Langston Hughes by

Poem Analysis for "Dreams"

heidialyssahug — 2017-04-04 08:33:47 UTC

The poem "Dreams" by Langston Hughes is a short poem that is written in free verse. The theme of the poem "Dreams" is the importance of dreams and holding onto your dreams. He demostrates how one needs to "hold fast to dreams", for if one does not, everything will be lost (Hughes, 1). Langston Hughes was an African American that lived during the early and mid 1900's. This meant that he had to live through the discrimination and struggles towards them during that day and age, including the Harlem Renaissance. People needed literature like this to help boost morale. Hughes' writing about how one needs to hold onto their dreams and hope applies to all that were persecuted during that time because for most, that's all they have left and "life is a barren field" without it (Hughes, 8-9). Dreams of freedom and people who stand for these dreams, like Langston Hughes through his writings and other ways of voicing opinion, helped to bring our country of America towards a more unified and equal nation.

Poem Analysis for "I, Too"

heidialyssahug — 2017-04-04 08:34:45 UTC

"I, Too" by Langston Hughes is a poem that is not only patriotic towards America but also speaks of the struggles and trials of America. The poem emphasizes the struggles he himself faces as an American to fit in. Langston wrote this poem not too long after slavery was abolished in 1865 and before segregation laws were stated to be unconstitutional. This and the fact that the Civil Rights Movement didn't even take place until the end of his life helps the reader to further understand the context of the poem. Hughes feels the inequality between races in this so called "free" nation but he knows that one day all of that will end and "tomorrow, I'll be at the table when company comes"(Hughes, 8-10). This means that even though some people don't see him and other African Americans as the same as themselves Hughes has confidence that soon "they'll see how beautiful I am and be ashamed- I, too am America" (Hughes, 16-18). This poems structure is a free verse poem meaning that it has no metrical pattern. There are no rhyme schemes and no pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables.

Poet Biography

heidialyssahug — 2017-04-04 08:39:02 UTC

Langston Hughes was a poet who was born on February 1st, 1902 in Joplin Missouri and died on May 22nd, 1967, in New York City from prostate cancer. His full name was James Mercer Langston Hughes. When he was young, his parents split up causing him to be raised by his grandmother until he was thirteen. When he was thirteen he moved in with his mother and her husband, later moving with them to Cleveland Ohio. Cleveland is where he had begun to write poetry. Hughes went to his first year of college at Columbus University in New York City and finished college at the Lincoln University in Pennsylvania. After graduating high school, he moved to Mexico for a year to where his biological father worked as an attorney. While in Mexico and throughout college, he took on many odd jobs. Some of these jobs include him being a seaman, launderer, assistant cook, and busboy. Before finishing college, Langston Hughes published his first poetry book in 1926. Later, after finishing college, Hughes received the Harmon Gold Medal for literature in 1930 for his poem "Not Without Laughter". Langston and his works helped to shape the artistic movements of the Harlem Renaissance in the 1920's. Hughes wrote his poems to where they were simple enough for anyone to understand as long as they were able to read. This was a huge contrast to what other poets where doing during this time yet it was highly effective. By the end of his lifetime Hughes was able to not only write poetry but also eleven plays.

"Dreams"

heidialyssahug — 2017-04-04 08:39:49 UTC

Hold fast to dreams 
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.

Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.

"I, Too"

heidialyssahug — 2017-04-04 08:42:00 UTC

I, too, sing America.

I am the darker brother.
They send me to eat in the kitchen
When company comes,
But I laugh,
And eat well,
And grow strong.

Tomorrow,
I'll be at the table
When company comes.
Nobody'll dare
Say to me,
"Eat in the kitchen,"
Then.

Besides, 
They'll see how beautiful I am
And be ashamed—

I, too, am America.

Sources

heidialyssahug — 2017-04-04 08:58:58 UTC

"Hughes, Langston (1902-1967) | The Black Past: Remembered and Reclaimed." Hughes, Langston (1902-1967) | The Black Past: Remembered and Reclaimed. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Apr. 2017.

Structureandstyle. "I, Too." Structure and Style. N.p., 04 July 2012. Web. 06 Apr. 2017.

Hughes, Langston. "Dreams." Poets.org. Academy of American Poets, 17 June 2016. Web. 06 Apr. 2017.

"Langston Hughes." Poets.org. Academy of American Poets, 01 Aug. 2016. Web. 06 Apr. 2017.

Literary Terms

heidialyssahug — 2017-04-06 22:11:40 UTC

Analogy - An analogy is a comparison that is made between two somewhat alike yet fairly differentobjects, situations or ideas. The poem "Dreams" by Langston Hughes is almost an anology in itself. Throughout the entirety of the poem, the author is comparing a loss in dreams to the cold and broken things in life. By trying to portray the importance of dreams, he describes what life would be like without them, "for if dreams die life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly" (Hughes, 2-5).

Carpe diem - Carpe Diem is a Latin phrase that means "seize the day" and is shown in literature as a theme in which is urging people to live for the moment. Hughes uses this attitude in his poem "I, Too" to show the reader that he means business. No matter what comes in his way, he knows that one day "they'll see how beautiful I am and be ashamed" (Hughes, 16-17). America will one day see the true beauty in everyone and equality will prevail.

Diction - Diction is considered to be the authors word choice. Hughes uses easy vocabulary and ordinary words to make it easier for his audience to understand the purpose of the poem and get the meaning across. Readers understand that Hughes is trying to get them to recognize the importance of dreams when he states that they need to "hold fast to dreams", and later explains what would happen to them if they didn't (Hughes, 1).

Maxim - A maxim is a concise statement in which is often times offering advice. Hughes is offering advice to his readers when he states "hold fast to dreams" (Hughes, 1). By making this statement and telling people to not let go of what they are dreaming of, he is giving them advice on how to not give up and keep pressing forward through trials and turmoil.

Motivation - Motivation is the reason behind why a character thinks, feels, or acts the way they do. Langston's motivation in "I, Too" was his want for equality between all peoples and races, especially in America. Even though he was darker than other Americans he wanted them to one day Know and understand that "I, too, am America" (Hughes, 19).

Speaker - A speaker is the voice that "talks" to the reader. The speaker of the poem "I, Too" is very engaged in expressing their feelings towards equality and unity. The whole poem is basically in the perspective of the speakers thoughts towards what was going on in America during the time the poem was being written. The speaker shows it's love for America in the beginning of the poem by stating "I, too, sing America" and later explaining its hopes for America to change (Hughes, 1).

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