LANGSTON HUGHES INTRODUCTION
LANGSTON HUGHES
DORIS YAO
INTRODUCTION
James Mercer Langston Hughes (February 1, 1902 – May 22, 196
7) was an American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and c olumnist. He was one of the earliest innovators of the then-new liter ary art form called jazz poetry. Hughes is best known as a leader of the Harlem Renaissance. He famously wrote about the period that
"the negro was in vogue", which was later paraphrased as "when
Harlem was in vogue".
THE NEGRO SPEAKS OF RIVERS
•
I've known rivers: I've known rivers ancient as the world and older than theflo w of human blood in human veins.
•
My soul has grown deep like the rivers.
•
I bathed in the Euphrates when dawns were young.I built my hut near the Co ngo and it lulled me to sleep.I looked upon the Nile and raised the pyramids above it.I heard the singing of the Mississippi when Abe Lincolnwent down to
New Orleans, and I've seen its muddybosom turn all golden in the sunset.
•
I've known rivers: Ancient, dusky rivers.
•
My soul has grown deep like the rivers.
ANALYSIS
In this poem, the speaker links himself to his ancestors, firm ly placing them in important historical, religious, and cultural sites all over the world. The speaker begins by claiming a c onnection to the world's ancient rivers that predated human beings, and that has made his soul grow "deep like the river
s." This insightful and articulate description indicates the sp eaker's immense intellect, and allows him to make a definiti ve connection between people of his race and the rest of hu man civilization. In the early 20th Century, white Americans often viewed their darker-skinned counterparts as less than human, and here, Hughes offers concrete proof of historical equality. MY OPINION
• Langston Hughes ‘s poetry portrayed the lives of the working-cla ss blacks in America.
• Her poetry is not only beautiful, but also has strong political over tones. • We can appreciate his poetry from“ the black perspective.”
• There is no
DORIS YAO
INTRODUCTION
James Mercer Langston Hughes (February 1, 1902 – May 22, 196
7) was an American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and c olumnist. He was one of the earliest innovators of the then-new liter ary art form called jazz poetry. Hughes is best known as a leader of the Harlem Renaissance. He famously wrote about the period that
"the negro was in vogue", which was later paraphrased as "when
Harlem was in vogue".
THE NEGRO SPEAKS OF RIVERS
•
I've known rivers: I've known rivers ancient as the world and older than theflo w of human blood in human veins.
•
My soul has grown deep like the rivers.
•
I bathed in the Euphrates when dawns were young.I built my hut near the Co ngo and it lulled me to sleep.I looked upon the Nile and raised the pyramids above it.I heard the singing of the Mississippi when Abe Lincolnwent down to
New Orleans, and I've seen its muddybosom turn all golden in the sunset.
•
I've known rivers: Ancient, dusky rivers.
•
My soul has grown deep like the rivers.
ANALYSIS
In this poem, the speaker links himself to his ancestors, firm ly placing them in important historical, religious, and cultural sites all over the world. The speaker begins by claiming a c onnection to the world's ancient rivers that predated human beings, and that has made his soul grow "deep like the river
s." This insightful and articulate description indicates the sp eaker's immense intellect, and allows him to make a definiti ve connection between people of his race and the rest of hu man civilization. In the early 20th Century, white Americans often viewed their darker-skinned counterparts as less than human, and here, Hughes offers concrete proof of historical equality. MY OPINION
• Langston Hughes ‘s poetry portrayed the lives of the working-cla ss blacks in America.
• Her poetry is not only beautiful, but also has strong political over tones. • We can appreciate his poetry from“ the black perspective.”
• There is no