The Negro Speaks of Rivers
I've known rivers:
I've known rivers ancient as the world and older than the flow of human blood in human veins. My soul has grown deep like the rivers. I bathed in the Euphrates when dawns were young. I built my hut near the Congo and it lulled me to sleep. I looked upon the Nile and raised the pyramids above it. I heard the singing of the Mississippi when Abe Lincoln went down to New Orleans, and I've seen its muddy bosom turn all golden in the sunset. I've known rivers: Ancient, dusky rivers. My soul has grown deep like the rivers. |
Analysis 1
Speaker- The speaker of this poem is Langston Hughes and he refers to himself in 1st person. From this poem the speaker's time period is not made known nor is it relevant.
Tone- The constant tone of sadness is maintained throughout this poem and is kept constant through the layout of the sentences. Words such as "lulled" give a soft image to the reader.
Tension- The point of tension is at the very end of the poem in the last line that refers the reader to the title. It is an external social conflict that arises from the color of Hughes's skin. It is built on through the poem through short sentences that add to the background for the soul of the black man. It is left unresolved.
Context- The Negro Speaks of Rivers was written in the 1920s at the start of the Harlem Renaissance. It was a time of pride and arts for the black community in a society dominated by whites. this background does change my understanding of the poem because it tells me that this was written to fight injustices nonviolently. Writers of the time period had no particular style so Hughes's poem technically remained consistent with inconsistency.
Structure- This poem has the characteristics of a blues poem, which keeps a sad tone throughout the piece, like Hughes's piece.
Stanza and Lines- The lines follow no particular pattern, and are inconsistent in length.
Visuals and Sensory- The images described are abstract ones that evoke the sense of sight and allow the reader to paint a vivid picture in their mind.
Symbolism- The author uses symbolism throughout this piece, such as the line, "I looked upon the Nile and raised the pyramids above it." Obviously Hughes did not raise the pyramids above the Nile, however, it is images like this that let the audience associate Hughes and the black community with civilizations that have stood the test of time.
Word Choice- The poet's word choice is characterized by the repeated "I" and "my" because it shows that the word "Negro" is only used in the title but he refers to himself in reference to his title.
Rhythm- Hughes's poem is completely free verse.
Enjambment- Enjambment is used throughout all of Hughes's poem. After every sentence there is a break in thought and the poem moves onto the next idea.
Verbs- Active voice is used in this poem. However, Hughes uses past tense throughout the poem as well.
Sentence Structure- The poet uses complete sentences in this poem however they maintain the same structure. With the exception of the line beginning with "Ancient" all lines begin with a first person subject. Most lines are also immediately followed by a past tense verb. The sentences give the poem an abrupt feeling.
Punctuation- Punctuation follows correct grammatical structure in this poem.
Tone- The constant tone of sadness is maintained throughout this poem and is kept constant through the layout of the sentences. Words such as "lulled" give a soft image to the reader.
Tension- The point of tension is at the very end of the poem in the last line that refers the reader to the title. It is an external social conflict that arises from the color of Hughes's skin. It is built on through the poem through short sentences that add to the background for the soul of the black man. It is left unresolved.
Context- The Negro Speaks of Rivers was written in the 1920s at the start of the Harlem Renaissance. It was a time of pride and arts for the black community in a society dominated by whites. this background does change my understanding of the poem because it tells me that this was written to fight injustices nonviolently. Writers of the time period had no particular style so Hughes's poem technically remained consistent with inconsistency.
Structure- This poem has the characteristics of a blues poem, which keeps a sad tone throughout the piece, like Hughes's piece.
Stanza and Lines- The lines follow no particular pattern, and are inconsistent in length.
Visuals and Sensory- The images described are abstract ones that evoke the sense of sight and allow the reader to paint a vivid picture in their mind.
Symbolism- The author uses symbolism throughout this piece, such as the line, "I looked upon the Nile and raised the pyramids above it." Obviously Hughes did not raise the pyramids above the Nile, however, it is images like this that let the audience associate Hughes and the black community with civilizations that have stood the test of time.
Word Choice- The poet's word choice is characterized by the repeated "I" and "my" because it shows that the word "Negro" is only used in the title but he refers to himself in reference to his title.
Rhythm- Hughes's poem is completely free verse.
Enjambment- Enjambment is used throughout all of Hughes's poem. After every sentence there is a break in thought and the poem moves onto the next idea.
Verbs- Active voice is used in this poem. However, Hughes uses past tense throughout the poem as well.
