I Too Poem Analysis
Two Poems from Revising America: Comparison and Contrasting Essay
Recently, my class read “I, Too” by Langston Hughes and “Dreams” by Nikki Giovanni. “I, Too” differs and is similar to “Dreams” in many ways. These two poems are written by two different authors. The subject of the poems is the same. The mood is similar and there is also a similarity between the styles in the poems. These two poems have many similarities and few differences. In both poems, the speakers reveal their feelings of inequality and their desire to be equal. “I, Too” by Langston Hughes is a poem about an African American man that expresses his desire to be equal to all other Americans, presumably the white majority. In the beginning of the poem, he writes, “They send me to eat in the kitchen when company comes” (3-4). In the end of the poem, he writes, “They’ll see how beautiful I am and be ashamed” (16-17). This line expresses his need and want for him to be seen as an …show more content…
American and that all people in America, regardless of skin color, should be treated equally and those who do not recognize that will be ashamed of this behavior. The poem concludes with the speaker asserting, again, that he (and therefore his race) is indeed American (Shmoop Editorial Team). “Dreams” by Nikki Giovanni speaks about a woman longing to be equal and have the same rights as the “white folks” as she references in the poem (4). She expresses her desire to fight for her freedom and how she often dreams “radical dreams” about promoting peace by using her “perceptive powers” to get people to realize that she is no different than them (6,7). This poem expresses strong racial pride for her ethnicity. Research shows that much of Giovanni’s poetry expresses strong racial pride and respect for her culture (Poetry Foundation). In the two poems, “I, Too” by Langston Hughes and “Dreams” by Nikki Giovanni, the subjects are the same.
The subject of both poems is dreaming of equality for African Americans and what it would be like if they had equal rights. Both poems are about what life would be like if and when they can prove to the other race, white or Caucasian, that they are one in the same. In “I, Too” by Langston Hughes, he states, “I, too, am America” (18). This quote means that he is also an American and he feels he should be treated the same. This line is expressing his desire to be equal to all Americans as he indicates that he is also an American, the same as them. In, “Dreams” by Nikki Giovanni, she states, “I used to dream militant dreams of taking over America to show these white folks how it should be done” (1-5). This line is expressing her desire to prove to the “white folks” that she is not only capable of doing what they can do, but maybe even a little better (4). Both poems express the author’s desire for equal
rights. The moods of the two poems are similar. The mood of “I, Too” is humble and proud. In the poem it states, “They’ll see how beautiful I am and be ashamed” (16-17). This quote means that he is proud of whom he is and he knows his worth and he knows that when the world recognizes what he knows, they will be ashamed of how they treated African Americans. It shows that he is humble and proud of his ethnicity and soon the rest of the world will recognize their wrong doing. In “Dreams”, the mood is very similar. In “Dreams”, it states “I used to dream radical dreams of blowing everyone away with my perceptive powers of correct analysis” (6-8). This quote means that she feels that if she had things her way then they would be the right way. In her eyes, the right way would mean that all people are treated equally. This quote expresses her pride and her confidence in herself. She is proud of whom she is and if she could persuade others to see things like she does, there would be peace and no more riots. This is evident in the line she wrote, “I even used to think I’d be the one to stop the riot and negotiate the peace” (9-10). The styles of the poems “I, Too” by Langston Hughes and “Dreams” by Nikki Giovanni are also very similar. Both poems are informal, short, and free versed. “I, Too” has no pattern and no specific rules. It is a free verse poem. “Dreams” is also very informal with no real pattern or rules. Both authors took on a more informal approach for both poems, yet both poems were very powerful and inspiration. Both poems had a very clear and passionate message despite the informality of the passage. “I, Too” and “Dreams” had many similarities, but also some very clear differences. “I, Too” by Langston Hughes referenced a “darker brother” and his desire for equality. In the poem, it states, “I am the darker brother” (2). This implies his desire to equality for African American males. In “Dreams” by Nikki Giovanni, she states, “that if I dreamed natural dreams of being a natural woman doing what a woman does when she’s natural I would have a revolution” (12-16). This references her pride in being a woman and her desire for equality for African American females. Both poems are referencing equality for the same race and ethnicity, but different genders. Both poems, though different in perspective, reference an African American person longing to be equal to the white American. Both writers grew up in a time where slavery was common and the white man was superior to the African American man (Wikipedia Foundation, Inc.). Their passion, pride, and assertiveness are expressed very clearly in both poems. It is clear that they are both strong, prideful African Americans who respect not only themselves, but their ethnicity and culture. Both poems represent their struggles and their drive to overcome them in order to achieve equality for not only themselves, but the entire African American race.
Works Cited
Klotz, Marvin, and Samuel Cohen. "Dreams." Literate The Human Experience Reading and Writing. By Richard Abcarian. 11th ed. N.p.: Bedford St. Martins, n.d. N. pag 456, 458. Print.
Poetry Foundation. “Nikki Giovanni” PoetryFoundation.org. n.d., 2013. Web. 27 Sep. 2013
Shmoop Editorial Team. "I, Too, Sing America" Shmoop.com. Shmoop University, Inc., 11 Nov. 2008. Web. 27 Sep. 2013.
Wikipedia Foundation, Inc. “Langston Hughes” wikipedia.com. n.d. 11 Sep. 2013. Web. 27 Sep. 2013
Wikipedia Foundation, Inc. “Nikki Giovanni” wikipedia.com. n.d. 20 Sep. 2013. Web. 27 Sep. 2013
Recently, my class read “I, Too” by Langston Hughes and “Dreams” by Nikki Giovanni. “I, Too” differs and is similar to “Dreams” in many ways. These two poems are written by two different authors. The subject of the poems is the same. The mood is similar and there is also a similarity between the styles in the poems. These two poems have many similarities and few differences. In both poems, the speakers reveal their feelings of inequality and their desire to be equal. “I, Too” by Langston Hughes is a poem about an African American man that expresses his desire to be equal to all other Americans, presumably the white majority. In the beginning of the poem, he writes, “They send me to eat in the kitchen when company comes” (3-4). In the end of the poem, he writes, “They’ll see how beautiful I am and be ashamed” (16-17). This line expresses his need and want for him to be seen as an …show more content…
American and that all people in America, regardless of skin color, should be treated equally and those who do not recognize that will be ashamed of this behavior. The poem concludes with the speaker asserting, again, that he (and therefore his race) is indeed American (Shmoop Editorial Team). “Dreams” by Nikki Giovanni speaks about a woman longing to be equal and have the same rights as the “white folks” as she references in the poem (4). She expresses her desire to fight for her freedom and how she often dreams “radical dreams” about promoting peace by using her “perceptive powers” to get people to realize that she is no different than them (6,7). This poem expresses strong racial pride for her ethnicity. Research shows that much of Giovanni’s poetry expresses strong racial pride and respect for her culture (Poetry Foundation). In the two poems, “I, Too” by Langston Hughes and “Dreams” by Nikki Giovanni, the subjects are the same.
The subject of both poems is dreaming of equality for African Americans and what it would be like if they had equal rights. Both poems are about what life would be like if and when they can prove to the other race, white or Caucasian, that they are one in the same. In “I, Too” by Langston Hughes, he states, “I, too, am America” (18). This quote means that he is also an American and he feels he should be treated the same. This line is expressing his desire to be equal to all Americans as he indicates that he is also an American, the same as them. In, “Dreams” by Nikki Giovanni, she states, “I used to dream militant dreams of taking over America to show these white folks how it should be done” (1-5). This line is expressing her desire to prove to the “white folks” that she is not only capable of doing what they can do, but maybe even a little better (4). Both poems express the author’s desire for equal
rights. The moods of the two poems are similar. The mood of “I, Too” is humble and proud. In the poem it states, “They’ll see how beautiful I am and be ashamed” (16-17). This quote means that he is proud of whom he is and he knows his worth and he knows that when the world recognizes what he knows, they will be ashamed of how they treated African Americans. It shows that he is humble and proud of his ethnicity and soon the rest of the world will recognize their wrong doing. In “Dreams”, the mood is very similar. In “Dreams”, it states “I used to dream radical dreams of blowing everyone away with my perceptive powers of correct analysis” (6-8). This quote means that she feels that if she had things her way then they would be the right way. In her eyes, the right way would mean that all people are treated equally. This quote expresses her pride and her confidence in herself. She is proud of whom she is and if she could persuade others to see things like she does, there would be peace and no more riots. This is evident in the line she wrote, “I even used to think I’d be the one to stop the riot and negotiate the peace” (9-10). The styles of the poems “I, Too” by Langston Hughes and “Dreams” by Nikki Giovanni are also very similar. Both poems are informal, short, and free versed. “I, Too” has no pattern and no specific rules. It is a free verse poem. “Dreams” is also very informal with no real pattern or rules. Both authors took on a more informal approach for both poems, yet both poems were very powerful and inspiration. Both poems had a very clear and passionate message despite the informality of the passage. “I, Too” and “Dreams” had many similarities, but also some very clear differences. “I, Too” by Langston Hughes referenced a “darker brother” and his desire for equality. In the poem, it states, “I am the darker brother” (2). This implies his desire to equality for African American males. In “Dreams” by Nikki Giovanni, she states, “that if I dreamed natural dreams of being a natural woman doing what a woman does when she’s natural I would have a revolution” (12-16). This references her pride in being a woman and her desire for equality for African American females. Both poems are referencing equality for the same race and ethnicity, but different genders. Both poems, though different in perspective, reference an African American person longing to be equal to the white American. Both writers grew up in a time where slavery was common and the white man was superior to the African American man (Wikipedia Foundation, Inc.). Their passion, pride, and assertiveness are expressed very clearly in both poems. It is clear that they are both strong, prideful African Americans who respect not only themselves, but their ethnicity and culture. Both poems represent their struggles and their drive to overcome them in order to achieve equality for not only themselves, but the entire African American race.
Works Cited
Klotz, Marvin, and Samuel Cohen. "Dreams." Literate The Human Experience Reading and Writing. By Richard Abcarian. 11th ed. N.p.: Bedford St. Martins, n.d. N. pag 456, 458. Print.
Poetry Foundation. “Nikki Giovanni” PoetryFoundation.org. n.d., 2013. Web. 27 Sep. 2013
Shmoop Editorial Team. "I, Too, Sing America" Shmoop.com. Shmoop University, Inc., 11 Nov. 2008. Web. 27 Sep. 2013.
Wikipedia Foundation, Inc. “Langston Hughes” wikipedia.com. n.d. 11 Sep. 2013. Web. 27 Sep. 2013
Wikipedia Foundation, Inc. “Nikki Giovanni” wikipedia.com. n.d. 20 Sep. 2013. Web. 27 Sep. 2013