In the novel Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry, by Mildred Taylor, and the poem “Mother to Son” by Langston Hughes, the characters face many challenges. A challenge from the novel that they faced is that black people never got to see the money they owned for working for their white owners, and they were always overcharged when they went to go shopping. On page 99 it says, “I feels the same way you do, ‘bout them low-down Wallaces, but it ain’t easy to jus’ stop shoppin’ there. They overcharges me and I has to pay them high interest, but you know I have credits there ‘cause Mr. Montier signs for me.” A challenge they faced from “ Mother to Son” is they faced many challenges. In the poem, it says “Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair. It’s had tacks in it, And splinters, And boards torn up, And places with no carpet, Bare.” When the mother says that life for her ain’t been no crystal stair she means that she been through many challenges. When she says that it's had …show more content…
In the novel the black sharecroppers persevered through getting overcharged and not getting to see their money they earned by going to shop in vicksburg. On page 99 it said, “ Mama nodded solemnly, showing she understood, then she said , ‘For the past year now, our family’s been shopping down at Vicksburg. There are a number of stores down there, and we,ve found several that treat us well.’ ‘Vicksburg?’Mr. Turner echoed, shaking his head. ‘Lord, Miz Logan you ain’t expectin’ me to go all the way down to Vicksburg? That’s an overnight journey in a wagon down there and back.’ Mama thought on a moment. What if someone would be willing to make the trip for you? Go all the way down to Vicksburg and bring back what you need.” A perseverance in the poem was that she did was she kept on going and never gave up. It says, “ I’se been a-climbin’ on, and reachin’ landin’s, And turnin corners.” This means that she was overcoming
In Roll of Thunder,Hear my cry there are various events. The book and the movie though do not share the same similarities. As an example the movie might have the important events instead of the least important ones. The movie also didn't have the same placing of events like the book did. The book had a nice flow that can just help you understand the book more. The movie jumped around and did not follow the order of the book.
In the novel Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry, by Mildred D. Taylor, one special Logan family, only driven by love, pride, and independence but through the mist they show another side… One foolish side. Their decisions in the novel lead them to numerous trouble and during the Great Depression one must be careful. Some of these decisions are Papa bringing Mr.Morrison home, Papa going to Vicksburg to boycott, and Uncle Hammer impersonating Mr.Granger.
She is living in sad and poor conditions just to give her son the things he needs for a successful childhood. The sons mother lived at places with no carpet, splinters everywhere and boards bordered up the walls. Even in such bad conditions she never gave up on her son. “Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair” she repeats to her son throughout the poem which gives the impression that her son still does not fully understand what his mom went through to raise him. Langston is trying to explain what she has been through while still encouraging him to keep going.
Even though Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry is about a family very different from my own, I identify with the main character, Cassie, because we are similar in some ways and I admire her. Just like Cassie’s mom, my mom was a teacher, and I have close relationships with my siblings. These similarities help me put myself in Cassie’s place. I admire her because she is brave and fights for her rights and what she believes in. She always sticks up for herself. For example, when the white kids’ school bus purposely splashes Cassie and her siblings, they dig a ditch and the bus gets stuck in the mud. Cassie always sticks up for Little Man, her younger brother. She tells her mom about the poor quality books that upset Little Man, and she comforts him when she is upset. Cassie and her brothers are always hanging out together. In my family, my sister takes me shopping and hangs out with me. I also play outside and jump on the trampoline with my younger brother. Even though I am similar to Cassie in some ways, we have differences, too. I am not part of a minority and have never faced prejudices like
On the road of life, many trials arise that one must overcome to make his or her life feel complete. In Langston Hughes’s poem, “Mother to Son,” these trials are a subject of concern for one mother. Hughes’ “ability to project himself” is seen in his use of dialect, metaphors, and tone (Barksdale 3).
