Poem Analysis : Langston Hughes ' Poem

The two poems by Langston Hughes “Theme for English B” and “ I, Too” both identify racism that permeates all stations of life. In both texts, Hughes represents the two speakers as African Americans and identifies how one tries to elevate himself through education and the other individual remains trapped at a lower station. In the poem “Theme for English B” skin colour and all that it represents emerges when the speaker searches for his identity as well as what is the truth about his abilities. The speaker expresses his view in how he deals with his white counterparts (the instructor). “I, Too” centers on the idea of racial oppression, looking at how whites do not recognize blacks as equals and how this affects the individual. Yet the texts attempt to show the basic human similarities between African Americans and white people despite their perceived differences and societal segregation. The two speakers within the poems struggle with their own self-worth in relation to their colour. The similarity between the two speakers is that they approach their issues confident in their capabilities and futures. The two speakers differ in that they appear to have different stations in life; servitude versus achieving higher education, yet both struggle with self-worth.

Langston Hughes clearly connects with a wide range of audiences through the simplicity that surrounds his poetry. The beauty of this manner in which he wrote his poetry, is that it grasp people by illustrating his narratives of the common lifestyles experienced by the current American generation. His art form expresses certain questionable ideologies of life and exposes to the audience what it takes to fully comprehend what being an American truly means. Each individual poem describes and illustrates the strength and hardships the African American community was experiencing. Through his literature art form of poetry, Hughes was able to convey the common assertions of

A huddle of horns And a tinkle of glass A note Handed down from Marcus to Malcolm To a brother Too bad and too cool to give his name. Sometimes despair Makes the stoops shudder Sometimes there are endless depths of pain Singing a capella on street corners

He explains, “I was only an American Negro—who had loved the surface of Africa—but I was not Africa. I was Chicago and Kansas City and Broadway and Harlem. I was not what she wanted me to be” (Hughes as quoted in Cobb 44). Hughes wants to make sure people are aware that the life and culture of African Americans differ drastically from the romantic view of the Negro in Africa. In his poem “Mother to Son,” Hughes provides the story of struggle, poverty overcame by hard work, and hope for a more dignified life for the entire African American people (Niemi 1). Hughes recognizes that despite being oppressed, the black community is strong enough to empower itself with determination to succeed. When discussing working-class life, Hughes consistently “asserts blacks as fully complex, fully human, and equals in the American democratic experiment” and does not play into the thought that blacks should be kept down (Sanders 107). Langston Hughes’ “concern for the lives and oppression of poor and working-class blacks” is apparent in most of his work (Sanders 107). Through his writing he makes the population aware of the deep-set oppression put upon the black community.

The metaphor in this poem conjoins life, and a staircase, "Well, son, I'll tell you:/ life for me ain't been no crystal stair." The mother says to her son, that

The speaker’s message to readers in “Mother to Son” is that life can be difficult, but you have to keep trying despite these difficulties. I believe this message is directed towards people who are experiencing hardships and poverty, because the speaker is directing her conversation to her “son,” who does not have a life that is like “crystal stairs” (line 2). The crystal stairs in the poem represents a wealthy and easy life, as wealthy people have not probably had the same difficulties in life. Her message of not giving up is evident throughout the poem as she demands her son to not give up. She says, “So boy, don't you turn back, don't you set down on the steps, cause you finds it’s kinder hard” (lines 14-16). As readers, we know the message for us is that you can’t give up, even though you will face challenges—just like you have to keep going on a “staircase” even though the staircase has many obstacles on it. She clearly believes that we need to be fighters in our lives, as life will often be difficult. More importantly, I believe this message was also meant towards African Americans in the early 1900’s (when Langston Hughes was writing poetry), to remind them to never give up on fighting for equal rights, even though it is

In the poem Mother to Son, Hughes tells the tale of a mother speaking to her son about life and the hardships that one must face to make it in the world. Hughes uses extended metaphor to

