Summary of theme for english b by langston hughes. Theme For English B Summary 2022-10-16
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"Theme for English B" is a poem written by Langston Hughes in the 1950s. In this poem, Hughes reflects on the experiences of being a black student in a predominantly white institution and the complexities of trying to find one's identity in such a setting.
One of the main themes of "Theme for English B" is the struggle for self-identity and self-expression. Hughes writes about how he is asked to write an English paper for his English class, but he struggles to find a topic that accurately represents his experiences and identity. He writes, "I am the only colored student in my class. / The steps from the hill lead down into Harlem, / Through the narrow streets, past the burning places" (lines 3-5). Hughes is aware of the fact that he is different from his classmates and that his experiences are shaped by his race and the neighborhood he comes from. He feels a sense of isolation and alienation from his peers, as he is the only black student in the class.
Another theme of "Theme for English B" is the idea of bridging the gap between different cultures and communities. Hughes writes about how he is asked to write a paper that "will be true" (line 8) and "not a compromise" (line 9). He struggles to find a way to express his unique experiences and identity in a way that is authentic and genuine. However, he also recognizes the value of being able to connect with others and bridge the divide between different cultures. He writes, "I like to eat, sleep, drink, and be in love. / I like to work, read, learn, and understand life" (lines 17-18). Hughes is saying that, despite the differences in their backgrounds and experiences, there are common human experiences and emotions that connect us all.
In conclusion, "Theme for English B" is a powerful poem that explores the struggles of finding one's identity and expressing oneself in a world that often tries to pigeonhole and label people based on their race and background. Hughes reflects on the challenges of being a black student in a predominantly white institution and the complexities of trying to find his place in such a setting. Ultimately, the poem speaks to the universal themes of self-identity, self-expression, and the desire to connect with others despite our differences.
Theme for English B Themes
The Presence of the Harlem Renaissance had spread beyond Harlem, and it was noted on national and international levels as well. I like to work, read, learn, and understand life. The narrator is the personified figure that connects African Americans by explaining historical allusions that contributed to African American heritage and culture. White people constantly say that everyone is equal, but in reality, they are not. A poem, like "Theme for English B," in which a speaker addresses a silent listener or interlocutor is referred to as a dramatic monologue. He is the only African-American student in his class at school. The poem 'Theme for English B' was written while Hughes was a college student living in Harlem.
Langston Hughes: Poems “Theme for English B” Summary and Analysis
During his life he wrote many poems expressing his views on America around him. The only colored boy I. The speaker then describes the directions that take him from campus to his residence, crossing a park Morningside Park and several streets before taking an elevator up to his room where he will write his assignment. Summary Stanzas 1 and 2 Lines 1—5 The poem begins with the speaker recounting his English instructor's assignment. He has an interest in Bessie, Bop, and Bach. He sees connections despite racial disparities, but he still acknowledges the significant role that race does play in identity when he says his paper "will not be white" line 28.
In the speaker's pondering of what makes up his own individual identity, he also makes metaphorical connections to the identity of America. Another example is, "I feel and see and hear, Harlem, I hear you" line 18 , which illustrates the idea that Harlem is not just where the speaker lives, but rather a living entity that contributes to his identity as much as a person would. Langston Hughes, who was a writer and social activist, wrote poetry during the Harlem Renaissance which addressed the social issues facing African Americans and minority groups. The poem is about the speaker writing that paper. Stream of consciousness is a writing style in which the writing mimics a person's free-flowing thoughts and emotions. But we are, that's true! He writes that he is the only "colored" student in his class.
Aforementioned, Langston Hughes poem Theme for English B is a poem written in 1951. The speaker's instructor calls on him to write a page for homework, not specifying what sort of writing is expected, only that it should "come out of you" meaning have personal meaning and that it should be "true" meaning honest and from the heart. With that said the African American people were given less of an opportunity at jobs, schooling, and most importantly culture. We learn that he lives at the Harlem YMCA. By the end of the poem, readers have a clear view of the speaker's identity and goals. Choose one of the SDH and discuss ways in which this determinant impacts health behavior. For example, the term 'finding home' might be a theme for a story or poem about a child being adopted after years in foster care.
'Theme for English B' by Langston Hughes: Summary and Analysis
Personification occurs when something that is non-human is given human characteristics, feelings, or abilities. This is how many thought during this time and shows that they were not fully socially aware of their African American origins and they did not accept it. This forced him to acquire new skills, such as organ playing, which eventually earned him a job as an organist for the duke of Weimar. In the end, though, he resolves the dilemma by suggesting that the common humanity of writer and reader is what enables successful writing and communication and concludes with the line "This is my page for English B. He believes that today 's readers don 't appreciate literature and the art of playing with the words and sentences.
Now let's talk about theme as a literary term referring to an underlying message that pervades the content of a story or poem. The author redefined the word American in modernist terms to bypass the near physical characteristic of the word and instead used it to note how complementing and sharing values is what really defined the word, or at least in relation to his poem. Sir Isaac Newton used prisms to show that sunlight was made up of all the colors of the rainbow. Though tone and mood are not exactly the same, the good news is that the same words can be used to describe both elements. Being me, it will not be white. The narrator is keenly aware of his own sense of difference and struggles to write from a subject position that is bifurcated into two opposing identities, a White "writerly" identity and an authentic Black one.
Hughes poems were generally focused around the lives and hardships of …show more content… According to David R. The specific motivation for the thoughts and emotions in 'Theme for English B' is an assignment to write a page for the instructor from his true voice. For African American children and young people growing up in a time before the Civil Rights Movement later in the century, public education was one of these confusing, hard-to-describe experiences. Kori Morgan holds a Bachelor of Arts in professional writing and a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing and has been crafting online and print educational materials since 2006. This geographical heritage of slavery and oppression is an essential part of his racial identity, and by emphasizing it he implicitly rejects "passing" and losing his original self. Two possible words for the tone in Hughes' poem are insightful and inspiring. One of the elements is allusion.
He wrote poems and prose that often reflected the joys and sorrows of African American life. Words to express theme can be concept nouns, for example: identity, love, or confusion. He indited it in 1951, the evening of his vocation, and it addresses one of his most ubiquitous themes — the American Dream. Bach was born in Thuringia, Germany, into a family with a strong musical tradition. Frost dared to write in a style and simple language that was different from the normal speech of other writers, making his work stand out. Hughes '"Theme for English B" depicts the harsh realities of America through the eyes of the colored.
Education being a two-way transfer of ideas is similar in the speaker's mind to how America is a multicultural country, claiming, "That's American. However, that is not what Lincoln kept saying throughout his career. Within the black community exists a very opposite culture. Wherever they were seen, they were discriminated or rejected from the whites. This idea of an exclusionary unequal society is a featured theme in Dream Variation through the use the day to night metaphor. I guess being colored doesn't make me not like the same things other folks like who are other races. With those two main focuses highlighted throughout each poem, it creates an intriguing idea for a reader to comprehend.
Langston Hughes is a modern poet who ignore the classical style of writing poetry and instead, in favor of oral and improve traditions of the Black culture. . Langston achieved fame endurance as a poet during the burgeoning of the arts known as the Harlem renaissance. He has to read a short story, define the central idea, and then summarize the text. Although if we look back in history, there was a time where living in America did not welcome opportunities or equality for all individuals.
