Harlem Renaissance
Which line most directly describes the results of inequality?(A black man talks of reaping)
"My children glean in fields they have not sown, and feed on bitter fruit"
Which poetic structure describes "The Tropics in New York"?
ABAB Quantrains - 4 line stanzas
What common theme is shared by Hughes's "I, Too" and Clifton's "study the masters"?
African Americans are also Americans.
What is theme of "Study the Masters"?
African Americans are also Americans.
What is theme of "From The Dark Tower"?
African Americans are waiting for the day when they're equal to the whites.
When you apply a political approach to "From the Dark Tower" how do you interpret the first stanza? How do you interpret the last couplet?
African Americans want to achieve things for ourselves. Must wait to have their equality, it's not gonna happen overnight but don't quit working toward equality.
What connection does the speaker make between Aunt Timmie's labor and the master poet?
Aunt Timmie's labor contributes to the poets dream, his success.
Who is the real master?
Aunt Timmie.
In "The Negro Speaks of Rivers, which four rivers does the speaker mention? What does the age of these rivers imply about the theme found in the poem?
Euphrates, Congo, Nile, Mississppi It implies that African Americans are deeply rooted and ancient in their culture.
What does the speaker's sowing represent in Bontemp's metaphor?(A black talks of reaping)
Hard work or effort.
What is represented by the metaphor of planting?(A black man talks of reaping)
Hard work or effort.
In "Refugee in America," what is the speaker's reaction to words like freedom and liberty? In what way does the title of the poem connect these words to the poem itself?
He gets emotional. He's a refugee in the fact that he's still searching for his freedom and liberty.
Why does the speaker in "I, Too" have to eat in the kitchen when company comes? What does eating in the kitchen represent?
He is doesn't have the same rights or status. Segregation/Isolation
Based on lines 10-12 of "Dream Variations," describe the speaker's personality. Is the speaker in the poem an individual or a group?
He is longing for a better life. Individual representing a group.
. What does the speaker mean when he says "I, too, am America"? Why does he refer so directly to Whitman's poem?
He says that he is also a part of this country. That he is equal
In "The Tropics of New York." what memories of his tropical home does the speaker long to experience?
He wishes to see the orchards, blue skies and the fruit at the fairs.To see the natural landscape.
What does the poet imply about African Americans by saying that the others benefit from what he plants?(A black man talks of reaping)
He's basically working for someone else typically white people. They're not getting what they deserve.
What is inferred about the identity and emotions of the speaker in "I, Too"?
He's optimistic that one day he'll have the same rights as everyone else.
In "For My Children," for whom has the speaker stored up tales? Why has the speaker made this effort?
Her children. So her children could be aware of their rich heritage and culture.
"Dream Variations" describes experiences for which the speaker longs. What do you think the speaker's daily life is like?
His life is full of struggle. Work all night/ sleep all day..
Why is the word "hope" so significant when discussing Aunt Timmie's dreams?
Hope is what motivates her to do a good job.
What does "The Negro speaks of River" reveal about Hughes's self-identity?
It shows his connections with his ancestors and their culture
Who is the speaker of "The Negro Speaks of Rivers?" How does the title help you identify the speaker? Explain.
Langston Hughes because based on his background and that the reader knows he was a slave helps to make the connection. The speaker is supposed to be symbolis of all African Americans. That the title shows its not just one person.
What contrast does the speaker set up in lines 9-10? What does Cullen mean by "no less lovely being dark?"
Need the dark for the stars to shine. Darkness and light need each other- it's not bad to be dark.
In the second and third stanzas, what impressions of her ancestors does the speaker convey?
Noble or powerful family.
Which word is repeated five times in the first stand and what is the effect of this repetition?
Not. It shows how he's always at a disadvantage.
What is the theme of "The Negro Speaks of Rivers"?
Perseverance. In "The Negro Speaks of Rivers," as our speaker charts the heritage of black Americans, beginning with the cradle of civilization in the Middle East and ending with references to slavery as seen from the Mississippi River, he traces over four thousand years of history.
