Preview

Comparing Langston Hughes And I Hear America Singing

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
242 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Comparing Langston Hughes And I Hear America Singing
Often American authors imply what it is like to be an American in their poetry. Essentially, Langston Hughes and Walt Whitman share similar thoughts in their literature. In “I, Too” and “I Hear America Singing”, the authors use textual evidence to support their opinions on America. In Walt Whitman’s poem, “I Hear America Singing”, Whitman explains how hard labor in America is music to him. Whitman says “I hear America singing, the varied carols i hear”, meaning how these jobs differentiate, but they all come together as one large working society. In comparison, Langston Hughes discusses society in his poem “I, Too”. Hughes wrote his literature in an era of time where racism and segregation was strong. Hughes states how he wasn’t allowed to

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    In the poem “Let American Be America Again” by Langston Hughes, the author portrays America as a place where people try to escape their old life of oppression and struggles to this so called “American Dream”. But, what they find is “the same old stupid plan of dog eat dog”. Hughes sees that American is being seen as a ideal utopia while he actually views America as a place where there are too many obstacles in the way to achieve the American Dream. The dream is only stood in the way by the obstacles we create. For the dream to come true, change must happen.…

    • 393 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    One of the most famous quotes in history is “Knowledge is Power” an expression that means the more knowledge you gain the more powerful you are as an individual. In the short story “The Birthmark”, by Nathaniel Hawthorne and the two poems “English B”, by Langston Hughes and “Crazy Courage”, by Sherman Alexie, the authors describes individual knowledge and power through the same idea, but through different methods.…

    • 589 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    I think that Hughes’ mantra of “Let America be America again” is accurate, as he doesn't want to revert America to a past decade, which is controversial, because the further back in time you go, the fewer rights minorities have, he wants to make America the dream that people thought it was so long ago. The American dream was being able to come from nothing and being able to provide for your family in a country that was totally free and equal. I think that America as a whole is rooted in things like patriotism, liberty, and equality, but we are having trouble making this more widespread as one of the freedoms we have is freedom of speech, and with being able to say and think what you want there are people who don't think that everyone is equal.…

    • 217 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    I feel that the poem “I, Too” represents and explains the author’s desire to write. In the quotation, I have presented above, shows how he will overcome racial discrimination through showing just how beautiful and valuable he is through his writing and poetry. During the time period, people of color were not permitted to sit at the table as a guest. They were forced to eat in the kitchen when entertaining. This act is what Hughes is referring to and it was a common practice of racial segregation. Hughes is, nevertheless, hopeful and optimistic. For in his writing, he connects the world of a colored man to that of a white man. As the literature book descried him, “a champion of his own society who never hesitated to speak freely.” In his free…

    • 151 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    One of the most disturbing things in today’s culture is a loss of originality and nationality. People are no longer proud to be Americans and instead of pushing for new heights people follow in the footsteps of others. People today need heir sense of self back and need to start taking pride in what they do and where they’re from. In “One Song, America, Before I Go” by Walt Whitman and “I Too” by Langston Hughes, the speakers celebrated the concepts of individuality, originality, and nationality.…

    • 1307 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The poems “I Hear America Singing” by Walt Whitman, And the poem “Let America Be America” by Langston Hughes are both similar because the two poems talk about America. The poems are also similar because they’re about how America is a good place, and you can sense that.…

    • 249 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    In “Let America be America Again”, Langston Hughes speaks on his opinions of the American Dream. Throughout the poem, Hughes compares his hopes and dreams for America with the reality of life for those outside of certain cultural, religious, and societal groups. This is a dramatic and diverse poem, fluctuating from peaceful moments to angry explosions. The author starts by mentioning of the key vision of America, where there is the hope for liberty and equality. Yet for the oppressed races, American life has been one of persecution. Writing now in the first person, the author empathizes with all struggling Americans, "I am the farmer/ the worker/ the Negro/ I am the people." With the gift of optimism, the writer urges "We, the people, must reclaim the land/ and make America again!"…

    • 413 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In “I, Too, Sing America” Langston Hughes shines light on the rich history of struggle for African Americans in the United States. For example, the text states “I am the darker brother, They send me to eat in the kitchen/ When company comes.” This shows that as a people, Blacks were marginalized and treated inhumanely simply on the basis of skin color by their Caucasian counterparts. We were sent to this figurative “kitchen” because Whites were ashamed of us because we did not fit the societal expectations of what it meant to be American. In the Declaration of Independence, the very document that is symbolic of America’s freedom and triumph it states, “that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights.” Regardless of origin, race, or ethnic makeup, As Americans we are all equals under this text; however, they regarded the existence of Blacks as if we were all children of a lesser God. The opening lines also illustrate the oppressive nature of white folks. Blacks were forced to eat in the kitchen; there was no option, nor alternative. This shows how we were trained to be subservient and give in to authority without questioning it.…

