“I am the man, full of strength and hope”. Walt Whitman and Langston Hughes both wrote poems about america. Both men wrote about achieving the American Dream. They believed that the American Dream should be a opportunity for everyone instead of individual people. Hughes wrote his poem in the 1900s. Whitman wrote his poem in the 1800s. Both poems had a big part in the Civil Rights movement. “I Hear America Singing” writing by Whitman,”Let America be America Again” writing by Hughes where both poems that listed a group of individuals who were looking for a way to secede in the American Dream. Both poems explored the identity of America. They also talked about who and what an american and what makes America so great. The poems talked about the characterizes of the nation and people. They both carry strength throughout their poems. However they reach some differences in their poems. …show more content…
It also is based on celebrating Workers and Jobs. Let America be America Again”, Is a poem of Rhythm. It is based on achieving the American
In Walt Whitman's poem he talks about the American jobs and all the difference tunes they play while in Langston Hughes poem he talks about African Americans and how the future will be different. One may not be able to notice at first but these two poems share a lot of similarities. Both these poems state phrases such as “ I, Too am America”, or “ I hear America” in which both poets answer the question to who or what they think is America. Both poets reach different answers to this question as they explore this topic in their writing. Walt Whitman's poem shows a unified America all working together as one from the mechanic whose singing is blithe and strong to the delicious singing of the mother. In Langston Hughes poem it shows the injustice in not letting African Americans be part of this unified America, so it’s essentially an argument between the two poets as they argue back and
Walt Whitman and Langston Hughes. Two highly renowed poets. One of Whitman's most known poems, "I Hear America Singing", is about living the American life; he explains multiple types of people in his piece of work and how they are all a part of America. Similar to this, Langston Hughes wrote the poem "I, Too, Sing America", and in this, he includes African Americans, suggesting that Whitman left some people out. Also saying, that blacks are proud and just as big of a part of America as anyone else. Along with this, both are similar in the sense that they are about people in America. Aside from this, there are three other ways in which the poems "I, Too, Sing America", and "I Hear America Singing", are similar. Becasue of this, the poems
Born ten years after the death of Walt Whitman, there was no possible way for Langston Hughes to ever meet or communication with Whitman, but that did not mean Hughes could not establish a connection to him, or at least his work. In 1925, Hughes wrote a poem titled “I, Too” was inspired by and directed in response to the poem “I Hear America Singing”, which was composed by Whitman much earlier. Whitman’s poem consisted of a variety of different American laborers who “sing” as they do their jobs. This well-known poem never specifically addresses the ethnicity of these singing laborers of the American population, but Hughes sets about to rectify that omission.
In "A Rasin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry and "Let America Be America Again” by Langston Hughes, we see that each author goes through their own struggles and frustrations in they play and the poem in their own way to accomplish the meaning of the American Dream, but in the end, through the positive and the negative they both find their happiness within in each other unified as a family and as a
Langston Hughes wrote a poem that some believe is in response to a poem Walt Whitman made. Walt Whitman’s poem “I hear America Singing” is basically a description of the people who made up America at the time. The mothers, the carpenters, the masons, the shoemakers, the wood cutters, etc, were all the different types of people that made up what America, said of the poem. With Langston Hughes's poem “I, Too, Sing America”, the poem is making a sort of claim that Hughes’s and blacks alike also have a right to feel patriotic towards and be a part of America. Both poems are pretty similar to what they’re subject is (America), but they are quite different when it comes to what exactly the two poems are mainly focusing on.
Langston Hughes and Claude McKay share similar qualities in their respective poems “I, Too, Sing America” written by Hughes and “America” written by McKay. These poems, though different and unique in style, share common characteristics that make each poem a classic piece of American literature. Hughes and McKay, both African American males, were very notable during the Harlem Renaissance period. Both writers express their views on their individual African Americans perceptions in America in these poems, through their use of diction, tone, theme.
The American dream, America greatest trick to ever be invented into tricking people. Langston Hughes was an African American poet during the Harlem Renaissance of the 20th century. Langston Hughes poem "Let America be America" Again talks about that supposed dream in great detail and what that dream meant. The dream of coming to America and working hard to have land and wealth. Langston Hughes poem "Let America be America Again" explore the ideas of American and the differences between reality and their dreams.
