I, Too, Sing America
by Langston Hughes
The Poem
Works Cited
- http://www.care2.com/c2c/groups/disc.html?gpp=93&pst=1391376 (Pic)
- http://server.stthomasday.org/gradeone/poetry/hughes_poems.html
- https://soundcloud.com/thinkcommon/kingdom-remix-featuring-common-vince-staples-and-jay-electronica
- http://academic.reed.edu/english/courses/eng211/authorpages/langstonhughes.htm
Explication
Literal:
The author is basically saying that one day society is going to build up and he will be able too sit with his master at the table when company comes over instead being sent outside to eat. The author wants the rights that he deserves because he worls very hard and should be treated no less than anybody else just because the color of his skin.
Explication
The poem tells a story of how one day blacks will be appreciated for their worth and not put down as if we're trash. this is a narrative poem by Langston Hughes and he's describing events of a servant that wasn't treated properly by their master. The mood expressed in the poem is a feeling of hope. Hope that a better and brighter day will come and we'll no longer have to deal with the oppression of being treated indifferent. The speaker is Mr. Hughes and he's speaking to these who want a better future, those that want and need a change. Langston's tone is unhappy but faithful that a better day will come sooner than later.
Explication
The form is definitely free form, more of Langston Hughes' style he was known for, not really having a specific form of writing but just putting his thoughts into words. I think he chose this form to explain how he's feeling and just give a description of inustices against blacks. the poem develops from what the character sees everyday to what he hopes will become a new sometime soon. Definitely develops out of cause and effect, the cause being the character treated like less of a person, the effect being the promise from the character that one day he will be equal with his master and anyone else that's supposedly "better" because of social class or skin color.
Explication
The word choice is simple but very effective in getting the authors point across in a concise way that anyone can understand. There is definitely an allusion to slavery and black injustice, a time period that was really booming during 1789-1861 but honestly black injustices are still prevalent to this day. The imagery is very simple, imagine being treated like you're crap you whole life and hoping and praying everyday for a better life to call your own.
Explication
There's no rhyme scheme, just Langston Hughes describing how he's feeling, but it works well with the poem. There was alliteration with "I" in the beginning with the first 3 lines, but that's about it.