Langston Hughes: Poet of Experience and Education Poem Review by Nicky

Langston Hughes: Poet of Experience and Education
An analysis of the use of Langston Hughes' life experiences in his poetry.
# 147723 | 1,973 words | 10 sources | MLA | 2011 | US
Published on Jun 19, 2011 in Literature (Poetry) , African-American Studies (General)


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Description:

This paper discusses how the poems of Langston Hughes explore the self that Hughes became but only after suffering at the hand of segregation and how his poems touch upon issues that became important to him such as his heritage. Through a review of some of his poems such as "Harlem," "The Negro Speaks of Rivers," and "Song for a Dark Girl" the paper argues that Hughes' poetry looks at certain life experiences from different points of view with the desire to educate others. Hughes wanted other to learn something from him and he has learned over the course of his years. Experience and education become the focus of poetry, as Hughes attempts to educate through his experience.

From the Paper:

"Hughes cannot be mentioned with out mentioning his influence on the Harlem Renaissance. The poem, "Harlem" might prove to be one of the most popular pieces from this time. A man's dream is the central theme o f the poem with the poet asking the question of what happens to a man when he cannot reach or is prevented from reaching his dream. Niemi claims that this poem is "justly revered as Hughes's most powerful poem of social protest" (Niemi 415). This is primarily because the poet has is brake even to approach the topic and asks the important questions. The poet wants to know what happens to the African-American when his dream is "endlessly deferred by white society" (415). The poem is nothing but a series of questions that cause the audience to think. The poet asks, "What happens to a dream deferred?" (Hughes Harlem 1) and begins to elaborate on what might happen when a dream is not allowed to be achieved. "

Sample of Sources Used:

  • Hughes, Langston. "Freedom Train." The Heath Anthology of American Literature. Paul Lauter, et al., eds. Lexington: D. C. Heath and Company. 1990.
  • ---. "Harlem." Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. X.J. Kennedy and Dana Gioia, eds. New York: Longman. 1999.
  • ---. "Mother to Son." Poetry Foundation Online. Site Accessed April 02, 2009 <http://www.poetryfoundation.org/archive/poem.html?id=177021>
  • ---. "The Negro Speaks of Rivers." The Heath Anthology of American Literature. Paul Lauter, et al., eds. Lexington: D. C. Heath and Company. 1990.
  • ---. "Mother to Son." Poetry Foundation Online. Information Retrieved November 9, 2008. < http://www.poetryfoundation.org/archive/poem.html?id=177021>

Cite this Poem Review:

APA Format

Langston Hughes: Poet of Experience and Education (2011, June 19) Retrieved April 01, 2023, from https://www.academon.com/poem-review/langston-hughes-poet-of-experience-and-education-147723/

MLA Format

"Langston Hughes: Poet of Experience and Education" 19 June 2011. Web. 01 April. 2023. <https://www.academon.com/poem-review/langston-hughes-poet-of-experience-and-education-147723/>

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