in two poems by a famous writer by the name of Langston Hughes. A well-known writer that still gets credit today for pomes like “ Theme for English B” and “Let American be American Again.”
The contradiction of being both black and American was a great one for Hughes. Although this disparity was troublesome, his situation as such granted him an almost begged status; due to his place as a “black American” poet, his work was all the more accessible. Hughes’ black experience was sensationalized. Using his “black experience” as a façade, however, Hughes was able to obscure his own torments and insecurities regarding his ambiguous sexuality, his parents and their relationship, and his status as a public figure.
Langston Hughes was a large influence on the African-American population of America. Some of the ways he did this was how his poetry influenced Martin Luther King Jr. and the Harlem Renaissance. These caused the civil rights movement that resulted in African-Americans getting the rights that they deserved in the United States. Hughes was born in 1902 in Joplin, Missouri. His parents divorced when he was young and his grandmother raised him. She got him into literature and education; she was one of the most important influences on him. He moved around a lot when he was young, due to his parents divorce, but remained a good student and graduated high school. After this he traveled the world and worked in different places, all the things he saw in his travels influenced him. In 1924 he settled down in Harlem where he became one of the important figures in the Harlem Renaissance. He enjoyed listening to blues and jazz in clubs while he wrote his poetry. The music that he enjoyed greatly influenced the style and rhythm of his poetry. The poem “Dream Variations” by Hughes is about an average African-American who dreams of a world where African-Americans are not looked at or treated differently and they can rest peacefully. Yet in real life this was not so, black people and white people were not equal. And the world was not as forgiving and nice as in their dream. This poem is a good example of Hughes writing because it is typical of three things. The first is the common theme of the average life of an African-American and their struggles. Secondly, the style of his writing which is based on the rhythm of jazz and blues- he uses a lot of imagery and similes. Lastly, his influences which are his lonely childhood and growing up as an Afric...
Langston Hughes was probably the most well-known literary force during the Harlem Renaissance. He was one of the first known black artists to stress a need for his contemporaries to embrace the black jazz culture of the 1920s, as well as the cultural roots in Africa and not-so-distant memory of enslavement in the United States. In formal aspects, Hughes was innovative in that other writers of the Harlem Renaissance stuck with existing literary conventions, while Hughes wrote several poems and stories inspired by the improvised, oral traditions of black culture (Baym, 2221). Proud of his cultural identity, but saddened and angry about racial injustice, the content of much of Hughes’ work is filled with conflict between simply doing as one is told as a black member of society and standing up for injustice and being proud of one’s identity. This relates to a common theme in many of Hughes’ poems: that dignity is something that has to be fought for by those who are held back by segregation, poverty, and racial bigotry.
Langston Hughes was deemed the "Poet Laureate of the Negro Race," a fitting title which the man who fueled the Harlem Renaissance deserved. But what if looking at Hughes within the narrow confines of the perspective that he was a "black poet" does not fully give him credit or fully explain his works? What if one actually stereotypes Hughes and his works by these over-general definitions that cause readers to look at his poetry expecting to see "blackness?" Any person's unique experiences in life and the sense of personal identity this forms most definitely affects the way he or she views the world. This molded view of the world can, in turn, be communicated by the person through artistic expression. Taking this logic into account, to more fully comprehend the message and force of Hughes' poetry one must look, not just to his work, but also at the experiences in his life that constructed his ideas about society and his own identity. In looking at Hughes' biography, one studies his struggle to form a self-identity that reflected both his African American and mainstream white cultural influence; consequently, this mixing of black and white identity that occurred throughout Hughes' life is reflected in his poem "The Weary Blues."
“Harlem” by Langston Hughes is a poem that talks about what happens when we postpones our dreams. The poem is made up of a series of similes and it ends with a metaphor. The objective of the poem is to get us to think about what happens to a dream that is put off, postponed; what happens when we create our very own shelve of dreams? The “dream” refers to a goal in life, not the dreams we have while sleeping, but our deepest desires. There are many ways to understand this poem; it varies from person to person. Some may see this poem as talking about just dreams in general. Others may see it as African-American’s dreams.