Mother to son langston. What is the symbolism in the poem "Mother to Son" by Langston Hughes? 2022-11-03

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"Mother to Son" is a poem written by Langston Hughes in which a mother advises her son to persevere and keep going through life's struggles, using the metaphor of a staircase to represent the journey of life. The mother speaks from her own experience, having faced many challenges and hardships in her own life, and encourages her son to keep climbing, even when the going gets tough.

The poem begins with the mother saying, "Well, son, I'll tell you: / Life for me ain't been no crystal stair." She goes on to describe the various difficulties and obstacles she has encountered along the way, including "tacks" that have "left marks" on her feet, and "splinters" that have "cut up [her] feet." Despite these challenges, the mother has continued to climb, saying, "I'se been a-climbin' on, / And reachin' landin's, / And turnin' corners, / And sometimes goin' in the dark."

The mother's message to her son is one of resilience and determination. She tells him to keep climbing, no matter how difficult it gets, and to never give up. She advises him to "stick to the fight / When you're hardest hit" and to "never turn back." The mother's words are filled with hope and encouragement, as she tells her son that he will reach the top of the staircase, even if it takes time and effort.

The metaphor of the staircase is a powerful one, as it suggests that life is a journey, with ups and downs, twists and turns, and moments of darkness and light. The mother's message is one of perseverance and resilience, as she encourages her son to keep going, even when the going gets tough. It is a message that is timeless and universal, and one that is particularly relevant in today's world, where challenges and difficulties are a constant part of life.

In conclusion, "Mother to Son" is a beautiful and poignant poem that speaks to the human experience of overcoming challenges and struggles. It is a message of hope and encouragement, reminding us that no matter how difficult life may seem at times, we can always keep climbing and reach new heights.

Langston Hughes

mother to son langston

Don't you fall now— For I'se still goin', honey, I'se still climbin', And life for me ain't been no crystal stair. Learn More The poet also uses other prevalent poetic styles such as metaphors. This stanza also indicates the kind of poor houses and miserable lives the African American had in the early 20th century. The poet passes the message that one must persevere to make his life better and not be discouraged by the adversities that one may have to face. These words are meant to express the trials, hardships, and tribulations the mother has faced in her life Barksdale, p. Poetry for Students, Michigan: Gale publishers, 1998. Using this style the poet places the reader in the place of the son listening to his mother who bases her advice in relation to her own life.

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Mother to Son Poem Summary and Analysis

mother to son langston

Literary and poetic techniques allow him to portray his feelings and ideas regarding his community. However, she never gave up; she tried climbing even during the worst of times. It is a powerful testimony to never give in to hardships and trials. Readers of all backgrounds can come to this poem and feel themselves either in the shoes of the child or the mother, or perhaps both. The mother in the poem is in pain, yet she tries to give her son confidence. Don't you set down on the steps.

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Mother to Son

mother to son langston

The social, artistic, and political climates of the Renaissance have also been vividly brought about Rampersad, p. Here, the second line of the poem has been repeated where the mother says that life has not been a smooth and easy journey for her. In the poem, the mother teaches her son about strength and courage. In the last three lines, the speaker reiterates that even though life is hard, she is still going. Even though she knows how bad things can be, she is unafraid, or at least strong enough, to face them.

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Mother To Son by Langston Hughes

mother to son langston

This advice is therefore directed at the reader. The staircase itself has significance since it acts as a symbol of life's journey. He must watch out for broken boards, splinters, and tacks. She explains to the son that life has never been easy for her. Finally, in the first and last lines of the poem, the word "crystal" has symbolic meaning. The unequal distribution of power brings us various disasters. It is one of the main properties of crystal, that it sparkles in light and reflects it.

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Mother To Son By Langston Hughes, Famous Family Poem

mother to son langston

So, boy, don't you turn back. The author has used the crystal stair to symbolize an imaginary path that is smooth and full of ease. Using a minimum of words, the author provides his message, speaking for the mother, who tries to explain to her son that life is difficult, but the struggle can lead to success and equality. He uses symbols like tacks, splinters, no carpet on the floor and darkness to describe the difficulties that one faces in life. We spent a few days talking about the meaning and message and read each sentence separately and together. She does not give up at all and is instead still climbing and moving on in this life which has not been full of luxury and happiness.

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What is the symbolism in the poem "Mother to Son" by Langston Hughes?

mother to son langston

Learn more The author uses simple words and phrases to reflect the natural language of an average African-American mother. The staircase becomes more and more difficult, depending on how one handles their own life. This demonstrates the effect that our words, actions, and attitude have on others. We need to find ways to renew that for our enjoyment and the benefit of those we are serving. She wants to make sure that, above all else, this is the lesson her son learns.

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Mother to Son Langston Hughes Lesson Plan (Poetry Analysis)

mother to son langston

He is equal among all people in his country. First of all, in lines four to six, the "splinters," torn-up boards, and floor without carpet are symbolic of the mother's hard and problematic life. I was sick and tired of being tired. She talks about the various difficulties that one has to face in life like the broken parts and uncarpeted floors that make climbing a staircase difficult. The art and imagination of Langston Hughes. According to the black renaissance, African Americans tried all their best to go against the white oppression which is what is being dictated by the mother to the son.

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Mother to Son by Langston Hughes

mother to son langston

She is hopeful for her son, and she encourages him to keep climbing like she has. The lesson taught in the poem and caught by the minds who receive it is the kind of power that changes persons in character and resolve. She compares the journey of life to the upward climb on a staircase and says it has not been smooth like crystal. The poet uses dialect to clarify that the mother is uneducated. Langston Hughes Poems on Amazon. You can read the full poem Themes In regards to the theme, a reader can interpret the poem as speaking on the importance of experience and determination. The Dramatic Monologue, Boston: Twayne Publishers, 1996.


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Themes in "Mother to Son" Poem by Langston Hughes

mother to son langston

She bases her response on her own life meaning that her advice to him is based on her own hard-life experience Miller, p. She inspires her son by saying that she has always strived for a better life and even he must continue to do so. It is also a symbol for the journey we all take in life. The poem takes the dramatic monologue style meaning that it is spoken in the voice of an imaginary speaker rather than that of the poet himself. Lexington, KY: University Press of Kentucky. He is celebrated as a powerful writer of the Harlem Renaissance, the artistic movement that brought about an explosion of African American art, music, and literature in the 1920s and 30s. She tells him not to be disappointed when he faces difficulties and not to settle down with it.

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