Preview

Connotation In Langngston Hughes's Poem By Langston Hughes

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
789 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Connotation In Langngston Hughes's Poem By Langston Hughes
In the poem “Harlem” by Langston hughes i felt that it was very simple and easy to understand, being that it was written in the 1950’s and at that time it was a time where people(minorities) had a hope of being free and actually being able to live without any persecution being in the united states. and it was at a time where wwll was still in the hearts of many and would have been very odd that ameicans would go and help free another country beiong that their was still segregation in America and the army was still divided by race. which is supposed to be the symbol of freedom for all. during 1948, president Truman issued a order that allowed for people of any race , color or nationality. but this would not be put into action and did not change …show more content…
what I thought was intriguing about this poem is each stanza starts with a similie like does it stink like rotten meat? and the poem also uses a lot of imagery and makes the peom have a certain feeling to it. when the author use rotten meat it has a negative connotation to it being that it is like the whole theme of the story which is a a dream that is being held back, the author Hughes also makes the reader think more through the use of analogies like does it dry up? or do fester like a sore? which is basically give way to a suggestion as to what can happen with a dream and hughes is suggesting that dreams that are not fulfilled or accomplished can make someone who is trying to see them come true become very bitter and angry at the fact making their life very difficult and is mainly targeting minorioties at a time in America where there was a senses of hoplesness for them and basically giving the reader a insight as to how people at athat time felt, and how it created what many are today due to the fact of injustice and discrimination by white people and the affect that it had on their lives and how it would continue to affect their …show more content…
which makes it more realtable to understand and fell the emotion that huhghes was feeling at that time being afriacan American in America at a time where thery were treated unfairly and poorly because of the color of their skin and not who they were or the things that African maericans wanted to accomplish because it did not matter to white America as they control the power in ameirca and didi not want to see a black man become successful or bigger than them as it would make them feel like their world is no longer theirs and gives them a sense of insecurity that their no longer in power and the only way to mauintian their power in America would be through oppressing other people and taking advantage of as many people as they could but never letting them be anything bigger than what they had wanted, so to me for Langston hughes to have he dreams fufuilled he would have still faced prosecution because being a successful black man in America and respectable would not be allowed by white America and would have had to deal with more issues and problems and maybe even recive harted from his own people as they would have looked at it as hughes having special treatment and would have accomplished all of his dreams but still feel empty inside because it would never matter to white people or white America as they have no soft spot in their heart to show love and emotion that is guenuie other than if it is beifical to them or it creates a sense of exicment for them kind of like a

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    The similarities of the works of Martin Luther King and Langston Hughes, specifically the “American Dream” speech of Martin’s and “Let America be America again” of Langston’s, include that they are both describe the suffrage of black people and talks about gaining their freedom. In “the American Dream”, Martin Luther says, “We have proudly professed the principles of democracy, and on the other hand we practiced the very antithesis of those principles,” while Langston says in his poem, “America never was America to me.” These two statements describe the hardships of the black people, in that they, as their ancestors were residents of America during the time of the Declaration of Independence, were supposed to receive their freedom as well,…

    • 193 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Langston Hughes, a major African American writer, is committed to telling the truth about the lives of black people through his passionate poetry. For instance, in his poem “Let America be America Again”, Hughes, being less than sanguine, claims that in reality people who possesses power often deprive others of America’s – the land known of equality, liberty, and freedom opportunities. Not only have those in power deprived lower class American access to the opportunities promised by the America value system, they have replaced it with the relentless pursuit of money, sex, and power. Hughes successfully executed his claim to be true by contributing tone, connotation anaphora, abstract language and personification.…

    • 1353 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Have you ever felt out of place from those around you? In “Theme for English B”, Langston Hughes discusses how the speaker goes about this paper assignment. He questions the definition of simple. He wonders if the truth is the same between him, his classmates and his professor. Will the papers be the same between himself and all the other white students in class? This paper assignment has the speaker realize that there is more in common between himself and the other students than just race.…

    • 1255 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Asa Philip Randolph once said: “Freedom is never given; it is won.” During the Harlem Renaissance, African Americans certainly lost the fight against the white people for freedom and racial equality. Although participating in numerous acts of protest for their civil rights, the overpowering issue of racism in society denied the colored people their liberty as human beings. Life for black people seemed to be a broken record; one full of lost hope, withered dreams, and ungranted wishes. Langston Hughes, a famous American poet and social activist, lived a childhood which had a great influence on his style of poetry and the messages he spread through his literature.…

