Summary of theme for english b by langston hughes. Theme for English B by Langston Hughes Free Essay Example 2022-11-08
Summary of theme for english b by langston hughes
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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 by Langston Hughes Free Essay Example
Although he did not appreciate this unfair treatment he still stayed positive. On his page, the speaker begins by expressing the his belief that it is hard to know what is true at such a young age. Personally, I think it is not effective to blame white people for issues like slavery because no one alive in our country has owned slaves or was a slave. Throughout the poem, the speaker moves from describing his past to his present journey to class each day to the activities and interests that describe him. Langston Hughes is a poet who tried to emphasize the idea of equality among all human beings.
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Themes For English B By Langston Hughes
Yet Hughes became an educated, successful writer and lecturer, the first African American to earn a living as a writer. The narrator is a resident of Harlem. The speaker states that regardless of race, both he and his white instructor are Americans -- even if they don't always want to recognize their similar identity. Identify the Research Problem — Specify a problem; justify a problem and suggest a need to study the problem for audiences Creswell. It was part of Hughes' collection of poetry titled Montage of a Dream Deferred. As he walks home, he realizes that he is the only "colored" student in his class.
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Analysis Of Langston Hughes Theme For English B
This culture was first demonstrated in the Harlem renaissance—a movement where black individuals showcased black work and black pride. That's the situation in Langston Hughes' "Theme for English B," a poem that reveals the speaker's struggle to interpret an assignment from his white instructor. This is another symbolic reference to those social divisions, wherein the Black community of Harlem was seen as inferior to the white communities. The speaker writes that his page will be a part of his white instructor and a part of himself, since he is a part of the instructor — "That's American. While they are here, they should make the best of it and learn from each other. The narrator is described as "twenty-two, colored, born in Winston-Salem. How Did Langston Hughes Influence The American Dream 922 Words 4 Pages The culture of most blacks was unwanted during this time.
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Theme For English B Analysis
Langston achieved fame endurance as a poet during the burgeoning of the arts known as the Harlem renaissance. Bach had three sons, all of whom went on to become successful composers. It was also used to break through the stereotypes, be it in music, novels, theater, visual arts, or literature. See eNotes Ad-Free Start your 48-hour free trial to get access to more than 30,000 additional guides and more than 350,000 Homework Help questions answered by our experts. It is written from the first-person perspective of an African-America student who was given the assignment to write a piece about his life. 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.
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Theme for English B: Theme of Poem & Tone
The class would have emphasized literary works by White people and literature as expressing a White ideological context and formation. The speaker is starting to incorporate some of the instructor's rhyme into his own style. Although if we look back in history, there was a time where living in America did not welcome opportunities or equality for all individuals. Langston Hughes ' Theme for English B was written during the Jim Crow era where people were treated base on the color of their skin. Hughes includes great detail in describing his character's background, interests and attitudes. This reveals the speaker's drive for education, but also alludes to struggles with race that may have driven him north. And God was with you from then on! 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.
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Theme for English B Plot Summary
However, his writing was politicized, and as such, he sought to produce poems with a message. He walks down a hill into Harlem, crossing streets before arriving at the Harlem branch of the Y. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. The enjambments bring the lines together, even though there is a line break the idea of the line continues on. The speaker makes note of the long distance between the two locations in lines 11-15, thus drawing a symbolic connection; not only are Columbia University and Harlem far apart, but so were the social divisions in New York in the 1950s. Hughes uses many allusions throughout the poem such as, Durham, Harlem, New York, Eighth Avenue, Bessie, and Bach. Throughout the poem, the speaker wrestles with the meaning of truth and whether two people as different as they are can view it the same way.
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Theme for English B Themes
He has an interest in Bessie, Bop, and Bach. We should be able to live and function harmoniously with each other even if deep inside we may not like each other very much. He explained the assignment to her, thinking that he was doomed before he even started. By listing some of the primary things he likes to do eat, sleep, work and certain preferences in gifts certain records or a pipe for Christmas , the author highlights his similarities to his white counterparts, and suggests that what they may not share in physical appearance is made up for in similar interests and preferences. In hindsight he believed his poems helped others realize the injustices that all minorities had to face during this era. The student continues to ponder what constitutes his "true" identity, wondering how much of it is influenced by where he lives and what he sees, how much by his race, and how much by what he enjoys.
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Theme For English B Summary
He lost both his parents by age 10 and was thereafter taken care of by his older brother, Johann Christoph. Forcing the reader to stop after such a short sentence draws attention to this factual statement and adds to the "otherness" and isolation created by this separation. He takes the elevator up to his room, which is where he is writing this page. Here, he describes having to sit away from company, because of the color of his skin. He brings the poetic language near to the real language of the common men. Even though he is not angry, he does display other emotions throughout the piece because …show more content… He then contradicts himself that states that although they are the same, he appreciates the fact that the two races are different and he rather not be a part of the whites as the whites would not want to eat a part of the African Americans. .
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Theme For English B By Langston Hughes
He lists personal information about himself, including his age, race, and educational background. In this, the teacher is giving her students including the narrator an assignment to write a theme paper that is true to who they are. The speaker writes about his life experience at Harlem by giving his hobbies and telling what he considers to be right in a racially divided city. Authors often use alliteration to give a poem a desired rhythm or mood. In this line the speaker introduces race and its misconceptions. The first main body stanza tells us that the narrator is a 22-year-old African-American male living in Harlem, New York.
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Analysis of the Poem "Theme for English B"
In the speaker's pondering of what makes up his own individual identity, he also makes metaphorical connections to the identity of America. The very title of the poem frames the work as an assignment for a university class. Lesson Summary In his poem Theme for English B, Langston Hughes tells the story of a young Black student contemplating a writing assignment, but in doing so also incorporates poetic elements in order to create rhythm and mood and to emphasize his messages. The poem ends with "This is my page for English B". The speaker writes that at his young age, it is hard to know what is true for "you or me. This might be difficult for any young person just finding an identity, but for Hughes, he felt torn between identifying with his own culture or the learning environment in which in found himself. The poem 'Theme for English B' was written while Hughes was a college student living in Harlem.
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