Langston Hughes Poetry Essay
Poetry is a form of literature that is expressive and can sometimes communicate a message more effectively than prose. It can be filled with literary elements and vivid language that can help poets relay their message to the readers. What is fascinating about poetry, is that each poem can relate to a person in multiple ways. In the poems "Harlem" and "Weary Blues" Langston Hughes uses language that effectively communicates the overall themes of both poems and relates to the African American experience at the time. The literary elements used in “Harlem” help Langston Hughes effectively communicate the overall theme of dreams and its relation to the African American experience. The poem “Harlem” is about a deferred dream and what happens to
…show more content…
Their poet, Langston Hughes, was an African American social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist who based many of his works off the African American experience. These two poems of his embody the theme of struggle. “Harlem” talks about a “dream deferred” and “Weary Blues” talks about the difficult life a black man leads and how he connects that to his music. African Americans in Harlem during the 1950’s lead a difficult life. Their opportunities were limited and their dreams were suppressed because of their race and social standing. “Harlem” talks about dreams and how they can be tragically suppressed or if they “explode”. This coincides with African Americans and how they couldn’t pursue their dreams, however, the last line gives hope and can be correlated to the Civil Rights Movement where African Americans fought once and for all for a better life. Unlike “Harlem” which can be viewed as a hopeful poem, “Weary Blues” embodies struggle more clearly. The poem explicitly shows how the man is struggling; by him singing about his loneliness and unhappiness. He expresses his sadness through his song. Both poems embody the theme of struggle and readers understand that through the poems’ connection with history. The language used in “Harlem” and “Weary Blues” effectively communicates to readers the themes of both poems and their relation to the African American experience at the time.
Their poet, Langston Hughes, was an African American social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist who based many of his works off the African American experience. These two poems of his embody the theme of struggle. “Harlem” talks about a “dream deferred” and “Weary Blues” talks about the difficult life a black man leads and how he connects that to his music. African Americans in Harlem during the 1950’s lead a difficult life. Their opportunities were limited and their dreams were suppressed because of their race and social standing. “Harlem” talks about dreams and how they can be tragically suppressed or if they “explode”. This coincides with African Americans and how they couldn’t pursue their dreams, however, the last line gives hope and can be correlated to the Civil Rights Movement where African Americans fought once and for all for a better life. Unlike “Harlem” which can be viewed as a hopeful poem, “Weary Blues” embodies struggle more clearly. The poem explicitly shows how the man is struggling; by him singing about his loneliness and unhappiness. He expresses his sadness through his song. Both poems embody the theme of struggle and readers understand that through the poems’ connection with history. The language used in “Harlem” and “Weary Blues” effectively communicates to readers the themes of both poems and their relation to the African American experience at the time.