Poem mother to son. What Is the Imagery in the Poem "Mother to Son"? 2022-10-28
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"Mother to Son" is a poem by Langston Hughes that reflects the struggles and hardships that a mother has faced in her life and the lessons she has learned from them. The poem is written in the form of a conversation between a mother and her son, in which the mother imparts wisdom and advice to her son about the challenges he will face in life.
The poem begins with the mother telling her son that life has not been easy for her. She compares her life to a stairway, saying that it has been "a staircase -- all worn and narrow" with "tacks and splinters in [her] feet." Despite the difficulties she has faced, the mother has persevered and kept moving forward, telling her son to "don't you turn back."
The mother goes on to describe the challenges and obstacles that she has encountered in her life, saying that she has faced "places with no light" and "dark as a dungeon." She has also faced "bitter, bitterer," and "better" days, implying that there will be both highs and lows in life. Despite all of this, the mother advises her son to "keep on a-climbin'" because "life for me ain't been no crystal stair."
The mother's message to her son is one of resilience and determination. She encourages him to keep moving forward, even when things get tough, and to never give up. She tells him that he will face challenges and hardships in life, but that he must keep going and not turn back.
In conclusion, "Mother to Son" is a powerful and poignant poem that speaks to the struggles and challenges that we all face in life. It encourages us to keep moving forward and to never give up, no matter how difficult things may seem. It is a reminder to always keep climbing and to never let setbacks hold us back from achieving our goals.
Mother to Son
T TONE Grim yet determined: The speaker has struggled much in life, yet still pushes forward. It's had tacks in it, And splinters, And boards torn up, And places with no carpet on the floor- Bare. As a poet myself and a former teacher, this has always been one of my favorite poems too. The syntax of the poem is part of what makes it so distinct and gives additional clues to the background of the speaker. But all the time I'se been a-climbin' on, And reachin' landin's, And turnin' corners, And sometimes goin' in the dark Where there ain't been no light. A mother explains to her son that life will bring hardships and obstacles that he must face and overcome. Most of the depictions of each aspect of TWIST are accurate to the passage, but they are minimal.
Dereliction The stairs referred to by the mother in this poem are in a state of disrepair and dilapidation. This perspective was probably more common in the South, where those who fought racial divides were potentially putting their lives at risk. Her professional experience includes teaching and tutoring students of all ages in literature, history and writing. This is a view that one would think reflects the perspectives of many African Americans during the time, although there are some differences between the attitude of the speaker and those of most African Americans. T THEME Despite the difficulties of her life, the speaker keeps going. Instead, it gives the poem a sense of authenticity, and makes the audience feel as if they, too were being lectured by their mother. Hughes, by writing in such a colloquial style, helps shape the image of a disadvantaged, yet strong and confident mother lecturing her son.
It's also an encouragement and inspiration to those of us who are teachers to continue caring and giving our best. . Langston nailed it with his pen. It is a powerful testimony to never give in to hardships and trials. She seems to be listening to a question from her son; she then takes time to address his concern and explain a complicated answer.
The pity party is over. It's had tacks in it and splinters, and boards torn up. Reading standing in front of the class reciting this poem with so much emotion and feeling that it grabbed me, and 50+ years later I can still recite every word with the same feeling and enthusiasm as that day I first heard it. The magazine was created specifically for an African American audience interested in civil rights issues, and at the time the poem was published, The Crisis had over 100,000 readers. The image of the flapper emerged, mobsters ruled the underground liquor trade, women could vote, and families owned cars. The chosen imagery highlights sense impressions created by the writer and indicates the author's attitude or evokes a particular reaction from the reader. The trials she faces make her advice to her son more meaningful because she is speaking from experience, and here Hughes is establishing her ethos as well.
Mother To Son By Langston Hughes, Famous Family Poem
She holds a Bachelor of the Arts in political science and a Master of Fine Arts in writing. We need to find ways to renew that for our enjoyment and the benefit of those we are serving. The student shows a basic understanding of each of the parts of the acronym, but may not apply them fully to the selected passage. It also evokes a time of uncertainty when the mother was not sure whether she was headed in the right direction -- or what she might have encountered when she reached her destination. Many black parents would have urged their children to support positive social change, but this speaker is not characterized by a tone of frustration or a desire to change the present. In doing so, he creates a symbol that is relevant and brings encouragement not only to his original audience, but also to audiences of the poem today.
As we progress in our careers, in any profession, we may not always have that same motivation and energy that we once had. There may be some inaccuracies or evidence that the student strayed from the task at hand. I served my time and paid my dues. Without considering the context in which Hughes wrote the poem, the staircase metaphor can represent any trial an individual can face, although when examining current issues in the United States, the original metaphor still, unfortunately, can apply. Thank you for sharing.
Of moral and spiritual decay. One of the most well-known individuals involved in the Harlem Renaissance was writer Langston Hughes, who wrote hundreds of poems, as well as works of prose and plays- most of which were centered around African-American themes. The theme identified highlights the meaning of the passage and offers insight, and it is supported by evidence from the text. In discussing the aspects, the student may have forgotten key evidence, or they may be unclear in their analysis. The student may not have paid much attention to detail in crafting each depiction, and there may be evidence of rushing or limited effort.
Even though these struggles are not explicitly stated, in the time this poem was written, prejudice, segregation, and violent threats were all a reality for the African American population. . She commands him to be resilient but adopts a nurturing tone. This poem and this image from an 8th grade teacher is still engrained in my memory - and in my life. The message the speaker has for her son is one that Hughes effectively communicates to the readers of the poem by utilizing an extended metaphor of a staircase, unique syntax and diction, and rhetorical appeals. The mother begins an extended had tacks in it, And splinters, And boards torn up, And places with no carpet on the floor— Bare. The world is full of news of children dying because of selfish immature parents and thugs, social injustice and endless political indifference.
The varied line lengths mirror the ups and downs of the staircase and the path of life. The tacks, splinters, torn-up boards, and uncarpeted bare spots all represent hardships she has encountered in her journey through life. This is my 34th year of teaching. It has a very conversational style of diction, written with abbreviated words and phrases that suggest the speaker has a low level of education. Remember that TWIST stands for Tone, Word Choice, Imagery, Style, Theme.
Ral Reading for creating and sharing this great piece of work with me. I hope this poem is sown in the wind for all generations to come. Hughes' image of the difficult, upward journey toward a better life is advice meant for everyone in times of struggle. Then God said not yet. So, boy, don't you turn back. There was still racial tensions that existed in the North, but during the Harlem Renaissance, African Americans were able to celebrate their history and culture openly.
