Universal Essay
Nichelle Osborne
ENG1123 8A
February 4, 2013
Literature Forever Lives
Why should we even bother reading literature from eras where we did not grow up in? It seems as though over time, the written works would lose its relevance to the current generation. This is a question that most students ask their teachers. Themes are universal and have survived the test of time. Love, anger and hate are emotions that have been around forever; they don 't change. It is only the style of writing that changes over time.
For instance, in the poem “We Real Cool”, Brooks appeals to a younger audience to show that the glamour of dropping out of school is actually a risky act that is done by people who lack education or common sense. By using the short, fragmented, simple sentences such as “We real cool. We left school. We lurk late”, she shows that the speakers of the poem aren 't educated (Brooks). This poem shows that teenagers only care about themselves. They live a carefree life, and they can care less about school because they find it tedious. Therefore, that will make it difficult for them to find a job and live a decent lifestyle, which basically leaves them no choice but to live the street life. They have no sense of themselves and are not aware of the importance of education, which will sooner or later become their downfall. This poem reminded me of my friends who thought high school was not cool enough for them and decided to drop out. Three years later, they are now trying to get their GED and are having a difficult time getting a job that does not pay minimum wage. I thought that Brooks was trying to say that we all grow out of our rebellious years when she says "We die soon." (Brooks).
In the poem “Mother to Son”, Hughes uses the device of an extended metaphor to describe the life of the mother. The extended metaphor compares the mother’s life to a staircase. The line “Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair” begins and ends the poem (Hughes). With this line,
ENG1123 8A
February 4, 2013
Literature Forever Lives
Why should we even bother reading literature from eras where we did not grow up in? It seems as though over time, the written works would lose its relevance to the current generation. This is a question that most students ask their teachers. Themes are universal and have survived the test of time. Love, anger and hate are emotions that have been around forever; they don 't change. It is only the style of writing that changes over time.
For instance, in the poem “We Real Cool”, Brooks appeals to a younger audience to show that the glamour of dropping out of school is actually a risky act that is done by people who lack education or common sense. By using the short, fragmented, simple sentences such as “We real cool. We left school. We lurk late”, she shows that the speakers of the poem aren 't educated (Brooks). This poem shows that teenagers only care about themselves. They live a carefree life, and they can care less about school because they find it tedious. Therefore, that will make it difficult for them to find a job and live a decent lifestyle, which basically leaves them no choice but to live the street life. They have no sense of themselves and are not aware of the importance of education, which will sooner or later become their downfall. This poem reminded me of my friends who thought high school was not cool enough for them and decided to drop out. Three years later, they are now trying to get their GED and are having a difficult time getting a job that does not pay minimum wage. I thought that Brooks was trying to say that we all grow out of our rebellious years when she says "We die soon." (Brooks).
In the poem “Mother to Son”, Hughes uses the device of an extended metaphor to describe the life of the mother. The extended metaphor compares the mother’s life to a staircase. The line “Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair” begins and ends the poem (Hughes). With this line,
Cited: Boyle, Thomas. “Greasy Lake.” Compact Literature. Ed. Laurie Kirszner, and Stephen Mandell. Wadsworth, Cengage learning, 2013. 573-580. Print. Brooks, Gwendolyn. "We Real Cool." Poets. Academy Audio Archives, n.d. Web. 4 Feb 2013. Hughes, Langston. "Mother To Son." Poem Hunter. N.p., 03 Jan 2003. Web. 3 Feb 2013.