    • 1206 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    In “To Negro Writers” Langston Hughes advised African American writers to expose the hardships and dilemmas which they faced daily. Hughes instructed writers to unveil the truth about the unfair treatments they were subject to. African Americans faced persecution in a variety of forms. Not only were African American citizens mistreated by groups such as religious organizations and the American Legion, African American soldiers were also disrespected simply for the color of their skin. Hughes told his readers that they must fight for themselves because no one else would fight for them. Hughes encouraged African American writers to establish a common ground with the working white class (who also faced struggles) so that they could unite in an…

    • 241 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Hughes’ writings generally focused on African-Americans and the opportunities that they deserved to have. In “Let America be America Again”, Hughes believes “there’s never been equality for me, nor freedom in this homeland of the free” (Hughes 14-15) and if he did not do anything to try and change that then he failed the goal that he set. America as a country was created on the basis that all men shall be equal, however African-Americans did not share that right. In the same poem, Hughes said that he wanted for the people to “Let America be America again / Let it be the dream it used to be.” (Hughes…

    • 776 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Langston Hughes was born in the early 1900’s where abolishment of slavery had just ceased in America. The 13th amendment which stated, "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude...shall exist within the United States." Langston Hughes was fortunate to have lived in a time where African Americans were encouraged to observe their legacy. You can see his words fiercely lashing out in behalf of African Americans who, not too long ago, were freed from slavery. The unspoken is now loud and clear through his poems.…

    • 323 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The 1920’s where a thriving time for many individuals in America. It was a time when the city really came to life. It was an ear of rebirth, and it was known as the Harlem Renaissance. It was a time when people could really express their individuality through art, and Harlem, New York was a major contributor of these individuals. There was new theatre, new music, new literature, new up and coming artists. Among these up and coming individuals was a man named Langston Hughes. He was an aspiring young writer and had a large influence on African American culture and their past oppression throughout history since the civil war. His poetry spoke for thousands of African Americans who felt they didn’t have a voice, that they were cast away in the…

    • 350 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In his closing statement Hughes tone has changed from the start of his poem. Now, in this last verse, his tone is hopeful. He points out how he is aware America never was what it was cut out to be, but he still has hope for this country.…

    • 908 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Personally for me , I felt more similarly to the Langston Hughes essay. The era the essay is written from might be another reason since it is more modern and easier to relate. Compared to the Gates essay it was easier to wrap my head around it. I was able to dissect the essay and see the true meaning you could say. The wording Huge used was also more modern and easier to understand.…

    • 587 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Langston Hughes was part of the Harlem Renaissance and was known as "the poet laureate of Harlem." His poems tell of the joys and miseries of the ordinary black man in America. In Hughes' poem "Dream Deferred" he uses figures of speech, tone, and a unifying theme to show how black people's dreams were delayed.…

    • 312 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    By examining each stanza of the poem, Hughes sustains what has been implied in the title by his word choices. Similarly, he uses a number of symbols to depict the power of hope and compassion. In this essay, regarding to the symbol I will focus on the elaboration of three symbols which are night, stars, and sun. Those symbols in the poem have been explain in one adjective word that portrays the three of which is the word…

    • 79 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Langston Hughes Meaning

    • 354 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Today's driving force in America is dreams. Each and every individual has a dream. Though everyone has a dream, there are obviously struggles and tribulations accomplishing the dream. This poem, "Dream Deferred," by Langston Hughes, is only one expression of many dreams.…

    • 354 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Like A Dream Deferred

    • 688 Words
    • 3 Pages

    the fourth line where he compares a ‘deferred dream’ with a sore and the last italicized sentence which warns about an explosion. Throughout the history in many ways, these people have suffered the pain of injustice. They were bestowed with sores by their brutal masters. Thus, the poet Hughes is able to, with help of this simile; vividly describe the plight of his people. He finally warns that if their dreams are deferred for long, it may lead to an explosion, a revolution of sorts, and a great deal of destruction always follows the explosion.…

    • 688 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Critical Analysis "I Too"

    • 1062 Words
    • 5 Pages

    The point of view of being the oppressed African American is clearly evident in Langston Hughes’s writing. The author states, “I am the darker brother” (2.2) Here Hughes is clearly speaking on behalf of the African American race because during the early and mid 1900’s African American were oppressed because of their darker skin color. No where in the writing does Hughes mention the word racism, segregation, discrimination. No where in the poem are words like Civil Rights Movement or Harlem Renaissance read. Yet, the reader knows exactly what Langston Hughes is referring to. This is because the writing talks about a darker brother being told to eat somewhere else. This leads the reader to put the point of view of the poem into play. Because it talks of such a brother and because Hughes’s was a revolutionary poet who constantly wrote on the struggles of the black man, then the reader is able to easily interpret the poem as a cry for the African-American man. Langston Hughes’s writing as an African American then makes the narration very probable and realistic.…

    • 1062 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays