1. What role does freedom play in the poems you read in this unit? Write about at least three of the poems‚ describing how the poet uses imagery to depict freedom‚ the lack of it‚ or the desire for it. Answer: Type your answer here. They left the land of their slave past and moved toward the promise of freedom in the north‚ but the people of the “Great Migration” met with the cruel reality that their struggles were not over‚ that although a war had been fought and won‚ emancipation was only
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Lenox Avenue is a crucial street in Harlem‚ which to the extent the geology of New York is North‚ or uptown. We might inquire as to why Hughes has formed "down on Lenox Avenue" rather than "up on Lenox Avenue." Let’s think‚ then‚ about the character of the speaker of the ditty. Since Harlem was home basically to African Americans and the parts of New York City south of Harlem (suggested as "downtown") were populated generally by whites‚ if the speaker were to see Lenox Avenue as "up" from his place
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Their Eyes Were Watching God Their Eyes Were Watching God is a story about the life of Janie Crawford and the hardships and triumphs in her three marriages‚ though there were many more hardships. In this essay I will share with you the setting‚ some characters‚ incidents from the plot‚ the theme‚ and point of view. This story begins in the 1930’s when Janie returns to her home in Eatonville‚ Florida. She then begins to recount her life story to her closest friend‚ Phoeby
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Langston Hughes Langston Hughes’ stories deal with and serve as a commentary of conditions of African Americans during the Harlem Renaissance. As Ostrom explains‚ "To a great degree‚ his stories speak for those who are voiceless‚ cheated‚ abused‚ or ignored because of race or class." (51). Hughes’ stories speak of the unfortunate African-Americans neglected and overlooked by a prejudiced society. The recurring theme of how powerlessness leads to violence is personified by the actions of Sargeant
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An Explication of Langston Hughes ’ "Mother to Son" Langston Hughes once stated in his own words that his whole purpose for writing was‚ "to explain and illuminate the Negro condition in America." In the poem "Mother to Son"‚ he denotes his belief on racism in America. In "Mother to Son"‚ a mother is giving advice to her son about life from her perspective and experiences. She wants her son to keep striving on what he believes and to have a more prosperous life than what she had. Langston Hughes
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The poem A Dream Deferred by Langston Hughes basically describes what happens to dreams when they are put on hold. The speaker in the poem originally entitled it Harlem‚ which is the capital of African-American life in the United States. The title was changed to accommodate all dreams in general‚ and what happens when people postpone making them come true. The speakers attitude toward the poem is an advice-giving attitude. The poet doesnt want people to postpone getting what they want. The poem is
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LANGSTON HUGHES DORIS YAO INTRODUCTION James Mercer Langston Hughes (February 1‚ 1902 – May 22‚ 196 7) was an American poet‚ social activist‚ novelist‚ playwright‚ and c olumnist. He was one of the earliest innovators of the then-new liter ary art form called jazz poetry. Hughes is best known as a leader of the Harlem Renaissance. He famously wrote about the period that "the negro was in vogue"‚ which was later paraphrased as "when Harlem was in vogue". THE NEGRO SPEAKS OF RIVERS • I’ve known
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Langston Hughes is represented in Black Voices by the Tales of Simple. Hughes first presents his character Jessie B. Simple in the Forward: Who is Simple? In this tale the reader is given its first look at the character Jessie B. Simple who is a black man that represents almost the "anybody or everybody" of black society. Simple is a man who needs to drink‚ to numb the pain of living life. "Usually over a glass of beer‚ he tells me his tales... with a pain in his soul... sometimes as the old blues
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"Famous? Make sure you come in the back door." The Harlem Renaissance was "an explosion of African-American talents and natural born gifts" (Harlem Renaissance: Re-examined 2). Although it was one of the most influential and impacting events when it came to advances in art‚ literature‚ entertainment and overall fun‚ many felt that the Harlem Renaissance itself wasn’t so much a celebration of African-American culture‚ but rather a regurgitation of White principles. But no matter how big the Renaissance
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While writing a paper for his English class‚ Langston Hughes‚ the only African American in the class‚ explores equality in a stream of conscious‚ three paragraph poem. In “Theme for English B‚” Hughes expresses that all races influence each other and should be treated and considered equal as Americans. Hughes discusses the similarities between the different races in America and writes his paper questioning if “its that simple” to overcome segregation issues. After telling of his African American
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