In the short story, “Thank You, M’am” by Langston Hughes, Roger was a poor, lonely boy who tried to snatch a woman’s purse, but the woman’s actions cause Roger to become thankful. After Roger tried to take the purse the woman took him home and told him to wash his face “...Ain’t you got nobody home to tell you to wash your face?’ ‘No’m.’ said the boy” (Hughes 110). The woman realizes that Roger must be alone most of the time and needs someone to show him compassion. Following the kind action, Roger understands now that the woman means to help. He wishes to express his gratitude in some way; he wanted this woman to trust him “....He did not trust the woman not to trust him”(Hughes 112). Finally, Roger understands how this woman has helped him
When a dream is oppressed, and left to decay, it will either rot and subside or erupt with new life. The speaker opens by employing rhetorical questions to make the reader question what would happen to “a dream deferred”. These questions are somber suggestions, prompting the reader to consider how a dream may “dry up like a raisin in the sun?” or begin to “fester like a sore?” when postponed. There is a repetition of rhetorical questions and metaphors throughout the poem, suggesting many possibilities, and this pressures the reader to consider every outcome being presented.
He knew Billy’s operation played a major role in the boy’s happiness and always spoke cheerfully to Billy about, “giving him that three-rounder I promised. ”(46) He supplied Billy with a goal after the hospital. He gave Billy hope through his kindness. Kindness towards others helps both recipient and the contributor.
“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.
Often in life, people read literature that speaks to them on a spiritual level, to the point they can relate it to their personal life. This is definitely the case with me, throughout my short life I have read tons and tons of literature, good to bad, short to long, slow to fast. It seems as though poems, are the most abstract form of literature, given that, they are excellent pieces of work that have meanings that are meant to connect to the reader, on many different levels. Two very special works of literature, “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost and “Dreams” by Langston Hughes seem to connect with me better than others, I feel that I can apply the meanings of these poems to my personal life on a spiritual, logical, and emotional level.
The poem "Birmingham Sunday" by Langston Hughes addresses the tragic 1963 bombing of the 17th Street Baptist Church in Alabama. Through the poem, Langston Hughes reveals the innocence and tragedy of the girls’ deaths and the racial violence of the time. When Hughes writes about the bombing, he uses the phrases “spattered flesh” and “bloodied Sunday dresses” (). The diction used helps paint an image of the bombing aftermath which shows how gory and tragic this event was. The bloody dresses heavily contrast with the idea of Sunday School, a place associated with safety and learning.
INTRODUCTION “James Mercer Langston Hughes was the most versatile, popular and influential African-American writer of the twentieth century.” Langston Hughes was born 1902 in Joplin, Missouri. At a young age his parents separated, he had a rocky road ahead of him. During his childhood he moved back and forth to his grandmother in Kansas and with his mom twice in Illinois and Ohio. Langston Hughes career began at age thirteen in his grammar school in Lincoln, Illinois, he was voted class poet.
At an early age, we learn how to use every trait we have in us. It takes us longer to process and learn the true meaning of some of these innate traits, for example, feeling compassion towards others under certain situations. On the other hand, compassion can be taught to those who may be afraid to show sympathy. Many people believe that compassion is a trait which we learn over the years, with experience. However, others feel that it's more of a connection we have among us no matter the age, or the ethnicity.
The purpose of “Why, You Reckon?” by Langston Hughes is to accurately display, through the times of that century and human emotion, that despite money, power, and the color of your skin there can still be an unhappiness of the soul. There is evidence in the beginning of the short story of two men’s unhappiness in life the symbol of them being uncontent was their hunger. “Man, ain’t you hongry.... Well, sir, I’m tellin’ you, I was so tired and hongry and cold that night.” (253- 254).
The poems, “Lineage”, by Margaret Walker, and “Helen Keller”, by Langston Hughes have many similarities and differences in the theme, imagery, and figurative language. The theme in Walker’s poem is about how grandmas are very tough, and you should respect your elders, while the theme in Hughes’ poem is about when times are hard, find your inner strength. A similarity between the two themes is that both idolize and admire strong women that have the power to find strength through dark times. For example, Walker’s poem states, “...full of sturdiness and singing. My grandmothers were strong”.
My dream is of a place and a time where America will once again be seen as the last best hope of the earth. (Abraham Lincoln) In the poem "Let America Be America Again," Langston Hughes paints an affecting and diverse stanza, displaying peaceful passages to angry outbursts. His resonance seems confessional, as he is speaking about his own exposure and communicating for all the unheard Americans. Hughes addresses how America considers to be, has shifted to them to think, and could pursue to be again.
“Thank You M’am” Essay Response In the story “Thank You M’am” by Langston Hughes, the boy Roger, seems to be lonely. The story is about a boy named Roger who tries to steal Mrs. Jones purse, she takes him to her house and takes care of him. Roger could be described as lonely because he has nobody home at his home, he is very respectful of Mrs. Jones, and he tries to steal.
A Boy Who Lost His Faith In Langston Hughes’ narrative “Salvation,” Hughes claims that he lost his faith in God because of his inability to see Jesus. Langston Hughes supported his thesis by giving vivid descriptions of the reflections he had about his spiritual encounter at his church when he was an early teen. The audience Hughes may have been trying to target was people who most likely were uneasy or doubted whether or not to have faith in their religion. Hughes’ purpose of the narrative essay was to explain to his audience of his personal experience while receiving salvation, in order to get a better understanding about why he lost faith in his religion due to innocence. Hughes’ inability to see Jesus was illustrated to the audience by
Langston Hughes is a poet, playwright and fiction writer. He wrote a short story "salvation " in 1940. The story was about a twelve year old kid and his religious experience. In this story the author was attempting to convey to the audience about how his experience in religion made him feel disappointed. Also; he felt guilty for lying to the people at the church.
A central theme in the short story “Thank you Ma 'am” by Langston Hughes is a little kindness goes a long way. One act of kindness can change a person’s life forever. Her unnecessary kindness made a major impact on Roger and changes him. As the story progresses, we see that Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones shows empathy and kindness for Roger. That kindness appears to pass onto Roger near the end of the story.
Jazmyne Nelson Dr. Rose English 101 December 11, 2017 Literary Analysis Langston Hughes’ short story entitled “Thank You Ma’am”, analyzes the interaction between Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones and Roger. It presents the readers, the idea of goodness, the theme of trust, forgiveness, and kindness. Hughes is able to convert a language that is easier to understand by characterizing the context of story, advancing important themes, and using dialogue among the characters. Trust is one of themes that stood out while analyzing the short story. Though Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones has been victimized Roger worries that she won’t trust him, so he moves.