Let America Be Again Hughes Analysis
America is known around the world as united and free… at least that’s what people say. As Americans, we say these things, but from many perspectives America seems quite flawed. For example, we say we are united, but take a look at our government, we are politically divided. Lets just say, America is viewed in many different ways. Throughout the poems, “I Hear America Singing” by Walt Whitman and “Let America Be America Again” by Langston Hughes, two opposing views are represented. Whitman sees America as a joyful and ecstatic place for the working class of America, whereas Hughes sees America as a place that does not meet his expectations. In my perspective, both men are correct; I see America as a strong country with some room for improvement. As previously stated, in Whitman’s “I Hear America Singing,” America is being described as a joyful place to live and work. Whitman does not attract the reader to the cheerful tone let off through rhyme, but through repetition. He repeatedly says the word “singing,” representing the happy workers of America heading off to work. For example, he writes, “The shoemaker singing as he sits on his bench, the hatter singing as he stands” (Whitman). Illustrating that one does …show more content…
In contrast with Whitman's poem, Hughes sends his message about America with rhyme and some imagery. He demonstrates his resentful and negative tone as being disappointed with America. For example, he writes, “Let America be the dream the dreamers dreamed” (Hughes). Depicting that America is not what everyone believes it to be. By saying this, Hughes implies that America isn’t truly united and free. His interpretation is that America let him down, and led him to believe what wasn’t true. However, his main aspiration is for America to truly be united and free. He believes that America can improve to become the America we claim it to
Summary Of Let America Be America Again By Langston Hughes
1227 Words | 5 Pages“I am the poor white, fooled and pushed apart, I am the Negro bearing slavery’s scars. I am the red man driven from the land, I am the immigrant clutching the hope I seek.” In the poem “Let America Be America Again” by Langston Hughes, the reader here’s from two different speakers, and how they both seperately want America to change. One of the speakers wants America to go back to what it was before, while the other responds in small comments, building up to say the quote you read at the beginning. In the poem “Let America Be America Again” the author has two separate speakers with contradicting thoughts, the author relates to problems that were happening in the real world, and how the author’s rhyme scheme is a vital component to how this poem reads.
Let America Be America Again Essay
827 Words | 4 PagesOne of his poems that has been a great figure of the twentieth century literature is "Let America Be America Again". In this poem, Hughes argues that America has never been the way it was set to be founded as, the history behind
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887 Words | 4 PagesLangston Hughes uses images of oppression to reveal a deeper truth about the way minorities have been treated in America. He uses his poems to bring into question some of Walt Whitman’s poems that indirectly state that all things are great, that all persons are one people in America, which Hughes claims is false because of all the racist views and oppression that people face from the people America. This oppression is then used to keep the minorities from Walt Whitman in his poem, “Song of Myself”, talks about the connection between all people, how we are family and are brothers and sisters who all share common bonds. He says, “ And I know that the spirit of God is the brother of my own,/ And that all the men ever born are also my brothers,
Langston Hughes Let Usa Be America Again Literary Devices
476 Words | 2 PagesHe shows this in lines 1-4 when he says, “Let America be America again./Let it be the dream it used to be./Let it be the pioneer on the plain/Seeking a home where he himself is free." Hughes uses repetition and a slight rhyme scheme to grasp the reader’s attention. He uses words such as “pioneer” and “seek” to help the reader imagine
Comparing Poems 'Star Spangled Banner And' Let America Be America Again
1587 Words | 7 PagesIn the beginning of the poem, the mood is patriotic and optimistic; however, the poem soon takes on a more serious tone by reminding the audience that America never lived up to its promises for so many people, and instead let them down. Hughes describes what it would mean to really have the America that people say exists and dream about. Near the end of the poem, the poem’s mood changes again. This time, the poet remains hopeful and optimistic that the original dreams for Americans are still possible. He claims, however, that it will require taking the country back from those who continue to take advantage of others and prevent them from truly achieving the freedom the country had promised them and which they
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399 Words | 2 PagesThe tone of Langston Hughes’ poem “I, Too, Sing America” is determined and talks about how “tomorrow” he will do what he pleases instead of doing what his master
Let Usa Be America Again Rhetorical Devices
326 Words | 2 PagesIn the poem, “ Let America be America again”, Langston Hughes asserts that America does not live up to what it actually should be. Hughes’ tone seems to be angry and [exasperated]. He implicates the perspective of one particular group, but many people. The poem represents that many people come here with high hopes and big dreams but they are let down. He states that [prosperity] is one of the reasons that there is an economic inconsistency where the rich gets richer and the poor gets poorer.