    • 743 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The American Voice is represented by the theme of hard work. This is demonstrated in Walt Whitman’s poem when he states “morning, or at noon intermission or at sundown” proclaiming that Americans work all day long for a long period of time (7). This idea is also found in Walt Whitman's…

    • 456 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    During the 1960 's in America, many African Americans were suppressed and segregated due to their racial differences and the fact that they were descendants of slaves. Therefore, many blacks like Langston Hughes, recognized that although difference in race, all Americans should be treated equally and with dignity. Hence, they expressed their feelings of sufferings, helplessness, isolation and yearnings for hope through different artistic ways, like poetry, art, and music, which also marks the birth of their racial consciousness and self- conception, and help them learn to have racial pride in themselves. Now let us explore Hughe 's "I, too, Sing America" through his use of different literary devices, including imagery, symbols, tone, structure and rhythm.…

    • 846 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Most poems are filled with symbolism and abstract ideas, and "I, Too" is an example of such. This poem does not rhyme, nor meter patter truly be measured. In order to understand and grasp the meaning behind this poem, it needs to be read a few times. Sometimes certain aspects of a poem can be overlooked. For example, in the first line of the poem, "I, too, sing America" (line 1), Hughes cleverly uses an allusion as he is referring to Walt Whitman's, "Song of Myself", which entails similar themes. In Hughes' poem, the speaker is addressing the country as a whole. Hughes' use of excellent language and vivid imagery effectively expresses the speaker's feelings towards racism.…

    • 926 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Finally, the american voice is characterized by equality, by Langston Hughes poem entitled “ I, too, sing America.” When he states in lines 1-2 when he say “ I, too, sing America” this show that we are all diverse and united like a family. These idea develops over the course of the text when he states that “They’ll see how Beautiful i am and be a shamed.” This means that same day we will be proud of black Americans and appreciate their contributions. He is represents the “ American Voice” by describing Americans as diverse, but…

    • 576 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The poetry of Langston Hughes has the theme of “ I, too sing America” He made extraordinary contributions to American literature and has came to be regarded as a leading voice in the Renaissance of the arts in the 1920’s. Hughes growing up asked the same question to himself of who he was, his lack of identity in society, which put a large impact on his mind and soul and made him a poet of the blacks.…

    • 1601 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    “Never judge a book by it’s cover.” This popular quote, stated by author George Elliot in 1860, has a connection deep behind every meaning in the The Collected Works of Langston Hughes (1921-1940). Most of the poetic pieces displayed a message that revolved around on how we the people, no matter what ethnicity or socioeconomic status we hold, had dealt with discrimination and disrespect, but never stopped believing in our dreams and freedom in America. Every individual who spoke and was mentioned in the collected works is considered as part of America, dreaming and hoping to “Let America be America again.”, to “Let America be the dream the dreamers dreamed-”, and to “ Let it be that great strong land of love,” (131) as stated from Let America Be America Again. These individuals, regardless of race, spilled their emotion of determination and strength, displaying the demeanor of never giving up and always believing, in this case, in the land of America. America is a significant location in these poems, which causes some contrast, because America holds the title of the “Land of the Free” or the “ Land of Equal Opportunity”, however, there are occurences where those titles aren’t true, based on the poems written by Langston Hughes. I strongly concieve that the theme communicated in these pieces is that specific ethnicities, mostly African Americans, are looked at differently, but they never stopped believing in their dreams and have always hoped for freedom.…

    • 1073 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Poems Analysis

    • 7764 Words
    • 32 Pages

    Langston Hughes in the poem: “Theme of English B” made it clear what to be an American is. Being an American means being educated and participating in democracy. In addition, being an American means learning about American history and what it means to our survival. Moreover, being an American means enjoying more security, freedom and liberty than any other nation in the world. Above all of that, Langston Hughes made it clear that it does not matter the culture, race, or background that people has in America, for they are Americans; therefore, they share some characteristics such as: thinking, doing special things, liking staff, and learning.…

    • 7764 Words
    • 32 Pages
    Powerful Essays