Similarities Between Langston Hughes And Emily Dickinson

Hughes’s poem is more of an argument against that of the people (whites) back then who were prejudice against blacks. With the first couple of lines of “I, Too, Sing America”, the lines mean that even if he is sent to the “kitchen” when “company” comes, he’ll still laugh and eat well and grow stronger from the experience, not really seeing it as if it were bad but more of a motivation to stop it from happening again. When coming to the lines of “Tomorrow, I'll be at the table When company comes. Nobody’ll dare Say to me, “Eat in the Kitchen,” Then”, the lines that are given here are just saying that this time around he’ll be at the “table” when the “company” and no one

Hughes states “By what sends the white kids, I ain’t sent: I know I can’t be president” (Lines 1-5). He is referring to the fact that he is not like many other kids due to his skin color and he knows he will not have a future because of it. In the lines three through six of the poem, he explains that the white kids are unaware of the things that bother him because they don’t bother the white kids, “when don’t bug kid’s sure bugs me” (Lines 6-7). He knows his life is much more difficult than white’s person life. Hughes writes about liberty and justice and how, even if it was promised, it was not given at all, “We Know everybody ain’t free” (Lines 9-10). Hughes makes fun of the idea that colored people are free, “Liberty and Justice, Huh! For all?” (Lines 14-15).

In Joe Nocera’s article, “Let’s Start Paying College Athletes”, he argues that college athletes should be paid for playing sports. Nocera begins his article by providing an example of how some athletes will receive money that is perfectly fine while other athletes cannot accept any money or else that player will be in violation of NCAA rules. It’s evident that there are large amounts of money involved in the college sports. Top college coaches can make as much or more than professional coaches. Together with men’s basketball, College football have become huge commercial enterprises generating huge amounts of annual revenue (Nocera, 2011).

The poem “Let America Be America Again,” “Afro-American Fragment,” and “As I Grow Older,” are a few of the most vivid examples of his ideals through poetry. Analyzing these poems through cluster criticism supports Donald B. Gibson’s conclusion that “Hughes’ commitment to the American ideal was deep…and abiding. He held on to it despite his acute awareness of the inequities of democracy, and he seemed to feel that in time justice would prevail, that the promises of the dream would be fulfilled” (45). Hughes felt that the oppression of him and his people by a white supremacy was coming to an end and was ready to receive the justice that had been constantly denied to his people.

Emily Dickinson and Edgar Allan Poe were histories most proficient writers and their work speaks for itself. They were born in the same time frame and they knew a lot about each other’s work. Their life lessons are what contributed to their remarkable poetry writing and what made them who they are today. Poe and Dickinson do share similar topics in their poetry writing, some are also dissimilar in which all of them focuses a lot on pain, death, love and nature.

The nineteenth century produced many esteemed authors, including Emily Dickinson and Walt Whitman who became two of Americas most popular poets. While vastly different in style and personality, both Dickinson and Whitman relate to many people on an emotional level through their poetry, even in the twenty-first century. The works of poetry by Dickinson and Whitman can be compared on levels of style and form and both writers composed beautiful verses of high quality. Through the following comparisons, it will become apparent how Emily Dickinson and Walt Whitman influenced American literature and culture both in similar and diverse ways.

Emily Elizabeth Dickinson and Edgar Allan Poe are two of the biggest poets in American Literature from the 1800s. They had many things in common from their writings about death and sadness, because of their unfortunate losses in life, to the fact that they were both born in Massachusetts. They were also different in many ways. They were different in the way they looked at life and wrote about their experiences from it. While it is obvious they had many differences, they also had many things in common from their lives to their styles of writing making them amazing writers.

Hughes begins the poem by expressing his yearning for America to be the America it once was, a place where pioneers can “[seek] a home where he himself is free,” and live the American dream. Additionally, he continues by stating that “(America never was America to me),” suggesting that the narrator hasn’t had the acclaimed experiences that America promises: freedom, liberty, patriotism, etc. The fact that it’s said in parenthesis indicates that these protesting cries against America are being muffled and cast aside, and are just small whispering or mumbling that will later become a great, forceful voice that takes over the poem. In the second stanza, he continues the poem by using alliteration, “the dream the dreamers dreamed,” creating the effect that America is regarded

Walt Whitman is a renowned American poet. He served as an example for all to follow. He put thoughts into peoples head. Whitman was very influential and had a very big effect on people. Langston Hughes was also a very influential American poet. He was known for changing others opinion of race and making their oppression evident to others. Hughes was very influenced by Whitman and he caused him to want to make a difference in people's thoughts on his race. Whitman wrote a poem called I Hear America Singing and some people believe that it influenced Hughes poem, I, Too, Sing America. Hughe builds on Whitman's poems in these categories; structure and technique, themes, and effect on people and society.

Throughout this poem Hughes has placed many symbols in the readers mind to bring the image of the African American people to thought. He reminds African American readers of their origin and what they have been through by using the

Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson both have been hailed as original and unique artists. They each have distinctive voices that many have attempted to replicate and have been unable to do so. Whitman wrote in epic like proportions; he developed his own rhythmic structure, creating complex lines and stanzas. Whitman's style of free verse become synonymous with his name and works, and helped distinguish him as a great American poet. By using free verse poetry, Whitman tore down

Langston Hughes was a poet with many artistic abilities. His writing and drawings established the lifestyles of many African Americans during this time. In a poem called “I, Too” Hughes express his feelings as an African American, a brother, and someone who deserves to fit in society. He states “I, too sing America” (1039). Hughes saw himself as an individual who has a voice in America even though his skin is a little darker. In a poem called “Democracy” Hughes states: “I have as much right as the other fellow has to stand on my own two feet and own the land” (1043). Hughes was speaking for every African American whom were still dealing with segregation, racism, and freedom.

One poem I chose from Langston Hughes that grabbed my immediate attention is his poem “The Weary Blues”. This poem written by Hughes is very powerful to me and expresses a deep message within for all Americans during that time; double-consciousness is notable all throughout the entire poem. Langston Hughes, who was one of the main focal points of figures of the Harlem Renaissance, tries to remain conscientious to his African-American roots in his foundation. His poem “The Weary Blues” is the perfect example of double-consciousness. The author of the article places an immersed question: Was Langston Hughes able to overcome the “double-consciousness” and take the pot luck with African origins and roots, or did he also not know how to manage to escape from the assimilation in the melting-pot of the American culture? Reading the poem from him, he actually provides the answer, which he states that the poet succeeds in promoting the “folk” (Black) tradition, having to compromise with the compulsory framing into American (White) reality of the form and the content of the subject.

Emily Dickinson is the creator of some of the most famous works in American poetry. Throughout the 1800s, the author dedicated her life to poetry. She used metaphors in an advanced way and displayed power through her unique use of diction. Emily’s immense power with words derived from her determination. Dickinson’s determination to achieve individuality and power is exemplified through her complex poetry and derived from the events that occurred in her life.

Poets such as Langston Hughes, Lorna Dee Cervantes and Paul Laurence Dunbar have all experienced or witnessed some form of discrimination and racism. These poets lived in an era when racism and discrimination were social norms and their poems give us insight into their lives and how racism has affected them.