THE NEGRO SPEAKS OF RIVERS


1)
The poet, Langston Hughes, was born to a Black abolitionist family. He was born in 1902, a time when racial tension was especially high. He also was born into wealth at a time when blacks were not thought to be able to achieve wealth. He studied in Columbia for a while to appease his father but, he soon decided to go into writing and he traveled across the world. His writings focused on the lives of blacks Americans of that era and the lives they lived.
In his poem "The Negro Speaks of the Rivers" the setting is ancient Africa, before the expansive slave trade and when the continent was full of life. He writes this poem to show that the Africans-Americans do have a history... He wrote this poem for the Blacks who felt that they were worthless, by showing them the came from royalty and a beautiful land that thrived before human-kind was created. By describing the rivers he symbolizes the unity between all Blacks because of their history. Hughes topics were based on the lives of Black people in his lifetime and because of his passion and the supplication of his history gave the essence and the reality of his poem- every word of his poem was true.


2)
The rivers are personified in Hughes poem because he says that he's known them. The way he says that he known the rivers symbolizes his knowledge of his roots and and his pride because he knows his worth. Furthermore, he knows the dignity and substance from whence he came. Hughes also uses repetition and simile in the poem when he says that "my soul has grown deep like the river." This phrase helped me to determine he understood where his ancestors may lived, how they thrived and how they created inventions and innovations that has people has accomplished...he knew that he came from an intelligent, strong and rich lineage from all parts of the continent of Africa.
Allusion is used when he described the various rivers, pyramids, cities and even presidents. Allusion gives the reader a sense of validity for the writer and helps us understand the history and the truth of his poem. Additionally, he used an omniscient tone in the poem. The power and the distinctiveness of his voice gives us a reaffirming feeling that his words are genuine.


3)


I, Too

As reader I feel a sense of shame and determination as a I read the poem. the Poet Expresses the way that Blacks were treated as second-class citizens. You can hear the author's hurt and the feeling that he still loves himself. I interpreted the poem as: in the face of all opposition, and in situations where people do not appreciate you, continue to love and appreciate yourself. This poem is inspirational...it instills the ideal that you don't return hate for hate, but you just be the best you are...and then true wisdom will shine through.

4)

The cues that this writer is American is the freedom with which he writes his poetry. Furthermore, the content of his writings suggests he is an American, because the specific struggles he expressed existed solely in America.Basically, the history of his writing implies that he is an American. His vocabulary and dialect in many of his writings, and more clearly, the subjects of his writings suggest that He is American. When he talks about the different struggles of the oppressed black, the beauty the pride of that culture and the injustice of his people, the reader can get a sense that not only is he American but he is African-American.