Identify the elements in "The Negro Speaks of Rivers," that reflect the multiple themes of racial identity, pride, & perseverance.
Racial Identity "The Negro Speaks of Rivers Pride "My soul is deep like the rivers Perserverance "I bathed, built, heard"
Identify the elements in "I, Too," that reflect the multiple themes of racial identity, pride, & perseverance.
Racial Identity:"the darker brother" Pride:"they'll see how beautiful I am" Perserverance"Tomorrow Ill be at the table"
What is the theme of the poem?( A Black Man Talks of Reaping"
Racial Inequality. Generations of African Americans did honest work and their ancestors aren't
Identify the elements in "Dream Variations," that reflect the multiple themes of racial identity, pride, & perseverance.
Racial identity- He talks about the night and how it's dark like him. Pride-He actually has a dream Perseverance- I'll whirl and dance till the white day is done.
Identify the elements in "Refugee in America," that reflect the multiple themes of racial identity, pride, & perseverance.
Racial identity-if you had known what i know you'd know why Pride-all my heart strings freedom signs all day every day Perseverance- there are words like liberty that almost makes me cry
What does the speaker mean in "study the masters" when she concludes the poem by saying you would understand America if you had heard her aunt chanting?
She's a part of America so to hear her stories is to hear America's story.
What is the historical context for the African American struggle found in the poem?
Slavery and oppression.
What is theme of "For my Children"?
Telling your story, your culture.
Reread Walt Whitman's poem "I Hear America Singing" (pages 435-436). How does Hughes respond to Whitman's poem?
That african americans are also part of America
Why would the two rivers be important to the speaker and to her children?
The Congo represents their African heritage and the Mississippi represents their American life/their current one.
What aspects of "The Negro Speaks of Rivers" does an archetypal critical perspective help you interpret? What other critical perspective might help you interpret this poem? Why?
The archetypal group is African Americans the historical perspective helps you understand the poem
What does it mean to have a soul as deep as rivers? "The Negro speaks of rivers"
The culture of his African American heritage is as deep as the rivers
As the poet describes the history of African Americans, what are seeds most likely being compared to in his lines: "And wait, and tend our agonizing seeds"?
The oppression they endure in order to achieve equality.
In "The Tropics in New York," what memories does the fruit stir in the speaker? Why do you think the speaker weeps?
The poet is remembering her homeland, Jamaica. She weeps because she misses it. The narrator is homesick.
What is theme of "Refugees in America"?
The struggle of blacks to achieve equality in early twentieth century America
What is the theme of "The Tropics in New York"?
The theme is that even when one moves on, previous memories will still follow where ever one ends up. One will never forget the people that influenced how they are today. Also The theme of the poem is sadness as the speaker has wonderful memories of his homeland and has grief and longing to return.
To what does the poet compare farming?(A black man talks of reaping)
The work of African Americans.
What is ironic about the title of the poem as it relates to the message of the poem?(Tropics in NY)
There are no tropics in New York
In "A Black Man Talks of Reaping," why does the speaker plant "deep"?
To prevent the wind from blowing the seeds away. To make sure they grow.
What is theme of "Dream Variations"?
To relax and enjoy every moment of life.
What does the poem assert about equal rights in the workforce for African Americans?
Want to work for THEIR profit not SOMEONE else's profit.
What does the speaker in "For My Children" mean when she says "I want to search for a heritage beyond St. Louis"?
Wants to learn the ancient traditions of her culture and the history behind her ancestry.
When you read "Refugee in America" using a social or historical critical perspective, how do you understand the poem's last two lines?
We know that african americans are enslaved/discriminated against.
In "Dream Variations" what double meaning can you identify in the phrase "white day"?
White people are dominant during this time, determine the day. Also white like the sun.
What does reaping represent in the poem?(A black man talks of reaping)
Your benefit/reward.
What is the theme of "I Too"?
theme of overcoming. The speaker of the poem does not allow the racism and mistreatment to define him.Hughes reminds his audience of a continual theme in his writing, that being black is beautiful. Freedom also because he refuses to buckle under the pressure of slavery, and mentally because he believes he is equal to whites.
