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Harlem Renaissance—Langston Hughes poetry Directions: For each poem, ​
annotate it for meaning​
. Define words you don’t understand, rephrase tricky lines, outline allusions you understand (look up the ones you don’t), identify punctuation or rhyming that may be important to the meaning, do what you need to do to make these poems understandable. Do NOT SOAPSTone it; do what you are supposed to do prior to doing that. Then, on an MLA­format correct paper (either typed or hand­written), answer the questions for each poem. Make sure you identify the poem for which you are answering the questions. “I, Too” I, too, sing America. I am the darker brother. They send me to eat in the kitchen When company comes, But I laugh, And eat well, And grow strong. Tomorrow, I’ll be at the table When company comes. Nobody’ll dare Say to me, “Eat in the kitchen,” Then. Besides, They’ll see how beautiful I am And be ashamed— I, too, am America. 1. What author is Hughes alluding to when he states “I, too, sing America”? Who else has sung about America in literature prior to Hughes? 2. Why would the speaker be sent to the kitchen when company comes? 3. What overall theme about oppression does this poem present? 4. Does the rhythm, meter, and structure of the poem help in understanding the theme? How? Harlem Renaissance—Langston Hughes poetry “Harlem (Dream Deferred)” What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore— And then run? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over— like a syrupy sweet? Maybe it just sags like a heavy load. Or does it explode? 1. Describe the seven individual images that Hughes uses for a dream that is deferred. 2. Which image is the most effective and why? 3. Why would Hughes name this poem “Harlem (Dream Deferred)”? 4. What theme about dreams does this poem present? 5. Does the rhythm, meter, and structure of the poem help in understanding the theme? How? Harlem Renaissance—Langston Hughes poetry “Harlem” Here on the edge of hell Stands Harlem— Remembering the old lies, The old kicks in the back, The old, ​
Be patient. They told us before. Sure, we remember. Now, when the man at the corner store Says sugar’s gone up another two cents, And bread one, And there’s a new tax on cigarettes— We remember the job we never had. Never could get, And can’t have now Because we’re colored. So we stand here On the edge of hell In Harlem And look out on the world And wonder What we’re gonna do In the face of What we remember. 1. Who is “they”? 2. Who is “we”? 3. What do “we” remember? 4. Why is the speaker comparing what they remember with what they are going through currently? 5. What is the theme about oppression that this poem presents? 6. Does the rhythm, meter, and structure of the poem help in understanding the theme? How?