Hughes’ poem incorporates multiple different metaphors to ensure that the reader understands the overall message of the poem. In Langston Hughes, “Mother to Son” he writes, “Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair”(2). The author used the extended metaphor of a crystal staircase to represent the struggles in life and that life is full of hardships. A crystal staircase would represent a rich and flawless life whereas the character in the poem had a harsh and difficult life. Stairs can be torn up, contain loose tacks and give people splinters, but you have to find a way around the default’s of the stairs to get to the top. In terms of the poem, life can be full of obstacles, but you have to work around the obstacles to be successful and reach your goal. This

Langston Hughes’s poem I, Too published in 1926 speaks at great length about the American identity: to be an American is an issue that transcends race, and all Americans should be treated equally. Writing from the perspective of an initially subservient African American, Hughes presents a story that begins in oppression and ends in triumph. A throwback to the prior institution of slavery, the setting of I, Too is confined to a single slave owner 's house; yet, it paints an image of struggle, growth and unity like none other of its time.

Hughes' poem "Mother to Son" uses the rhythmic patterns of poetry to convey a lesson that is from a mother to her child, but it is also symbolic of a message that is related from an experienced individual and then passed down to someone who is potentially more na誰ve about the ways of the world. In the poem, the narrator speaks from the point of view of a mother talking to her son about the life that she has led. Life has not been easy for her and she has had to struggle throughout her life to acquire the simple lot that she possesses. She uses the imagery of a crystal staircase to

Every parent wants to see his or her child succeed in life. In Langston Hughes’ “Mother to son,” Hughes writes from the point of view of a mother giving advice to sons. She has had a difficult and hard life. In the poem, the mother uses metaphor to compare her life to a staircase. The mother has obviously been through a lot in her life and now she prepares her son by telling him that no matter what he cannot give up.

Mother to Son is a poem that was written by Langston Hughes, and was published in 1922. Throughout this poem, Langston Hughes portrays a mother speaking to her son and the readers to bestow her knowledge, encouragement and wisdom from the life that she lived.

This poem is based on the idea of hope and reassurance to move on in life, regardless of all the challenges that may come your way, or no matter how tough life may become. The mother displays her love for her. The force behind her love is best stated through the idea of never giving up in life period. The mother is constantly giving guidance and encouragement to her beloved son. The mother has been faced with many challenges of life, and she wants her son to be brave and confident in the face of these challenges that may occur and to also succeed in life. The poem gives insight to the mother past experiences. The poems tone can be one that is best described as moralizing, heartening, and hopeful.

“Mother to Son” by Langston Hughes was written in 1922 by Langston Hughes. The poem first appeared in Crisis, the official magazine of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Langston Hughes was born February 1, 1902 in Joplin, Missouri to James Nathaniel and Carrie Mercer Langston Hughes. Hughes mother and father separate shortly after his birth. His father moved to Mexico in pursuit of a better life and his mother moved often from state to state because of financial difficulties. Hughes lived with his grandmother until her death in 1910. He then went to live with family and friends and later settled in Illinois with his mother. Hughes attended Central High School, where he poetry and short stories for the school newspaper. He attended Columbia University for a short period of time before leaving the institution. Hughes continued to practice writing poetry. His work attracted many famous writers such as Vachel Lindsay. Hughes and several other African-American artists and writers started the Harlem Renaissance Movement, “the cultural, artistic, and social movement that took place in Harlem in the 1920’s”( Wormser). “Mother to Son” depicts a mother sharing encouraging words with her son to motivate him not to give up on life as he encounters different hardships. The theme of determination, perseverance and motivation is developed by the use of extended metaphors, free verse and symbols.

In his short free verse poem “Mother to Son,” Langston Hughes writes about how his mother explained to him how life is. Life is hard, but you have to keep on trying and never give up even with all the obstacles. He writes about the hardships and racism they endure during that time.