Mildred D. Taylor's Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry is set during the Great Depression, in the rural areas of Mississippi. The majority of the people in this community are sharecroppers, who are greatly dependent on plantation farming. The Logan family is fortunate because they have a piece of land of their own, so unlike other black sharecroppers they do not have to be dependent on the whites. However, due to the sharp decrease in the price of the cotton crop the family have to work hard to keep it in their hands, whilst also providing food in order for them to survive. The situation is further worsened because of the severity of racism and segregation in the society. The Logans are one of the few families
The poet begins the poem by motivating and inspiring her son to be fearless using an extended metaphor. He begins comparing the mother’s life and a crystal stair. The mother begins saying, “ Well, son, I’ll tell you: / Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair,” compares an easy and pleasant journey through life to her journey of life that has not been easy and pleasant. The use of extended metaphor comparing the mother’s life to a staircase continues throughout the poem, repeating the line, “Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.” Furthermore, life has never been easy or free of problems and it has never been smooth sailing. The tacks, splinters, and
Deep South of America, in the 1930's and covers a year in the life of
In the novel Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor,and the poem “Mother to son” by Langston Hughes, the characters face many challenges. The challenges the speaker faces in the poem “Mother to Son” is when she says she is bare. With her saying this she means that she has no money or food. Another set of evidence that she has been going through challenges is that she has said it has had tacks in it. This means that she has had to go through some painful times that were really hard. Finally the last thing that the mother has had to go through is she said there has been splinters. This means that she has gone through some things that have stuck with her and she can't forget. The mother has gotten through these times by keeping going
It is stated, “It was merely a nondescript collection of houses and buildings in a region of farms- one of those sad American places with sidewalks, but no paved streets; electric lights, but no sewage; a station but no trains that stopped…And it was 150 miles from any city at all (Hughes, 3).” Even though Cora was a relying, humble and hard working women she was unaccepted to white society. Cora was only seen for her labor. It is stated, “Cora iron my stockings, Cora come here… Cora, put… Cora… Cora… Cora! Cora! (Hughes, 4).” At a very young age colored people had to work for a living. On the other hand white society had an education and a far better future. Therefore, the circumstance of working with unpleasant superior was not discussed. Any job at the time was appreciated. Throughout the years that Cora worked with the Studevants she fell in love and had a child. At this time contraception or birth control was illegal. Even though Cora was looked down by society she had no shamed and became a proud mother. Unfortunately, due to the lack of medical assistance her child died from whopping cough. The years passed and the Studevants had a child named Jessie which Cora nursed and treated her as a daughter. When Jessie was in high school she experienced Cora’s situation, pregnant and unmarried. On one side Cora advise to have the child and become a proud mother just like her, but the mother disagreed she viewed this situation
"Jeremy Simms & TJ Avery are two relativly minor characters in the story ROTHMC. However, they both reinforce the themes." Discuss Aprox 1000 words
It was a common fear among the African-Americans. The Younger Family knew that the discrimination would hold them back from their dreams and goals, but because they believe in prosperity and pride, that was the last thing on their mind. The “want” in their spirits, is what sets them at place of tranquility and hope. “In fact, here’s another fifty cents… buy yourself some fruit today - or take a taxicab to school or something! (1.1.1840) Walter is letting his son know that there is no problem when it comes to their economic status. One of the difficulties that the adults faced was their self-righteousness. The discrimination was really enabled when it came to anything in their life. Whether it be buying certain houses, jobs, or even sitting in a restaurant, it was something so common; they learned that it is far more important for their child to know how to live with no fear and worrisome in life. When it came to Walter, he knew that keeping the innocence in Travis’ life was the right thing to do, where for Ruth she was far more upright. The self-doubt they displayed was becoming a burden in their lives, but that transformation and growth is what helped them come to a better understanding of themselves. The Younger Family’s moral development would be their sense of pride, and Mama’s destiny was to continue that pride. Mama’s development within herself had grown to great measures, but when it came to her
In the story “Roll of Thunder Hear my Cry”, written by Mildred Taylor takes place during the Jim Crow era. Throughout the story characters are faced with challenges. Stacey is torn between choosing Stacey or T.J as a friend. The two boys both have different qualities, but Jeremy is proven to be a more useful friend. Jeremy would make a better friend for Stacey than T.J because Jeremey has many better qualities such as brave, loyal, and friendly as it shows throughout the story.
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 of the poem “Mother to Son,” by Langston Hughes is a mother who is giving advice to her son. Her life has been difficult and hard at times. As readers, we know this because the speaker talks about how life is a staircase and her staircase has had “tacks and splinters in it” (line 3-4). This means that her life has not been perfect and she had many challenges to deal with. Perhaps she was born into poverty, because the images in her poem reveal a ragged, old staircase, like you might find in a decrepit, old building. Further, the speaker’s accent reveals that the speaker was not well-educated when she was younger, such as when she says “I'se been a-climbin' on” (line 9) which is not proper English. Since