Summary of theme for english b by langston hughes. Theme For English B Summary 2022-11-17
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"Theme for English B" is a poem written by Langston Hughes in the 1950s. In this poem, Hughes reflects on the experiences of being a black student in a predominantly white institution and the complexities of trying to find one's identity in such a setting.
One of the main themes of "Theme for English B" is the struggle for self-identity and self-expression. Hughes writes about how he is asked to write an English paper for his English class, but he struggles to find a topic that accurately represents his experiences and identity. He writes, "I am the only colored student in my class. / The steps from the hill lead down into Harlem, / Through the narrow streets, past the burning places" (lines 3-5). Hughes is aware of the fact that he is different from his classmates and that his experiences are shaped by his race and the neighborhood he comes from. He feels a sense of isolation and alienation from his peers, as he is the only black student in the class.
Another theme of "Theme for English B" is the idea of bridging the gap between different cultures and communities. Hughes writes about how he is asked to write a paper that "will be true" (line 8) and "not a compromise" (line 9). He struggles to find a way to express his unique experiences and identity in a way that is authentic and genuine. However, he also recognizes the value of being able to connect with others and bridge the divide between different cultures. He writes, "I like to eat, sleep, drink, and be in love. / I like to work, read, learn, and understand life" (lines 17-18). Hughes is saying that, despite the differences in their backgrounds and experiences, there are common human experiences and emotions that connect us all.
In conclusion, "Theme for English B" is a powerful poem that explores the struggles of finding one's identity and expressing oneself in a world that often tries to pigeonhole and label people based on their race and background. Hughes reflects on the challenges of being a black student in a predominantly white institution and the complexities of trying to find his place in such a setting. Ultimately, the poem speaks to the universal themes of self-identity, self-expression, and the desire to connect with others despite our differences.
Themes For English B By Langston Hughes
One of the elements is allusion. He, to begin with, finds it difficult to understand what the truth is. Authors often use alliteration to give a poem a desired rhythm or mood. He thinks about how impartial he can be when penning down the truth. In other words, Coates is arguing that the social injustice acted upon African Americans is causing them to act a certain way, that they were not born that way.
The poem is a classic example of Hughes' unique writing style. Forcing the reader to stop after such a short sentence draws attention to this factual statement and adds to the "otherness" and isolation created by this separation. Another example is, "I feel and see and hear, Harlem, I hear you" line 18 , which illustrates the idea that Harlem is not just where the speaker lives, but rather a living entity that contributes to his identity as much as a person would. In other speeches he degraded black people. He begins by writing that he is twenty-two, "colored," and born and schooled in Winston-Salem, Durham, and at college in Harlem. Assuming that many African American college students in his day might read the poem and be reassured by the poet's attitude and insight, we might also call the mood inspiring.
Words to express theme can be concept nouns, for example: identity, love, or confusion. The assignment is written with an AABB rhyme scheme, which also stands in contrast to the rest of the poem with the exception of the end , where there is no set rhyme scheme. Similarly, the author suggests that these similarities make them American and whether they like it or not, they are connected. The summary of these places, and people, and experiences is that there are elements of both the white culture and the black culture inside of him. Be that as it may, we discover the majority of the naturalistic components in the poems of Robert Frost.
With that said the African American people were given less of an opportunity at jobs, schooling, and most importantly culture. The speaker claims he is the only colored black student in his class, despite the university being so close to the predominantly African American neighborhood of Harlem. Hughes uses many allusions throughout the poem such as, Durham, Harlem, New York, Eighth Avenue, Bessie, and Bach. It seems that this line had some connotation to it that this colored twenty-two-year-old would like to have a pipe as the older white men have. The speaker begins by sharing that he is originally from the South and began college there, but now has moved to his current school in Harlem. One means of protesting was writing. Jones, a man who grew up in Crown Heights Brooklyn during the 1950s, the 1950s was a time where black people could not buy homes in certain neighborhoods without being beat or worse by white people and where police violence against black people happened on a regular basis Jones, par.
