Langston Hughes Theme For English B - 845 Words

In â€Å"Theme for English B† Langston Hughes dramatizes race and self-identity. Hughes is struggling to relate himself to his teacher and everyone around him, so he starts off by telling readers about his background such as his age and where he has lived. â€Å"I am twenty-two, colored, born in Winston- Salem† (2). Through the first stanza of the poem we know that Hughes is living through a time where race is a big issue and not too many African American adolescents are in school like he is. He is learning more and more about himself by asking questions about the society he lives in and if and how he fits in it. He is trying to discover truths about his self-identity by comparing himself and his white teacher several times. â€Å"You are white- yet a†¦show more content†¦Also, there are references to the YMCA, Bessie Smith, and Bop Music. These allusions show an insight into the elements that affected the student in this piece and their everyday life and cult ure. The rhyme, rhythm, and allusions shown in this poem allow a reader to follow a more relatable and understanding of the poem. There are many symbolic elements incorporated into â€Å"Theme for English B† by Langston Hughes. For example, there are many â€Å"black and white references† in the concern of racial bias. In line 10, a reader will see the word â€Å"colored† instead of African American. This a vivid symbol that shows that the student in isolate in an all-white class and makes them seem alone. The word colored was meant to be a description of the student, but during the time period it was written the word â€Å"colored† was also derogatory and degrading. Imagery is prominent in the piece. Lines 11-15 provide the ready a scenic walk through Harlem. The author does this by providing lines such as 11-15, â€Å"The steps from the hill lead down into Harlem, / through a park, then I cross St. Nicholas, / Eighth Avenue, Seventh, and I come to the Y, / the Harlem Branch Y, where I take the elevator/ up to my room, sit down, and write this page:† Allegory is also a major element found in this poem.Show MoreRelatedLangston Hughes Theme For English B785 Words   |  4 PagesTheme for English B by Langston Hughes A â€Å"Theme for English B† is a poem written by Langston Hughes, in 1949 during the Harlem Renaissance. In his poem Langston Hughes was able to raise the question to anyone who was struggling to find his or hers identity, I was able to relate towards the poem because I too struggle with my identity and what my goals are in life. Hughes was also able to express that two people can learn from each other no matter their race or gender, by trying to relate to hisRead MoreLangston Hughes Theme For English B1332 Words   |  6 PagesMy response to Langston Hughes in Theme for English B is we have a variety of interests that are relatable to both of us. We encountered and conquered the greatest battles in our lives. We confronted segregation and rejection in view of the color of our skin and identity. After reading his poem, I was reminded of how I experienced discrimination and rejection throughout public school and I was labeled an outsider. I was discriminated and rejected no t only just the color of my skin, it’s becauseRead MoreTheme For English B By Langston Hughes1273 Words   |  6 PagesThroughout my life I have experienced many trials that are quite different to that of the narrator in â€Å"Theme for English B†; however, there are some similarities such as his life experiences, that can be compared to those of the narrator. In this poem Langston Hughes writes of a man who is given an assignment with very abstract and philosophical instructions for writing this paper. Accordingly, the narrator has some difficulties at first because he thinks of how different he and the professor isRead More Analysis of Theme for English B by Langston Hughes Essay1793 Words   |  8 Pages Langston Hughes was an African American poet and author who joined other black artists to break literary barriers during the civil rights movement. The poem entitled Theme for English B was written thirty years or so after the birth of the Harlem Renaissance, but still embodies why the Renaissance had originated in the first place. I believe this poem reflected on Hughes life in general, but more importantly on the fight against the ignorance that created discrimination. James Mercer LangstonRead MoreAnalysis Of Langston Hughes Poem Theme Of English B911 Words   |  4 PagesThe more you know, the greater you individual power becomes. Upon reading Langston Hughes poem â€Å"Theme of English B† I understand that knowledge does not discriminate or separate people based upon race, age, or educational level. However, it brings us together and allows us to grow. Once you obtain any form of knowledge from anyone power is gained. Every time you quire new information you become powerful. â€Å"Theme of English B† brings light that we as a nation learn from each other if we are open mindedRead MoreAnalysis Of `` Girl `` By Jamaica Kincaid And Theme For English B By Langston Hughes1228 Words   |  5 PagesHow can two completely different texts convey the same message while covering different issues? In this paper I will argue that â€Å"Girl† by Jamaica Kincaid and â€Å"Theme for English B† by Langston Hughes are both addressing the same issue but in different ways. I will look at the similarities of characters, symbolism, and text found in the story. Even though the texts are different, th ey are both revealing social issues found in society. â€Å"Girl† by Jamaica Kincaid is a short story that consists ofRead MoreAnalysis Of Langston Hughes s Poem Theme From English B 1592 Words   |  7 Pages What Lies Beneath Langston Hughes was an American poet who spent a majority of his life growing up in Cleveland, Ohio as well as Lincoln, Illinois. Hughes was able to travel across the states and to several different countries which allowed him to experience diversity and hardships like poverty and racial discrimination. His teenage years was around the time that he would start to write poetry. The poetry that he wrote throughout his life incorporated Black culture and revealed his deeper viewsRead MoreLangston Hughes Theme for English B and Gerald Graff’s Hidden Intellectualism882 Words   |  4 PagesLangston Hughes â€Å"Theme for English B† and Gerald Graff’s essay â€Å"Hidden Intellectualism† portray racial separation and intellectual isolation, respectively. Hughes’ essay is poetic justice, and Graff’s is a call to arms. Hughes’ is short and to the point and is simply what it is, no arguing or convincing, just raw thought. Graff’s is hig hly intellectual; offering examples and reasoning, and it could even be seen as a not-quite-finished plea to the nation to reevaluate our education system. But theRead MoreLangston Hughes: Spokesman for Civil Rights960 Words   |  4 PagesTracy Johnson Mr. Bush English Comp. 11 26 October 2012 Langston Hughes: Spokesman for Civil Rights The purpose of this essay is to examine the theme of three Langston Hughes poems; â€Å"I. Too,† â€Å"Mother to Son,† and â€Å"Theme for English B.† The theme of these three essays is civil rights. Langston Hughes was born in Joplin, Missouri in 1902. His parents separated early in his life, he lived with his mother in Kansas City. Langston Hughes attended High School where as a senior he wrote, â€Å"The NegroRead More`` True Freedom `` By Langston Hughes1163 Words   |  5 Pagesup for beliefs. Langston Hughes, an American poet known for his writing during the Harlem Renaissance period said, â€Å"In all my life, I have never been free. I have never been able to do anything with freedom, except in the field of my writing.† (citation). As a young African American man, Hughes faced man obstacles, but writing gave him a sense of freedom of expression. His poetry reached people of various social, cultural, and racial backgrounds. Hughes’ poetry has timeless themes that give insight