Countee Cullen
Countee Cullen
1. Explain the significance of the metaphor "dark tower."
The significance of the metaphor "dark tower", is that while the white people reap the benefits of the black people's hard work and sorrows, the slaves know that it won't be like this forever. That even certain flowers cannot bloom in the daylight, but only at night, in the darkness. This may also be foreshadowing that the slaves will rise up in their desperate times of need, "the darkness they are in", and the white people will fall and crumble.
2. Explain how the last two lines of the poem "From the Dark Tower" complete the message expressed in the first two lines.
The last two lines of the poem complete the message in the first two lines by reassuring the reader that the slaves will not always be slaves. While they are in the dark they will survive until the time comes that they rise up, out of the darkness, and take their freedom.
3. Explain the irony of the title "Incident."
The irony of the title "Incident", is that an incident is something small or of little importance that typically occurs and is put off as simply, "an incident", and is then forgotten. But in this case, Countee Cullen had spent many months in Baltimore and done many things, but in the end, that one little incident is all he remembered.
4. Write your reaction to this incident.
My own reaction to this incident is not one of being surprised. I know by experience that children pay close attention to their parents and learn from them in a way that clouds their own judgment. Sticking out your tongue is a very childish thing, and he was only a child, but by calling Cullen a nigger, he showed that he had a strong hatred and disliked black people. This is most likely because he is a white child observing white parents who are subconsciously teaching their children to remember a black person's "place" in society.
5. Discuss how Cullen uses diction to create tone.
Cullen uses diction in his writing to give a more personal feel
1. Explain the significance of the metaphor "dark tower."
The significance of the metaphor "dark tower", is that while the white people reap the benefits of the black people's hard work and sorrows, the slaves know that it won't be like this forever. That even certain flowers cannot bloom in the daylight, but only at night, in the darkness. This may also be foreshadowing that the slaves will rise up in their desperate times of need, "the darkness they are in", and the white people will fall and crumble.
2. Explain how the last two lines of the poem "From the Dark Tower" complete the message expressed in the first two lines.
The last two lines of the poem complete the message in the first two lines by reassuring the reader that the slaves will not always be slaves. While they are in the dark they will survive until the time comes that they rise up, out of the darkness, and take their freedom.
3. Explain the irony of the title "Incident."
The irony of the title "Incident", is that an incident is something small or of little importance that typically occurs and is put off as simply, "an incident", and is then forgotten. But in this case, Countee Cullen had spent many months in Baltimore and done many things, but in the end, that one little incident is all he remembered.
4. Write your reaction to this incident.
My own reaction to this incident is not one of being surprised. I know by experience that children pay close attention to their parents and learn from them in a way that clouds their own judgment. Sticking out your tongue is a very childish thing, and he was only a child, but by calling Cullen a nigger, he showed that he had a strong hatred and disliked black people. This is most likely because he is a white child observing white parents who are subconsciously teaching their children to remember a black person's "place" in society.
5. Discuss how Cullen uses diction to create tone.
Cullen uses diction in his writing to give a more personal feel