Situational Irony

These lines show the happiness and optimism that is portrayed throughout the poem, by painting a picture of all kinds of people singing and being proud. In Hughes, "I, Too, Sing America", the optimistic tone is also shown when the protagonist in the poem declares, "They send me to eat in the kitchen/When company comes,/But I laugh,/And eat well,/And grow strong." (3-7). Although they are of color and are treated awfully, they are optimistic and look at the bright side, like how they at least have food, and laugh and are able to grow. Both poems definitely express an optimistic tone.

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 the third stanza, the beat and rhythm change; in what it looks like a pause in the poem. The font changes to italics and makes it sound like maybe a white person interrupted the poem, expressing their confusion in the fact that “the white folks die.” When the audience gets to the fourth stanza, they notice how the beats decrease as each line is read, from three beats, to two, to one. Hughes is purposely counting down to the last stanza, with the final words being “NOT I” in all caps. What finale isn’t big? But the reason why he stated “that black boy’s still body says: NOT I” was because even though the black man might have died, it is the white men who are really dead. They were the ones who chose to do an immoral act, and in God’s eyes the black man, who did no wrong, will go to Heaven, while the white, cruel men will go to Hell. This poem shows how lynching is morally wrong and anyone that takes part in it will be punished. It is challenging the conventional beliefs about lynching because it is showing the white men that everyone has to answer to their wrongdoings. Although the black man died, the true death is punishment from God for committing horrific acts (in this case, lynching) during their

Next he uses the symbol of sugar, or sweetness. This creates the false image that all is well, almost as if this is the way it is meant to be. However, our minds still stick to the festering sore that is under the "Sweet crust." Hughes uses this image as a transition to the only statement in the poem that is not in the form of a question.

There is also evidence when he said that he is the darker brother and they sent him to eat in the kitchen which is talking about Hughes` being treated unfairly. In the second stanza he says “ Tomorrow, I’ll be at the table when company comes. Nobody’ll dare say to me, “Eat in the Kitchen,” then”. He talks about the future when he is a well known poet and everyone will be treated equally, he will be treated the same as the people who used to treat him

When moving toward the end of the poem, one can find out how Hughes tells in bold words how he views himself and reveals his identity. In the final lines, he wrote, "Then, besides, they'll see how beautiful I

Because of the unfairness each writer deals with, the quest for a better life is a central theme for each writer. The unjust and horrific ordeal that Hughes encountered when he was forced out of university prompted him to start writing poetry. The concept of dreaming of a better life reoccurs frequently in his poem Dreams: Hughes is using the metaphor of the broken winged bird to symbolise his feelings towards his life at that time. The message contained

However, he writes a poem to convey his perspective. Hughes states, “I do not need my freedom when I am dead. I cannot live on tomorrow’s bread.” This shows that Hughes wants freedom to come now because he doesn’t want all his fighting to go to waste (Hughes 112). Another example is, “I have as much right as the other fellow has to stand on my two feet and own the land.” This is showing that Hughes should have the same rights as everyone else in this world (Hughes 111). Hughes also states, “I live here, too. I want freedom just as you.” This states that he wants freedom just as much as everyone else who is getting treated unfairly (Hughes

The poem, "Life is Fine" was written by Langston Hughes. The poem was written during segregation and is about a person who attempts to commit suicide, but in the end decides not to. Hughes uses a sorrowful tone to help get his message across. Suicide is not the answer, there are always people who love you.

To begin, Hughes’ uses his diction to create a distinct mood for his poem. For example, when one reads the poem without first reading the title, “The calm, Cool face of the river Asked me for a kiss,” they may create in their own head a calm, positive or happy mood. The words may remind one of summer days at the lake or the beautiful view of a river valley. The author does this on purpose as he wants the reader to be relaxed. With the title, “Suicide’s Note,” attached, however, the mood automatically becomes more solemn. Hughes gives his readers this title because he wants them to understand that this poem has a meaning beyond what can be seen at first glance. Nothing in these lines really reveals a tone, or the author’s attitude toward the subject, which makes the mood that much more more important. The author establishes that his, or anyone’s, thoughts or feelings

It is the idea of contrast that Hughes imposes on the reader. Hughes not only focuses on the negativity aspects of life, but through the negative elements is one able to see the positive outcomes. It is the over all theme of overcoming these obstacles, that captures the audience. Towards the end of the last stanza of the poem, we, the audience, see a complete transformation of the speaker and his view on life. He now comprehends the extensity of his actions and views his emotions as a blinding element from reality. He does not have the need to commit suicide anymore, and now fully accepts the loss and embraces the lament. "Though you may hear me holler, and you may see me cry- I'll be dogged, sweet baby, If you gonna see me die. Life is fine! Fine as wine! Life is fine! (Conarroe pg 242, 27-33). With the passage, the reader is now aware of the transformation of the speaker.

Life is Fine:Personification and Simile By:Langston Hughes Life is Fine, by Langston Hughes, is a long narrative poem with an abc rhyme scheme. In the poem Langston is explaining how hard life is and how he wants to commit suicide. The message of the poem is to explain how life has its ups and down, but it's easier to give up so keep going no matter how hard life goes. “Life is fine Fine as wine Life is fine”

In the final line of the poem Hughes makes the man seem that he is not excited to be living. Although he chooses to live on he came to the conclusion unenthusiastically, but he still chooses to live on. Hughes uses the simile Life is fine as wine because wine can be both good and bad. Sometimes there are bad wines and sometimes there are good wines, just like in real life there are bad times and good times. Although this is true the character knows that with perseverance and will he can make it through life no matter how bad times may

This poem by Langston Hughes relates to the third definition of “dream”, which was “a strongly desired goal or purpose.” The difference between the connotation of the definition of “dream” in this case, and how it is used in the poem is that the poem has a very negative connotation with words like broken-winged, die. Instead of having a motivational and powerful connotation like the definition of the word, this poem has a sad and depressing connotation to