In the poem “Let America Be America”, Langston Hughes focus is on America. He believes that America isn’t the same for everyone, not when it comes to the ‘American Dream’ that everybody is sorting after. In America people aren’t treated the same, with that said everyone in America doesn’t qualify or aren’t privileged for that dream.
Langston Hughes spoke and captivated the general struggles of an African American’s life during the 1900s through his poem, “I, Too.” Hughes’ points out the injustice of bigotry or one’s beliefs in America, and his overall message is saying that an African American’s hard work is just as noteworthy as any other American. In contrast, Walt Whitman, author of “I Hear America Singing,” speaks about the employed citizens of America. He gives honor to those who are living their lives and working to make America a better place. Despite the fact that both poems are similar, they also have a vast amount of differences. Whitman’s poem is perplexed, while Hughes’ is straightforward. These authors’ poems focus on different themes and give the readers different perspectives. These poems are inspiring and demonstrate a new vision for society, however, the themes vary as Whitman focuses on a unified nation, and Hughes demonstrates his writing through an individual.
Andrea Serna Prof. Brill 6 May 2015 Let America be America Again During the Harlem Renaissance there was an enormous emergence of culture and social and political tensions. Along with the growing culture of the 1920’s, Langston Hughes’ poetry was discovered. Throughout the period Hughes was creating poetry many political incidents were occurring which caused Hughes to create “Let America be America Again.” This poem was created with an underlying tone of frustration and hope about the freedom America sells to its citizens.
In this paper I will be talking about the similarities and differences in the two different poems. The two poems were written by two incredible poets and were probably one of the best in their lifetimes. The first poem is written by Walt Whitman and is called “ I Hear America Singing”. The other poem is by Langston Hughes and is called “I, Too, Sing America” .Many people believe that Langston Hughes wrote his poem “I, Too, Sing America” in response to Walt Whitman's poem “ I Hear America Singing”. Some people have a completely opposite opinion and say that the two poems have nothing to with each other. Langston Hughes did many things in his life. Some of them include being an American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and a
In the poem "Let America Be America Again," Langston Hughes paints a vivid word picture of a depressed America in the 1930's. To many living in America, the idealism presented as the American Dream had escaped their grasp. In this poetic expression, a speaker is allowed to voice the unsung Americans' concern of how America was intended to be, had become to them, and could aspire to be again.
America is known to be the country of liberty. The definition of Liberty is simply the reason America was created; it is a place where everyone is treated equal with hopes of achieving their American dream. As a result, many people dream of coming to live in the wonderful country known for its freedom. However, America does not seem to hold that value as it used to. In the poem “Let America Be America Again”, the poet Langston Hughes expresses his disappointment with the country. The poem was written in 1935 where discrimination and inequality still exist. In the poem “Let America Be America Again”, the poet Langston Hughes uses repetition and alliteration in order to show desirement for a better country and disappointment of the country America came to be, and also imagery in order to exemplify the struggles of those who came to live in country they thought was dream.
The voice of one person can send a profound sound into the hearts of people to help liberate one’s mind. That profound sound is seen through poetry. The creative structure and style of poetry creates a different form of writing that can either have rhythm, alliteration or have a direct message. In the poem “I Too Sing America”, by Langston Hughes had a significant message in that he desired to voice his expression on the issue of black oppression in America. Langston basic themes focused on the American Dream and the possibilities of hope and advancement were constantly present in his poetry. The tension between the unrealized dream and the realities of the black experience in
In modern era poetry, poets write about social subjects as opposed to outdated topics. They do not write on the subject of trees, river, cattle, and other natural resources. Their poems are now a reflection of the times, referring to the essence of machines and their effects on the society. Outdated poetry would not be able to exist in today’s busy world if the topics were not updated. Walt Whitman 's "I Hear America Singing” and Langston Hughes ' “Let America Be America Again” attract readers by paying close attention to social advancement. Whitman and Hughes are two modern poets that play an important role by sharing their knowledge on their methods of changing traditional thoughts. Whitman and Hughes ' poems serve as a guideline for society, focusing on social equality, advancement of society, and a new society based on new ideas and a new plan.