Poem Analysis : Tableau And Incident

Throughout the poem Incident by Countee Cullen, the author uses the change of tone to reflect the ideas and purpose of the Harlem Renaissance. Throughout the poem, the tone changes from the young child being thrilled about arriving to a heartbreaking memory. In the poem, cullen writes “Once riding in old Baltimore? Heart-filled, head filled with glee/ I saw a Baltimorean/ Keep looking straight at me/ Now I was eight and very small,/ And he was no whit bigger,” (lines 1-6). In this part of the poem, the child had just recently arrived in Baltimore and is more than excited to be in a different place other than in the plantations. He’s very optimistic about meeting someone whom he thought would be his friend. The tone explains how during the Harlem

The Harlem Renaissance allowed for the expression of many African American artists such as Countee Cullen to illustrate the indifference of blacks and whites through poetry. Cullen wrote Tableau as well as Incident, which share a tone of power. The racial interaction between a black and white boy in the two poems both contradict and have similarities. Developing their separate themes comes with the comparison of the two races and how they treat one another. Countee Cullen uses figurative language and tone to formulate the themes of the two works of literacy.

Figurative language is used effectively, but differently, in each poem. In “Tableau,” vivid metaphors and similes are used to communicate the powerful effects of the friendship between the black boy and the white boy. The way Cullen uses a metaphor to describe the boys’ skin colors as “[t]he golden splendor of the day / [t]he sable pride of night” (Cullen 3-4) tells the reader that although the two are opposites, they are equal and beautiful in their own way. Imagery is used exclusively in “Incident.” Cullen tells the reader that when this scene happens, he was “...eight and very small / [a]nd he [the white boy] was no whit bigger” (Cullen 5-6). This bit of information explains why being called a derogatory name by this boy was especially hurtful; someone Cullen considered an equal crudely made it known that the sentiment wasn’t shared. Countee Cullen’s use of figurative language in “Tableau” and “Incident” effectively convey to the reader the importance of small details in each poem.

    Countee Cullen uses figurative language and tone in both poems to create a theme. In his poem "Tableau" the message that the audience can perceive is that friendship shouldn't be based on stereotypes. The central part of the poem that can show how the theme attributes is when the African-American child and the white child join in unison and cross arms, "Locked arm in arm they cross the way" (Cullen 1).  At the beginning of the poem, this showed how the children don't care if they are a different race, their friendship overcomes that. Countee Cullen also uses his figurative style and tone in the poem "Incident". The author reveals the theme to be words can be powerful. In the poem, this is seen when the African-American child goes to Baltimore and sees a white child and gets called a damaging name, "And so I smiled, but he poked out / His tongue and called me, 'Nigger.' (Cullen 7,8). Just from that only word, all of his views on Baltimore changed. The use of diction and figurative language helped the theme finally come presently to the audience.

Clint Smith is a writer, teacher, and doctoral candidate in Education at Harvard University with a concentration in Culture, Institutions, and Society. Smith Clint wrote a poem called “Something You should Know.” The poem is about an early job he had in a Petsmart. The poet allows the readers into his personal life, but before he had trouble opening up to people and his work. Moreover, Clint wrote an insight in the poem about relying in anything to feel safe and he says it is the most terrifying thing any person can do.

The legacy Countee Cullen, constructed, has made one of the biggest impacts on the era of segregation. The message Cullen was capable of imposing through poetry to all races makes you believe he was destined to be the best. The struggles the African American, race was experiencing is exposed through Countee Cullen’s, work. He brought new respect and awareness to the black race; through poems like “Heritage”, “Fruit of The Flower,” and “Incident”. The fact Cullen was educated by whites yet, his ideas were shaped by black ideas made him capable of appealing to both races. This made him much of an economic figure.

