Situational Irony

Life is fine depicts an overall theme of sorrow that can ultimately lead to the constant pursuit of a higher meaning to life and happiness. This pursuit is an exemplification of the notion of American dream. Throughout his literature, Hughes constantly questions the ideology behind the American dream and critiques the fact that for some Americans, this "American dream "can seen unattainable. The concept of the American dream can be seen as a fa�ade hiding the true meaning behind the entire movement. To the African American culture,

“Life is Fine” by Langston Hughes was published in 1949. This poem tells the story of an individual who tried numerous times to commit suicide due to a failed relationship with a loved one. It also tells of the narrator’s triumph of overcoming these feelings and realization that life is fine.

Hughes picks up on the inferiority of mankind in comparison to “unkillable” nature. Hughes conveys the idea that nature is immortal and lives off our deads’ remains, we see this through the listing of “tributary graves” being part of what the North Sea “swallows”. This imagery is morbid and voices Hughes’ anti-pastoral feeling. He uses this poem to establish that nature is not

Poetry is a complicated yet beautiful artform. It allows for an individual to express their emotions and ideas by painting a picture using eloquent lines. Although alluring, poetry is also perplexing. It is almost impossible to fully understand what the author was exactly trying to get across in writing. There are however, multiple factors that can be used to help analyze poetry to get a better feel of that certain piece. In this paper, I will be analyzing Life Is Fine by Langston Hughes using irony, symbols, tone, rhyme, rhythm and meter.

These lines show the happiness and optimism that is portrayed throughout the poem, by painting a picture of all kinds of people singing and being proud. In Hughes, "I, Too, Sing America", the optimistic tone is also shown when the protagonist in the poem declares, "They send me to eat in the kitchen/When company comes,/But I laugh,/And eat well,/And grow strong." (3-7). Although they are of color and are treated awfully, they are optimistic and look at the bright side, like how they at least have food, and laugh and are able to grow. Both poems definitely express an optimistic tone.

When moving toward the end of the poem, one can find out how Hughes tells in bold words how he views himself and reveals his identity. In the final lines, he wrote, "Then, besides, they'll see how beautiful I

     The third quality that Langston Hughes uses in his poem is the tone of the speaker. When she explains to him not to “set you down on the steps / ‘Cause your find it’s kinder hard. / Don’t you fall down now,” the tone in her words in compassionate (Hughes 232). The mother is simply trying to tell her son that she knows what he is going through because she has been in rough times herself. Those rough times were troublesome but she had the strength to go on and get past them. All she wants for her son is for him to keep climbing, and never give up. Winslow believes that this “enduring exuberance” shows her youthful spirit towards life (262). She wants this all because “[she is] still goin’, honey, / [she is] still climbin’, / and life for [her] ain’t

place and the setting of the piece of art. In this poem life is fine by Langston Hughes, the

Langston Hughes also shows us his mood throughout the poem while he is explaining his thoughts. Hughes mood would be one of anger and resentment because America is not turning out to be the land that it was promised to be, or the land that many people dream of for him. Hughes keeps this mood from the begging of the poem to the end of the poem in hopes that he will get his point across to the rest of America. His goal by writing this poem the way he did was mainly to express his ideas of how he feels America should

`“On Turning Ten” and “Life is Fine” both imply the theme of depression without directly stating it, creating the most enduring component of the piece. In “Life is Fine”, actions are the center focus in the poem, particularly attempted suicide. The speaker in this poem talks about his past actions, including when he “tried to think but couldn’t/So I jumped in and sank” (Hughes ll.3-4). This direct attempt at ending his own life creates a very extreme affect, alarming the reader. The first six stanzas focus on two cases of failed suicide attempts. The poem does not showcase how the

He could have written this short story to help himself put it all into a perspective, or maybe to help illustrate a lesson readers. Either way, I feel Hughes was happy to one day not feel burdened by this particular event in his life.

Although Hughes is displaying hope for a better life, the tone throughout this poem is angry and resentful. He says “Of work the men! Of take the pay! Of owning everything for one’s own greed!” By saying this, he is showing he is angry at what the world has condemned to. He is saying America is greedy and he is angry about it. He is bitter that America has made people conform to this lifestyle and has made it difficult for people to accomplish their

The beginning of the story starts off with the speaker’s somber words of life’s difficulties, thus, setting the mood to a glum start. Addressing her son, the speaker says, “Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair. It’s had tacks in it. And splinters…” Her blunt tone makes the story seem much more personal; there is not any sugar coating in her tone which is exactly what would be expected of a mother. By trying not to set false expectations on the easiness of life, Hughes uses a blunt tone from the speaker to let her son know how life really is. By setting off the mood of the story as drab, the later transition of tone will be more effective.

In the first couple of lines in Hughes’s poem he speaks upon past African American struggles and encourages them to move forward from them with the use of his refrain lines, ‘that day is past,’ and ‘bitter was the day.’ He makes various references “responding to the early days of depression, moreover…having a range of tone, language, and insight…” (Shulman 295), to speak upon slavery and inequality. For example, he awakens the memories of slaves being lynched, whipped, and

I think that the poet is trying to tell us to live life to the fullest