Walt Whitman And Langston Hughes Analysis

Born ten years after the death of Walt Whitman, there was no possible way for Langston Hughes to ever meet or communication with Whitman, but that did not mean Hughes could not establish a connection to him, or at least his work. In 1925, Hughes wrote a poem titled “I, Too” was inspired by and directed in response to the poem “I Hear America Singing”, which was composed by Whitman much earlier. Whitman’s poem consisted of a variety of different American laborers who “sing” as they do their jobs. This well-known poem never specifically addresses the ethnicity of these singing laborers of the American population, but Hughes sets about to rectify that omission.

Langston Hughes, a popular African American writer, often wrote about oppression as a black person in segregated America. In his poem, “I, Too, Sing America,” Hughes expresses his experiences of oppression and how dreams of an inclusive America. During Hughes time, the Harlem Renaissance, many black civil rights activists conveyed their hopes of being accepted into society, much like Hughes. The poem showed the non acceptance of the African American people, as through the non acceptance of the “darker brother” in the poem. Hughes speaks for the African American people when he expresses that he, too, wishes to rise up to

“I Hear America Singing” by Walt Whitman and “Let America Be America Again” by Langston Hughes. Whitman and Hughes both mention the love for the America dream. There are many similarities and differences between the two poems. They both are describing what was happening in America one in mid 1800’s and one mid 1900’s what was happening during this time was finally abolished slavery in the south & the Civil Rights Movement.

After reading, I Hear America Singing by Walt Whitman, and I, Too, Sing America by Langston Hughes, it is undeniable that Hughes wrote his poem to exemplify the life of negros compared to the whites in Whitman’s poem. While Whitman’s poem discusses the average, arrogant, egotistical American of the early 1900’s, Hughes poem describes the hopefulness and

The two poems differ from each other in their structure, and yet they are alike in that they use the same literary devices such as metaphor and imagery. In “I Hear America Singing,” the joyful and lively tone suggests

Separate but equal. These three words were used to justify the countless lynchings, riots, as well as legal segregation. The Jim Crow laws stranglehold on the American people was slowly diminishing. The racist regimes which dictated that African Americans be granted the basic rights but not a thing more, only perpetuated the idea of keeping the African Americans as second class citizens, was slowly coming to a close. Langston Hughes could not accept to be thrown into being a second class citizen when at one time he was treated as an equal. Hughs knew that one day, people would judge others by their character, not by the color of their skin. The theme of equality as well as the unique sense of liberating American freedom is prevalent all throughout I, Too, Sing America. This poem is a protest against the rapid discrimination that was still ongoing, despite the advances to bridge the race gap that were made. This theme is developed by the extended metaphor which continued throughout the poem, an allusion as well as a expansion upon a earlier piece of literature called "I Hear America Singing"; which preaches a similar message that Hughs is trying to convey, his strong diction which evokes even stronger emotions with its imagery of the rich African American culture, as well as the stark contrasts that lie within the American society.

Comparing I Hear America Singing, and I, too and To Walt Whitman it is clear that Walt Whitman did not include the native americans in his poem, but also it is noticeable he didn’t completely exclude them either. Early in his life, he was fired for his opposition to slavery so it wouldn't make sense for him to go against them. In the long run, I feel Walt was more celebrating what America thought was notable; but when it came to Native American people it wasn't one people viewed to be acclaimed. On the flip side, the difference between I Heard America Singing and I, Too, as well as To Walt Whitman, was that Whitman didn’t realize it at the time of writing his poems that he was excluding these folks, but Hughes and de Hoyos begged to differ.

“I Hear America Singing” writing by Whitman,”Let America be America Again” writing by Hughes where both poems that listed a group of individuals who were looking for a way to secede in the American Dream. Both poems explored the identity of America. They also talked about who and what an american and what makes America so great. The poems talked about the characterizes of the nation and people. They both carry strength throughout their poems. However they reach some differences in their poems.

The many differences in the two poems are that Walt Whitman used free verse, thus his atlas “The Father of Free Verse”. Walt Whitmans’ “I Hear America Singing,” focuses on working class Americans and how they enjoy there way of life, making the tone of the poem happy and joyful. In Langston Hughes’ “Let

Rimon Jabbar March 26, 2018 English “I hear America Singing” by Walt Whitman Task one, Analyzing figurative language. The poem “I hear America singing” by Walt Whitman is a powerful, meaningful poem. The ongoing theme of the poem is centered around the idea of Americans working joyfully every day, different professions both men and women, whether mechanics, boatman’s, or young wives sewing and washing. America is bonded in song as a strong, happy patriotic community. The tone of the poem is appreciative, joyful and proud.

There are many different connections you can make when thinking of what the authors representation was when refering things to “singing.” The connection that’s the boldest to me is that “singing” or “too sing” represent them being the American or having a certain title in America. In the poem I Hear America Singing is that they are proud and stand out for being American’s and having what they have. As the poem says “the shoemaker singing as he sits on his bench” would show he is proud to be a brave and proud American. The singing would speak for the ownership and defiance to be an American citizen. The poem I, Too, Sing America displays a sense of identification to the American life. Langston Hughes give impression that so many things can

How do the authors have similar their poems. For example ,both passages mention list recent . Even though their different from century ,both mention America dreams . Langston Hughes wrote poems that nobody else would touch just like Walt Whitman. Their writing style is alike because both mention individuals that make America great.

Both poems talk of America however, “I Hear America Singing”, by Walt Whitman, speaks of America in 1855 as a place where, “Young fellows, robust, friendly, / Singing with open mouths their strong melodious songs” (11-13). This is to say, a place where all are welcomed and are welcomed to be proud of themselves and their uniqueness. “I Hear America Singing” gives a positive look on american working life and the accepting nature of people. The poem “I, Too”, written in 1945 is from the perspective of an african american who has dealt with the struggle of discrimination and segregation. The outlook of the author, Langston Hughes, has is still optimistic but only when looking into the future. Langston Hughes writes of America in 1945 saying, “They

I Hear America Singing, a poem written by Walt Whitman in 1860, pays tribute to the hard-working blue-collard workers of America for their contribution toward the growth and productivity of the United States. Whitman is very passionate about the unity of the working class and the significance each role they play. His theme is direct to point in bringing them all together in hopes for a better America.

In any case, be that as it may, that ballad is just a little veneer of the genuine truth, that was demonstrated in "I, as well", that there is a much darker side of American work; The Slaves. They essentially did likewise measure of work the Jovial American specialists in "I hear America singing" furthermore satisfied the "American dream" however they didn't get any legitimacy for their achievements, and in the lyric, the slaves choose to end the disparity amongst them and the laborers, by demonstrating that they will see "How excellent they are, and be embarrassed" (I, Too, Langston Hughes, Lines 16-17) that the slaves, are a critical component in American