Sentence Structure- The poet uses complete sentences in this poem however they maintain the same structure. With the exception of the line beginning with "Ancient" all lines begin with a first person subject. Most lines are also immediately followed by a past tense verb. The sentences give the poem an abrupt feeling.
Punctuation- Punctuation follows correct grammatical structure in this poem.
Refugee in America
There are words like Freedom
Sweet and wonderful to say.
On my heart-strings freedom sings
All day everyday.
There are words like Liberty
That almost make me cry.
If you had known what I knew
You would know why.
Sweet and wonderful to say.
On my heart-strings freedom sings
All day everyday.
There are words like Liberty
That almost make me cry.
If you had known what I knew
You would know why.
Analysis 2
Speaker- The speaker of this poem is Langston Hughes. His role is as an observer of the world and injustices in a place where freedom and liberty are claimed as rights. He refers to himself in the 1st person. The timing of this piece is unable to be determined from this poem alone, however when you learn the time it came from it helps add effectiveness to this piece.
Tone- The tone of this poem is a somber one. The diction used helps add to the depressing feeling with phrases such as, "make me cry" being used to show sadness. The tone stays consistent throughout this piece.
Tension- The internal conflict that Hughes faces in this poem is from his feelings of injustice even though he lives in a country where that idea is promised to its citizens. The social problem he face is left unresolved for Hughes until the 1960s during the civil rights movement.
Context- Refugee in America was written in the 1920s, some forty years before equal rights were attained for African-Americans living in the United States. This context help to identify the theme for the poem. It also helps to understand the reason for writing, with the social problems of the "Roaring Twenties."
Structure- This poem is written in the style of blues. It maintains a somber attitude like other poems of this type. It doesn't stray much from the style of similar blues poems.
Stanza and Lines- The entire poem maintains a constant pattern with both stanzas keeping the same amount of lines in them. The lines in this poem follow the same pattern throughout this piece.
Rhyme Scheme- Every other line in this poem has consistent end rhyme in it. The effect of this helps to somewhat lighten the mood.
Word Choice- The author's word choice is somewhat conversational. He uses no dialect.
Meaning- The words, "freedom and "liberty" denote their literal meaning.
Verbs- The verbs used in this piece are active and remain consistent for the entire poem. The consistency helps make this poem seem fast paced.
Sentence Structure- The sentences seem a bit irregular. They are complete sentences, however, and the sentence structure helps the reader gain a better understanding by getting straight to the point while also making the poem seem soft.
Punctuation- The grammar in this poem follows correct grammatical rules. The breaks at the end of sentences cause a dramatic pause and the italics bring attention to words that Hughes believes should have more meaning in them.
Tone- The tone of this poem is a somber one. The diction used helps add to the depressing feeling with phrases such as, "make me cry" being used to show sadness. The tone stays consistent throughout this piece.
Tension- The internal conflict that Hughes faces in this poem is from his feelings of injustice even though he lives in a country where that idea is promised to its citizens. The social problem he face is left unresolved for Hughes until the 1960s during the civil rights movement.
Context- Refugee in America was written in the 1920s, some forty years before equal rights were attained for African-Americans living in the United States. This context help to identify the theme for the poem. It also helps to understand the reason for writing, with the social problems of the "Roaring Twenties."
Structure- This poem is written in the style of blues. It maintains a somber attitude like other poems of this type. It doesn't stray much from the style of similar blues poems.
Stanza and Lines- The entire poem maintains a constant pattern with both stanzas keeping the same amount of lines in them. The lines in this poem follow the same pattern throughout this piece.
Rhyme Scheme- Every other line in this poem has consistent end rhyme in it. The effect of this helps to somewhat lighten the mood.
Word Choice- The author's word choice is somewhat conversational. He uses no dialect.
Meaning- The words, "freedom and "liberty" denote their literal meaning.
Verbs- The verbs used in this piece are active and remain consistent for the entire poem. The consistency helps make this poem seem fast paced.
Sentence Structure- The sentences seem a bit irregular. They are complete sentences, however, and the sentence structure helps the reader gain a better understanding by getting straight to the point while also making the poem seem soft.
Punctuation- The grammar in this poem follows correct grammatical rules. The breaks at the end of sentences cause a dramatic pause and the italics bring attention to words that Hughes believes should have more meaning in them.
Dream Variations
To fling my arms wide
In some place of the sun, To whirl and to dance Till the white day is done. Then rest at cool evening Beneath a tall tree While night comes on gently, Dark like me -- That is my dream! To fling my arms wide In the face of the sun, Dance! Whirl! Whirl! Till the quick day is done. Rest at pale evening . . . A tall, slim tree . . . Night coming tenderly Black like me. |
Analysis 3
Speaker- In this poem Langston Hughes remains the speaker throughout the entire piece. He refers to himself in the 1st person, once again. The time period is also unidentifiable solely from this piece. Knowing the background of this literary marvel helps to create an even stronger feeling to the poem before knowing the background of this pre-civil rights poem.
