Heritage Countee Cullen
Kulneet Singh
IB English 1
November 4, 2014
Word Count: 922
Exploring Literary Devices in Heritage
“What is Africa to me?” (Cullen, Line 10). Heritage is an African American poem by Countee Cullen that was written during the Harlem Renaissance. Cullen was born in a primarily white upbringing; therefore he had no experience in African culture or heritage and was confused. His African heritage concerns him; yet, because he must adapt to the orders of a mostly white culture that is not concerned with his cultural origins. This poem is primarily the internal conflict of Countee Cullen on the dilemma of a modern African American aware of his rich Native African heritage but stranded in a sterile conformist American culture that offer him only stereotypical insight into his heritage and no true unbiased perception of his own culture. In Heritage Cullen uses literary devices such as imagery, symbolism and irony to show that he is conflicted on his view of his African heritage.
Cullen uses imagery as a literary device to show his confusion of African heritage. Thus Cullen begins with a question concerning the nature of an abstract and rather remote Africa. “What is Africa to me, copper sun or scarlet sea, jungle star or jungle track, strong bronzed men, or regal black, women from whose loins I sprang, when the birds of Eden sang” (Cullen, Lines 1-6). This quote shows how Cullen lists some concrete images which serve as specific emphases for his conflicting views of his native land. This shows an African Americans point of view of Africa. For example in the phrase “jungle star or jungle track”; the first part “jungle star” has a positive connotation and the second part “jungle track” has a negative connotation. In a way the positive connotations represent African perspective and the negative connotations represent African perspective. “Sung by wild barbaric birds, Goading massive jungle herds, Juggernauts of flesh that pass, Trampling
IB English 1
November 4, 2014
Word Count: 922
Exploring Literary Devices in Heritage
“What is Africa to me?” (Cullen, Line 10). Heritage is an African American poem by Countee Cullen that was written during the Harlem Renaissance. Cullen was born in a primarily white upbringing; therefore he had no experience in African culture or heritage and was confused. His African heritage concerns him; yet, because he must adapt to the orders of a mostly white culture that is not concerned with his cultural origins. This poem is primarily the internal conflict of Countee Cullen on the dilemma of a modern African American aware of his rich Native African heritage but stranded in a sterile conformist American culture that offer him only stereotypical insight into his heritage and no true unbiased perception of his own culture. In Heritage Cullen uses literary devices such as imagery, symbolism and irony to show that he is conflicted on his view of his African heritage.
Cullen uses imagery as a literary device to show his confusion of African heritage. Thus Cullen begins with a question concerning the nature of an abstract and rather remote Africa. “What is Africa to me, copper sun or scarlet sea, jungle star or jungle track, strong bronzed men, or regal black, women from whose loins I sprang, when the birds of Eden sang” (Cullen, Lines 1-6). This quote shows how Cullen lists some concrete images which serve as specific emphases for his conflicting views of his native land. This shows an African Americans point of view of Africa. For example in the phrase “jungle star or jungle track”; the first part “jungle star” has a positive connotation and the second part “jungle track” has a negative connotation. In a way the positive connotations represent African perspective and the negative connotations represent African perspective. “Sung by wild barbaric birds, Goading massive jungle herds, Juggernauts of flesh that pass, Trampling
Cited: Cullen, Countee. "Heritage." The Poetry Foundation : Find Poems and Poets. Discover Poetry. The Poetry Foundation, n.d. Web. 4 Nov. 2014.