Poem Analysis: Theme For English B By Langston Hughes
Carina Llewelyn
Professor Wallace
English 102
13 June 2015
Transitioning to a New School 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. When we look at identity, this poem discusses a lot about race, America, truth, and many questions are asked about one’s identity. An average 22-year-old college …show more content…
The speaker in this poem states, “I am the only colored student in my class” (10). Therefore, he didn’t feel like everyone else in his class when he should have. Later on in the poem he states, “I guess being colored doesn’t make me not like the / same things other folks like who are other races” (25-26). He connects himself with the other white students in his class. He finds similarities between himself and the others in the classroom. After all, he is just an average student like everybody else. Like everybody else, he likes “to eat, sleep, drink, and be in love. / I like to work, read, learn, and understand life” (21-22). Relating to his classmates and teacher, he …show more content…
In the poem, “Theme for English B”, Langston Hughes demonstrates how the speaker feels about this English B paper assignment. He puts you in his conscious and has you go through his thoughts to give you a sense of what he is feeling like in this classroom being the only colored student in a class full of white students. The speaker is told to write a paper about himself. When that paper gets assigned, he is stumped. He took in consideration that he is the only colored student in his entire class. For him that was very shocking, coming from towns that had a colored community. The racial tension made coming to school a challenge. When he starts to brainstorm ideas, he realizes that he is like the other students around him after all. For example, he brainstorms how both him and the other students would be ecstatic to share about their new record they got. Being a new student at a new school can be terrifying. The speaker of this essay was at first, but then he came to realize the things that made everyone in that classroom similar. He started connecting with those around him, realizing that he was just like everyone else. All any new student wants coming into a new school is to fit in, and he found his way of doing just
Professor Wallace
English 102
13 June 2015
Transitioning to a New School 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. When we look at identity, this poem discusses a lot about race, America, truth, and many questions are asked about one’s identity. An average 22-year-old college …show more content…
The speaker in this poem states, “I am the only colored student in my class” (10). Therefore, he didn’t feel like everyone else in his class when he should have. Later on in the poem he states, “I guess being colored doesn’t make me not like the / same things other folks like who are other races” (25-26). He connects himself with the other white students in his class. He finds similarities between himself and the others in the classroom. After all, he is just an average student like everybody else. Like everybody else, he likes “to eat, sleep, drink, and be in love. / I like to work, read, learn, and understand life” (21-22). Relating to his classmates and teacher, he …show more content…
In the poem, “Theme for English B”, Langston Hughes demonstrates how the speaker feels about this English B paper assignment. He puts you in his conscious and has you go through his thoughts to give you a sense of what he is feeling like in this classroom being the only colored student in a class full of white students. The speaker is told to write a paper about himself. When that paper gets assigned, he is stumped. He took in consideration that he is the only colored student in his entire class. For him that was very shocking, coming from towns that had a colored community. The racial tension made coming to school a challenge. When he starts to brainstorm ideas, he realizes that he is like the other students around him after all. For example, he brainstorms how both him and the other students would be ecstatic to share about their new record they got. Being a new student at a new school can be terrifying. The speaker of this essay was at first, but then he came to realize the things that made everyone in that classroom similar. He started connecting with those around him, realizing that he was just like everyone else. All any new student wants coming into a new school is to fit in, and he found his way of doing just