Tone- The tone in this poem is definitely more positive than the rest of Hughes's poems. The images placed into the mind of the audience in this piece have a celebratory feel to the. The poem remains constant with a positive feeling of hope and of things to come.
Context- The poem was written before the civil rights era of the sixties. The issues of the time had to do with the injustices committed towards the black community. It slightly changes the understanding of the theme by giving more clues as to why this was written and why the author feels the way he does. It is not consistent with any contemporary poets of the time because in the Harlem Renaissance there were no standards for poetry.
Structure- The poem follows no set poem structure. It deviates in its uplifting tone even though it discusses a desire for a carefree life that is without racial intolerance.
Stanza and Lines- The two stanzas in this poem are close to the same length. However neither poem has a set structure for the lines in it.
Rhyme Scheme- Langston Hughes sets a rhyme scheme in this poem that helps to add to the positivity. The words that rhyme in this poem all share end rhyme. It is entirely consistent and even uses the same words to rhyme in separate stanzas.
Visuals and Sensory- The word choice in this poem helps give the audience an abstract view of Hughes's wants and desires for African-Americans. It evokes senses of vision and touch. Certain phrases are repeated to give the audience the same feeling of "whirling" and "dancing" and give a positive feeling.
Word Choice- Hughes's word choice is best described as narrative. He is informal in his speech but he describes a scene and images that he has. No specific dialect is used.
Meaning- Onomatopoeia is used several times in this piece. It s also repeated and helps to create a sense of abstract thoughts.
Rhythm- The poem has no rhythm in it and no specific number of syllables are used throughout this piece.
Verbs- Active verbs are used in this poem and it is maintained constantly. The consistency makes the reader take the piece a bit more slowly and helps to make it a bit more enjoyable.
Sentence Structure- The sentence structure uses a combination of both complete and incomplete sentences. There is no visible pattern seen in these lines. Also, the word order is a bit incorrect, grammatically.
Punctuation- Punctuation is for the most part used accurately and fluently. Hyphens are used in the poem at the end of a thought. Also, a series of periods signifies the trailing off of different thoughts. Both of these things help to add a bit more personality into the poem.
Tone- The tone in this poem is definitely more positive than the rest of Hughes's poems. The images placed into the mind of the audience in this piece have a celebratory feel to the. The poem remains constant with a positive feeling of hope and of things to come.
Context- The poem was written before the civil rights era of the sixties. The issues of the time had to do with the injustices committed towards the black community. It slightly changes the understanding of the theme by giving more clues as to why this was written and why the author feels the way he does. It is not consistent with any contemporary poets of the time because in the Harlem Renaissance there were no standards for poetry.
Structure- The poem follows no set poem structure. It deviates in its uplifting tone even though it discusses a desire for a carefree life that is without racial intolerance.
Stanza and Lines- The two stanzas in this poem are close to the same length. However neither poem has a set structure for the lines in it.
Rhyme Scheme- Langston Hughes sets a rhyme scheme in this poem that helps to add to the positivity. The words that rhyme in this poem all share end rhyme. It is entirely consistent and even uses the same words to rhyme in separate stanzas.
Visuals and Sensory- The word choice in this poem helps give the audience an abstract view of Hughes's wants and desires for African-Americans. It evokes senses of vision and touch. Certain phrases are repeated to give the audience the same feeling of "whirling" and "dancing" and give a positive feeling.
Word Choice- Hughes's word choice is best described as narrative. He is informal in his speech but he describes a scene and images that he has. No specific dialect is used.
Meaning- Onomatopoeia is used several times in this piece. It s also repeated and helps to create a sense of abstract thoughts.
Rhythm- The poem has no rhythm in it and no specific number of syllables are used throughout this piece.
Verbs- Active verbs are used in this poem and it is maintained constantly. The consistency makes the reader take the piece a bit more slowly and helps to make it a bit more enjoyable.
Sentence Structure- The sentence structure uses a combination of both complete and incomplete sentences. There is no visible pattern seen in these lines. Also, the word order is a bit incorrect, grammatically.
Punctuation- Punctuation is for the most part used accurately and fluently. Hyphens are used in the poem at the end of a thought. Also, a series of periods signifies the trailing off of different thoughts. Both of these things help to add a bit more personality into the poem.