This week let's read two poems by Langston Hughes. The first starts on page 364 and is called "Let America Be America Again," and the second starts on the bottom of 365 and is called "A New Song."
Use the questions in the green boxes at the end of each poem to spark your discussion.
Note how the questions after the first poem prompt discussion on HOW the poet constructs meaning. The first question after the second poem pushes for discussions of comparative meanings in both poems, and the second question asks for discussions of political aspects of the poem.
I enjoyed the first poem alot, "Let America Be America Again". It's use of repition with the first words on each stanza really bring power to the poem. This constructs meaning, because for me personally, it's repition sticks more to the mind. The second poem's message, "A New Song", differs from the first because its more of a rant and a revolt to the injustices that African Americans have faced throughout the years. To me, the first poem is more of a celebration of their culture and a reminder that they too are part of this country, America. However, both strike simliar needs and wants towards the audience. I feel as if the speaker in both poems just wants the audience to listen without a side to have a perspective on, instead coming into reading it with an open mind. Both poems reflect the past, but I think the first one has a cause for a future, for a different change of setting. The second poem has a cause for the future but its action is to revolt more than to make a change for America. Both have the same circumstances, but I enjoyed how each poem went about with different tactics in achieving their goal.
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ReplyDeleteI agree with Jessica on how the first poem, "Let America Be America Again", is more of a celebration and the second, "A New Song", is more of a rant. I really like how repetition is used in poems to emphasis an idea. Both of these poems do a really good job using repetition in their poems. The first poem uses repetition of the words, "I am" and "all" tp emphasis the idea of unity throughout the poem, which emphasizes the theme of celebration and pride. As Jessica says it is a reminder that African Americas are part of the country too. The repetition in the second poem is actually has more of a impact to me. Repeating The phrases "This day has past" and "Bitter was the day" significantly emphasizes the want to "Revolt![and]Arise!" (line 49) to a new future for African Americans. I think in Hughe's social era the poem "A New Song" would be more compelling only because that era contained more racism as now and instead of celebrating being part of America they would be bitter against how they're treated.
ReplyDeleteAnother big difference in the construction of the poems that i noticed is the stanzas. In the first poem they're longer and thicker full of more information. Being so full of words and meanings reflects on being proud of who "African Americans" are and shows confidence. The second poem on the other hand has shorter lines and stanzas. Since they're shorter and due to the theme being about revolting, I think it emphasizes the fact that he's fed up with how they've been treated and it shows it's time for change.
Overall I like both poems. These two poems have similiar themes yet constructed very differently and I think it strongly shows the poetic talent of Langston Hughes.
I actually disagree with both Ms. Puente and Ms. Gruver, I see "Let America be America Again" more as the revolt, and " A New song" as a celebration. Between each stanza of Let America be America Again the speaker has a negative comment about america such as America was really never America, and how there really was never equality. Even in the 51st line the speaker questions free. The next verses say who said free not me and then it goes on to say how we really do not have any freedom. The speaker seem quite mad that America is not what its suppose to be and I feel that this is his form of revolt toward there current situation. In lines 78 and 79 he says he swears America will be, so I believe that his goal is make America what it is suppose to be.
ReplyDeleteFor the second poem the speaker is saying how bad things are but he constantly repeats the day is past, and bitter WAS the day. He says WAS and I feel that he is saying its over. Now it could be interpreted as a revolt, but I see it as something that has recently happened and there are excited about "A new dream:
On the poem "Let America Be America Again" every stanza that the author uses have as rhyme and rhythm. This repetition are located at the first words of every line and at the end of each line. Also on each stanza it changes.
ReplyDeleteComparing "A New Song" with "Let America Be America Again" the difference between these two poems is that on the "Let America Be America Again" want to overpass or take away those barriers which does no let that Africans to obtain that future that they dream, comparing with "A New Song" is talking about the discrimination and where those African Americand were used as slaves and treated as the worst way (inhuman way). Also at the end of this poem the author says that the dream with fredom, therefore they have a similar wanted at the end.
Those two poems tells me that they are from very different ages. "Let America Be America Again" is talking about this days more actual age. While "A New Song' is talking about the slavery age.
In the "Let America Be America Again," many repetitions occur. This emphasizes the meaning of the words or phrases being repeated. For example "(...never was America to me.)" tells the reader how the speaker didn't live the American dream that was promised to him too many times. In my opinion, the rhyming at the end of the lines gives the poem a very smooth rhythm that makes the American dream seem more desirable and pleasant. Also, the punctuation at the end of some stanzas is to tell the reader that that was all one thought, and the speaker is moving on to the other. Other punctuations like the exclamation points add the emotions such as desperateness and some anger.
ReplyDeleteIn “A New Song,” the speaker mainly focuses on slavery. He writes imagery that describes tragic things that the slaves were put through. This song is about telling the readers that these times are only living in the past. And a main purpose is to help the readers remember the hard times from the past. He emphasizes this thought when he says “A new dream flames against the sun!” Some political view is reflected in some lines such as “When I saw my children unschooled, My young men without a voice in the world.”
These two poems can compare in the fact that they both talk about the unfair past. However, though, "Let America Be America Again," mainly focused on the American dream and “A New Song” was about the slavery and. I enjoyed these two poems, for they gave me a broader look into what he past was like in America.
"Let America Be America Again" the speaker plays on the pun "America land of the free". He asks "Who said the free? Not me?" Through a lyrical history examination on racial class he sarcastically exhibits the "dream" that America is regarded for is nothing more than false advertising. This "freedom" buried deep in the U.S. symbolism during the entrepreneur pioneer era. He repeats the word "America" in a mocking tone and wishes to make the wrongs right so that the concept and idea is reborn.
ReplyDeleteIn "A New Song" here is a mixed message of unforgiveness of the past and pride in the black race prevailing the hopelessness of slavery. "That day is past./Bitter was the day" is repeated and composure the readers attention with the pairing of gruesome acts "When the lyncher's rope/ Hung about my neck," so when he says the past is done he is being sarcastic and means this will never be forgotten. The last line is very important "The past is done!/ A new dream flames/ Against the/ Sun!." He exalts how far the blacks have come in society today but preaches there is always more to be done and more goals to achieve. He does not want the people to stop here.
Both poems are politically engaging black and slavery rights. The lack of liberties the slaves and native people had enabled the "white man" to take advantage and mistreat.