How Did Langston Hughes Influence The American Dream
922 Words | 4 PagesAmerica is well known as the land of the free and the home opportunity. Although it is said everyone is equal in every way, that has not always been the case. Langston Hughes is a poet who tried to emphasize the idea of equality among all human beings. Hughes underlined the basis of the American Dream with what is and what should be in the societal era he lived in. In hindsight he believed his poems helped others realize the injustices that all minorities had to face during this era.
I Hear America Singing And I Too Essay
835 Words | 4 PagesIn the two poems the reader can see many examples of figurative language. In the poem, “I Hear America Singing,” Whitman
Literary Analysis Of Oscar Wilde's Impressions Of America
718 Words | 3 PagesIn the 1800’s, America was the subject of many romantic visions and musings. The British and East Coasters alike saw everything west of Appalachia as a wild wonderland: home to cowboys, adventure, and opportunity. Oscar Wilde, a renowned British author and satirist, voyaged across America to test the truth of these claims. Afterwards, he published his findings and opinions in a piece known as Impressions of America. In the piece, he makes it clear that America did not live up to his expectations, and would disappoint his readers as well.
We Have Tomorrow Like A Flame By Langston Hughes Analysis
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Walt Whitman And Langston Hughes Essay
648 Words | 3 Pages"I Hear America Singing" focuses on the glories of America, showcasing the happiness and joy that is present on a daily basis. This is clearly evidenced in one of the lines from Whitman's poem: "Singing with open mouths their strong melodious songs." However, "I, Too, Sing America highlights the darker side of American life during this era. Unlike Whitman, Hughes' poem takes a much more serious tone, that forces the reader to consider the other side of the coin. This is poignately illustrated in the line, "And be ashamed -" which points to the "they" that will be ashamed in the future for how "they" treated the African American
Three Major Themes In Langston Hughes's Poetry
1089 Words | 5 PagesThe second speaker also reshapes the first two lines of the entire poem into a plea to the majority. Beforehand, the first speaker uses those lines as a call for the old American spirit to be revived: “Let America be America again / Let it be the dream it used to be” (1-2). Both speakers change the meaning of the lines to express their thoughts on America. As a result, the poem expresses the desire for everyone to be treated equally in the land of freedom. The readers can relate to the speaker because they wish that everyone has equal rights in the country that proclaims itself to be the symbol of freedom.
A Dream Deferred By Langston Hughes Analysis
417 Words | 2 PagesHis metaphor puts a final image to the struggle of oppression during the Civil Rights Movement and what happens to a black man or woman when a dream is deferred. Hughes wants his readers to not only imagine but feel how African Americans felt during the Civil Rights Movement when he wrote this poem. He wanted to convey the pain, anguish, disrespect, and ultimately, the conclusion of what may happen to a dream that continues to be deferred. What would happen to a dream deferred?
Democracy And Democracy In Walt Whitman's Song Of Myself
1125 Words | 5 PagesIn this grand poem, Whitman glorifies the unity of all people and life. He embraces the geographical diversity as well as the diversity of culture, work, as well as sexuality or beliefs. Whitman’s influence sets American dreams of freedom, independence, and self-fulfillment, and changes them for larger spiritual meaning. Whitman appreciates hard work as well as being simple and non-egotistical. His major ideas are things such as soul, good health, as well as the love of nature.
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