Langston Hughes

“Theme for English B” , written by Langston Hughes speaks of how he is the only colored student in his class. He writes about how things are different for him compared to everyone else, since he is colored. He begins to wonder if his writing will be different because of the color of his skin. In his poem he says “So will my page be colored that I write? Being me, it will not be white. Since he doesn’t talk about or show any coming of age this is not a bildungsroman. The focus of the poem…

Throughout Langston Hughes’ poem, “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” the theme of roots is prominent and this theme gives rise to the ultimate meaning of the poem. The poem cites strong imagery related to veins, rivers, and the roots of trees and give the reader a sense of the importance of these objects. Furthermore, through Hughes’ use of language and images, he is able to create two meanings for the theme of roots. On one hand they refer to the deep roots like trees have as well as in the…

According to Merriam-Webster, loss is the fact or process of losing something or someone (cite 1). Bishop and Hughes experienced many traumas in their childhood. Bishop had parental issues and Hughes lived during a time of inequality. The poems One Art by Elizabeth Bishop and Harlem by Langston Hughes are both concerned with the theme of loss. This essay will be discussing the lives of each poet, how each poet dealt with this theme, and what techniques each poet used. Elizabeth Bishop was born…

2. This piece of poetry by Langston Hughes is a beautiful conglomerate of irony and foreshadowing. In the poem he is essentially saying how the word freedom is such are really beautiful and easy to say all day every day; and even perfect in theory. However, the word liberty (which is freedom coming into fruition), saddens him. Hughes elaborates by saying that if you had experienced what he had, and knew what he knew, you would be sad too. This eludes to that he had experienced oppression,…

Question 1: Hughes’ poems (1902-1967) do not just reveal the pain and suffering of his people but they also illustrate racial pride and dignity. Discuss this statement with reference to any four of his selected poems. Primarily recognized as a prominent literary figure during the Harlem Renaissance period, James Mercer Langston Hughes firmly believes that poetry should be direct and comprehensible as the messages in it could be explicitly conveyed to the readers. He became the voice of the…

empowerment in African-Americans as they fought racial oppression and injustice. Langston Hughes, widely regarded as a major leader and influential writer of the Harlem Renaissance, wrote poetry and prose often promoting racial pride, condemning racism, and depicting the diverse experiences of African-Americans. His short story “Why, You Reckon?” takes place in 1930s' Harlem amid the Great Depression. In “Why, You Reckon?”, Hughes employs irony developed through use of the setting to convey the…

“A Theme for English B” Analysis In the 1951 poem, “A Theme for English B,” Langston Hughes addresses the ideas of race and the American identity. Hughes describes a young, twenty-two-year-old colored college student. The student’s instructor tells him to “go home and write a page tonight.” However, the instructor tells the student to “let that page come out of you” because only then “it will be true.” The young man then wonders whether this assignment will be as easy as the instructor makes it…

author’s poetics. Some poets take it upon themselves to write for the benefit of others or just for the sake of writing. Harlem renaissance poet, Langston Hughes, has a combination of both extremes featured in his poems. Hughes heavily encouraged art where African Americans told their stories instead of what they thought the white man wanted to hear. Hughes’ poetics is representing African Americans as they are; every flaw and victory included. His desire to be proud of who he is and promoting…

political awareness. The poetry of authors such as Arna Bontemps, Angelina Grimké, and Langston Hughes provide prime examples of this call to a social cognizance of Negro life in America during the time of the Harlem Renaissance. Bontemps examines the universal struggle of being black in America and notes how it is not an isolated problem. Grimké attests to the issue of standing out while aiming for something more. Hughes strives towards making sure everyone realizes that…

Rights movement. Harlem Renaissance poet Langston Hughes became a role model for Martin Luther King that grew from their similar background and heritage. King’s writing process for “I have a Dream,” looked to Hughes poetry for inspiration. Additionally, King made frequent allusion to Hughes’ poetry within his sermons. King viewed Hughes as a role model. Hughes influenced King’s discussion of an equal society, featured in “Dream Variation.” Langston Hughes and Martin Luther King grew up in…