This constant physical battle with death is also displayed in the poem when Thomas repeats phrases such as, “Do not go gentle into that good night” and “rage, rage against the dying of the light” (Thomas), alluding that the son is pleading for his father not to succumb to death and instead, fight for that last glimmer of hope. Both authors' linguistic choices display the prevailing theme that one must maintain faith, even in the harshest of times, and remind the reader of how precious life is. In Night, death feels inevitable. This constant feeling of death causes Elie’s father’s death to be understated, with Elie merely waking up to his father being gone. His father's death seems so insignificant because it simply ends a life that was already full of suffering
James Baldwin’s concept of the ‘innocent country’ is how America is in a position that permits discrimination towards people of color, one-hundred years after their emancipation from slavery (Baldwin 10). A permissible discrimination that has allowed people of color to be recognized as something lesser than a human being. Within Baldwin’s essay The Fire Next Time, he writes of a rhetorical concept of innocence, which can be recognized as the racist social norms of America (5). Problematically, this allows the mental perception of a person to commit a hate crime, and believe that their offence is permissible since racism continues to be normalized.
The purpose of “Why, You Reckon?” by Langston Hughes is to accurately display, through the times of that century and human emotion, that despite money, power, and the color of your skin there can still be an unhappiness of the soul. There is evidence in the beginning of the short story of two men’s unhappiness in life the symbol of them being uncontent was their hunger. “Man, ain’t you hongry.... Well, sir, I’m tellin’ you, I was so tired and hongry and cold that night.” (253- 254).
Antisocial Edna While being social and part of a community is incorporated in humanity, it is also enjoyable to spend some alone time away from distractions and reflect. This characteristic can be seen in The Awakening with the main protagonist Edna who gravitates toward privacy. Edna longs to be an independent, strong woman and associates this belief with being alone and on her own. Edna is often involved in activities with others where she chooses to seclude herself from the group. Kate Chopin accentuates this aspect of Edna through her actions, but especially through her relations with Robert.
James Baldwin understood the immense effects of racial injustice and racism, and by writing The Fire Next Time Baldwin withstands these constant problems that oppress African Americans and leads others to stand against racism as well. Baldiwn strengthens his argument by using first person point of view to show his perspective on the injustice African Americans face, he also appeals to ethos by using empathy to have an emotional reaction from his audience; white people. As well as kairos to show urgency on creating racial equality in the nation. Baldwin begins the book with a letter to his nephew and gives him advice on how to handle America because African American people have continuously had to handle resentment and violence from white
The theme of the poem, “Let America Be America Again” by Langston Hughes is about equality. There are multiple reasons and quotes hinting to why it's about Equality. For example, Hughes states in his poem, “There has never been equality for me, nor freedom in this “homeland of the free”” (15-16). From this quote we can see that he thinks everything isn’t equal. He put quotes around the homeland of the free to make it seem sarcastic.
In the poem "Let America Be America Again," Langston Hughes paints a vivid word picture of a depressed America in the 1930's. In this poetic expression, a speaker is allowed to say what he wants for America to be America, what is that we don't have that high gas prices. I think that I would change, that people who aren't working should not get any money from the state, freedom is a privilege instead of the state giving it for free. My brother is epileptic and he works so how come everybody in the world wants something for free. I learned over two years that everything is the same in Germany as in America sure we speak different we have different opinions about something, but we are still the person who we want to be is our decision about how we want to live our lives.
“Just above my head” is a novel by James Baldwin published in 1979. The novel tells an adventure of a group of friends from Harlem, with the integration of love and fame between characters. Baldwin, a literary luminary renowned for his fearless examination of race, sexuality, and identity, masterfully intertwines these themes, inviting readers to navigate the intricate landscapes of intimate revelations and forbidden passions. With erotic vocabulary and vivid descriptions of characters’ actions, Baldwin challenges prevailing taboos and exposes the transformative power of embracing one's sexuality, candidly expressing desires and engaging in acts of confession. The intertwined themes of eroticism and confession challenge societal taboos and
“Let America Be America Again” is a poem written by Langston Hughes during the Great Depression in July 1936. The poem takes you from a dream, the American dream to reality by spreading the awareness that the “American Dream” is about freedom, equity, and prosperity. On the other hand, a dream is only as real as you make it, and the author along with Americans feels that it is just that a dream. Throughout the poem, Lanston Hughes talks about the American dream and how different it is compared to the world he sees within the United States.
Background Langston Hughes wrote “Let America Be America Again” in 1935 and published it in 1936. The poem discusses many topics, but the common theme is inequality. He mentions several groups of people that have been mistreated and discriminated against including Native Americans, African Americans, and poor people. The poem serves as a plea for better and equal opportunities for everyone.
I became intrigued with how each poem was written and how it is supposed to be read. I fell in love with the idea of having someone read simultaneously beautiful lines of poetry with me and became obsessed with
"The Sound of Silence", originally "The Sounds of Silence", is a song by the American music duo Simon & Garfunkel. The song was written by Paul Simon over a period of several months in 1963 and 1964. A studio audition led to the duo signing a record deal with Columbia Records, and the song was recorded in March 1964 at Columbia Studios in New York City for inclusion on their debut album, Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M.. Released in October 1964, the album was a commercial failure and led to the duo breaking apart, with Paul Simon returning to England and Art Garfunkel to his studies at Columbia University. In spring 1965, the song began to attract airplay at radio stations in Boston, Massachusetts, and throughout Florida. The growing airplay led Tom Wilson, the song's producer, to remix the track, overdubbing electric instrumentation.
There are many poems that discuss the relationship between a poet and their parents. The poets Andrew Hudgins and Dylan Thomas were in their late 30s when they wrote poems about their fathers. Thomas ' father was ill during the time that he wrote the poem. It is unknown if Hudgin 's father was ill during writing of his poem (Kirszner & Mandell 890-891). Andrew Hudgin 's poem, “Elegy for My Father, Who is Not Dead,” and Dylan Thomas ' poem, “Do not go gentle into that good night,” explore their feelings of their fathers ' imminent deaths.
“Poetry is ordinary language raised to the Nth power. Poetry is bonded with ideas, nerved and blooded with emotions, all held together by the delicate, tough skin of words,”(Paul Engle). Poetry covers all spectrums of life, whether it encompasses morality, love, death, or finding ones true self. When reading poetry one may stumble across pure brilliance, words so powerful they have the ability challenge the mind. Emily Dickinson and Walt Whitman have that such gift, and are nothing short of illustrious.
In the poems “A Psalms of Life” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, “Because I Could Not Stop For Death” by Emily Dickinson, “Beat! Beat! Drums!” by Walt Whitman the themes, mood, structure and literary devices has similarities and differences. In Longfellow’s poem “A Psalms of Life” its theme focuses on how everyone should live a life for today.