In these lines the speaker addresses the instructor and refers to the poem itself as a "conversation" with his instructor. Therefore, the lesson that follows from the analysis is that no matter the differences in ethnicity and skin color amid blacks and whites, they might often learn something from one another, and hence the need for racial unity and mutual American Theme For English B Figurative Language 2002 Words 9 Pages At some point in our lives, most of us have judged a book by its cover. This poem has a hopeful tone towards the end when the speaker expresses that although they are different from each other, they can still learn from each other. In the end, though, he resolves the dilemma by suggesting that the common humanity of writer and reader is what enables successful writing and communication and concludes with the line "This is my page for English B. Rhetorical questions are questions that are asked to create a dramatic effect or emphasize a point rather than to yield an answer. Because the author uses AAVE to show the ethos and sincerness that he is a black person, and discusses an educational, racial topic, he appeals to the white people who hold a cultural stereotypes Langston Hughes Poetry Analysis 761 Words 4 Pages Langston Hughes is an African American Poet who is very closely connected to his culture and expresses his feelings very thoroughly through his poetry in a jazz style. He walks down a hill into Harlem, crossing streets before arriving at the Harlem branch of the Y.
He describes the path he took from his college Columbia University to his home, which ended in a room above the Harlem branch of the YMCA. Dramatic monologues have a lengthy history in English poetry, dating back to the days of Old English. He lost both his parents by age 10 and was thereafter taken care of by his older brother, Johann Christoph. The black man will trail behind hoping to strive in success and authority as the white man does. The speaker goes on to describe how after attending school in Winston-Salem, he later moved to Durham to continue his education, before arriving at his current school: presumably, Columbia University.
These are descriptions about writing which inform us that he indeed is writing about poetry. The first main body stanza tells us that the narrator is a 22-year-old African-American male living in Harlem, New York. It's possible Hughes is referring to bop as a byword for jazz as a whole as the poet came to know it later, but it's also possible it is an anachronistic reference to a form of jazz that had not yet existed when Hughes was the age of the poem's speaker. Summary The narrator is a 22 year old, colored, young man, who was born in Winston-Salem. The cultural movement was an opportunity for African Americans to celebrate their heritage through intellectual and artistic works. This means that the lines and style of the writing are meant to mimic or mirror the way thoughts and feelings come into a person's mind.
No one encouraged the black race to make something of them, to start a better life, to get an education, and escape the slavery. The article written by Koh, Gracia, and Alvares 2014 explained that currently 20 percent of the U. The author struggles with the fact that he is different from the other students, as he is the only African-American student in the class. Lesson Summary Langston Hughes was an American poet who played an influential role in the movement called the Harlem Renaissance. For this reason Hughes desired to make a change and illustrate such cultural identities in his poems. However, the tone gradually becomes more assertive as he describes his struggle as a minority student and interests. The narrator is the personified figure that connects African Americans by explaining historical allusions that contributed to African American heritage and culture.
The thoughts and feelings come in a continuous flow. I believe the poem is still very effective and the fact that he does not display anger makes it even more significant. The student continues to ponder what constitutes his "true" identity, wondering how much of it is influenced by where he lives and what he sees, how much by his race, and how much by what he enjoys. Hughes addresses how America considers to be, has shifted to them to think, and could pursue to be again. The denotations and connotations in this poem is the poem in itself. He has an interest in Bessie, Bop, and Bach.
His verse for the most part gives an impression of interesting and more similarity of individuals living in a conventional society. See eNotes Ad-Free Start your 48-hour free trial to get access to more than 30,000 additional guides and more than 350,000 Homework Help questions answered by our experts. They send me to eat in the kitchen When company comes, But I laugh, And eat well, And grow strong¨ Hughes 2-7. But for the speaker, this assignment raises complicated questions about race, identity, and belonging. Hughes underlined the basis of the American Dream with what is and what should be in the societal era he lived in. Bach had three sons, all of whom went on to become successful composers. The noun phrase internal integration could be another way to express the theme of Hughes' poem.
