Langston Hughes Poems
.In the poem The Weary Blues, the musician literally collapses when hes finished singing: He slept like a rock or a man that's dead. What do the lyrics or the sound of the blues song within this poem suggest about the relationship between blues and death? Does the music act as a catalyst, a cure, or both?2Dream Variations and Dreams both describe ideal realities for the speaker. How do these worlds compare to each other? Do the day and night in Dream Variations reflect the difference between daydreams and night dreams? When Hughes writes night comes on gently, / Dark like me is he indicating that dreams have some special connection to race?3.In I, too, sing America and Let America be America Again, Hughes presents two visions of the country. While there seems to be a core of patriotism within his body of work, Hughess views of America are complicated. What role do the parenthetical refrains play in Let America be America Again? What role does the repetition play?5. Po' Boy Blues is an example of a poem in which Hughes most closely follows the blues form: two repeated lines and a final variation on that line. Where does it depart from that structure? Are there phrases or content in this poem that seem unique to poetry, or could it easily be set to music? What is the difference, in your experience, between a song and a poem?
Sample Solution
The Weary Blues: A Song of Exhaustion and Escape
- In Langston Hughes' poem "The Weary Blues," the musician's sleep "like a rock or a man that's dead" after singing the blues suggests a complex relationship between the music and death.
- Exhaustion: The lyrics likely express the musician's deep weariness and emotional depletion. The blues might serve as an outlet for his troubles, but singing them takes a toll.
- Temporary Escape: The sleep, even if heavy and dreamless, could be a temporary escape from the harsh realities the blues song reflects.
- Death as Metaphor: The musician's state might be metaphorical, representing a sense of defeat or resignation after pouring his soul into the music.
- Langston Hughes' poems "Dream Variations" and "Dreams" explore ideal realities, but with some key differences:
- Specificity: "Dream Variations" describes a more specific ideal world - one filled with racial equality and acceptance ("Dance! Whirl! Whirl! / Till the quick day is done.")
- Universality: "Dreams" presents a more universal dream world, a place of "beauty and peace" that transcends specific struggles.
- Day vs. Night: The "day" in "Dream Variations" could represent a more active, outward expression of dreams through action and dance. The "night" might symbolize a more introspective, internal world of dreams.
- Langston Hughes' poems "I, Too, Sing America" and "Let America Be America Again" showcase his complex patriotism:
- "I, Too, Sing America" expresses a deep love for America but acknowledges the ongoing struggle for racial equality ("America hasn't been quite / A haven for me."). The parenthetical refrain "(I, too, sing America)" emphasizes the speaker's desire to be a full participant in the American dream.
- "Let America Be America Again" critiques the gap between America's ideals and its treatment of minorities ("Let America be America again / The land that never has been yet"). Repetition of "Let America be America again" highlights the ongoing hope for a more inclusive and just America.
- "Po' Boy Blues" follows the blues structure with a repeated line ("Ain't got nothin' but the blues") and a final variation. However, it deviates slightly:
- Structure: It has three stanzas instead of the usual two. This might provide a more complete picture of the speaker's poverty and despair.