The Harlem Renaissance was a turning point for the United States as a whole, but more importantly African American Culture. African Americans in the United States became more prominent and involved in society. Culturally and artistically African Americans began to thrive as they began to fully express themselves and become more involved in American society. Countee Cullen, an African American, was apart of the artistic movement. Through his writing Cullen exemplified the struggle and hardships African Americans faced and created a call for equality. Cullen wrote the poem “Tableau” to demonstrate the varying views of racism. In “Tableau” Countee Cullen communicates a desire to end racial injustice through the use

Established by a slew of undergraduate prizes, Cullen’s reputation became huge following the publishing of his ““Incident,” “Yet Do I Marvel,” and “Heritage.” Each poem played a central role and were in a larger sense emblematic of the Harlem Renaissance Movement. These poems grapple with the seeming conundrums of race as the speaker grapples with the puzzling questions including: Why would a stranger hate me? , Who would expect the oppressed to sing?, and What is the nature of large but distant historical and geographical inheritance?. To be completely clear, this puzzlement contains a kind of hidden

The figurative language of each poem aids in developing their themes. In “Tableau,” the tone of the poem is hopeful because of the way the author is perceiving racism. Imagery is shown in the poem when a white and black boy are “[l]ocked arm in arm [as] they cross the way,” which

Countee Cullen and Langston Hughes, both great feats of the Harlem Renaissance. Although they have that similarity, there are many differences. Not only is this in how they grew up, but also in their writing styles. One of the Famous poems “Harlem” by Langston Hughes, shows more of an inner struggle rather than a struggle between races. On the other hand Countee Cullen shows in his poem “Tableau” that the world is being divided by both races. Through this representation Innocent and Captivated Children are looked down upon behind closed curtains.

Cullen utilizes imagery throughout the poem, to illuminate the racism African Americans endured and impact racism carries. The speaker in the poem is an eight year old in Baltimore. In the first stanza, Cullen describes the child as “heart-filled, head-filled with glee.” This image portrays the speaker as innocent and joyful. Then the speaker notices a boy staring at him, the speaker believes there’s little difference between them, that the kid “was no whit bigger.” The speaker gets a rude awakening after the boy “poked out his tongue.” A seemingly playful meaningless gesture is met with the boy calling the speaker “N****r.” Cullen contrasts these two experiences because it depicts how racism comes out of nowhere and effects those you wouldn’t expect. The last stanza, the speaker “saw the whole Baltimore. The image of seeing is not just visual, but a metaphor for the loss of innocence where the speaker now is exposed to the hate. Cullen masterfully uses imagery so that readers understand the incredible impact that words have, especially when used for hate.

I love you, and you know its true. My life to the sword if I should be untrue. The pain I feel in missing you, is subverted by you being true. the pain of absence as it seems, will surely be but a short dream. understanding in times of need, is really what we all need. if you hold my will, i shall be still. you will see that by the by, i will not fly. on this earth, where fruit is grown. we shall plant in earnest for others to yearn.

Drip. Drip. Drip. The colorless solution drips at a steady rate, flowing through the tube of life. The tube that if I was disconnected from, I’d die a torturous death that everybody dreads. The solution glides down the tube and tingles as it enters me, but as it does, it begins to kill me. At the same time, though, it kills the demon that brought me here. The solution creates a feeling of warmth at my skin, but I am in an envelop of frigidness. My skin loses its magnificent white and is replaced by the icy color of paleness.

Both poems, “Tableau” and “Incident”, were written by Countee Cullen during the African-American cultural, social, and artistic explosion known as the Harlem Renaissance. The overarching theme of “Tableau” and “Incident” is racial prejudice and inequality. Each poem is tells a powerful evocative story in three quatrains. Cullen’s poem “Tableau” addresses the acceptance of interracial relationships while “Incident” addresses the racial superiority of one race over another. Even though the poems tell different stories, they share a common idea of the need for acceptance and equality.

The author attempts to convey his or her reader by using words that have a eerie and ominous connotation as well as denotation. For example, the author uses verbs such as “stalking”. The word stalking has a negative connotation that reminds me of kidnappings and foreshadowing something unpleasant that will happen soon. Its denotation is the action of pursuing something stealthily, like a lion stalking its prey. A lion stalking its prey usually means that death will follow soon, which adds to the connotation of stalking. Also, the author uses the phrase “strives to rend the rafters”. The definition of rend is to pull or tear violently and rafters help support and covers a roof. When something is torn violently, it usually means that whoever, or whatever, is doing it is angry or has a