This is one of the few poems I actually remember reading before. I think it is because I have read it in almost every English class since the 10th grade, but this poem is interesting.
Langston Hughes speaks not as a single individual, but as a race of people, as African Americans. He speaks of the places where African Americans have lived. Langston speaks of the Euphrates, Nile, Congo, and Mississippi rivers, all of which have deltas. The deltas of the rivers are cradles for life. Life can flourish in these places and life can be sustained. I feel like Hughes is using that as a reference to the people of the Harlem Renaissance to flourish and stustain life in the time of expression.
Hughes appears to feel his heritage within his soul. He feels connected to people of the past and the people who played a role where he was and is today. Hughes "has grown deep like the rivers," as he repeats in the poem. this is the line that explains his connection to the people in the past.
This poem paved the streets of the Harlem Renaissance. Langston Hughes was one of the most weel known poets of the time. His poems spoke directly to the people. He was able to capture the attention of the audience and keep their attention through his poems.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
(Aauzsa Mack)
ReplyDeleteVick did a great job explaining what Hughes meant by the rivers in his poem “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” which was the main places in which Black people have been. From the Nile River to the Mississippi River were Black people have been influential or facing hardships. The way all of the rivers connect is the way Hughes connected with his past and heritage in this poem. He also seems to relate to the rivers and that is what Vick is explaining when he says “grown deep as the river” and that also can be interpreted in a way that Hughes is digging way down deep into the roots in order to fully understand his heritage.
Good interpretation of this poem Vick. The poem is a classic and is able to be used many times throughout the English class agendas because of what you said about Hughes being the great influence of the Harlem Renaissance. I like the use of those rivers that purposely where the rivers of ancient civilization. He connects himself with the ancestors of that time feeling that he is a part of that history. Repeating "my soul has grown deep like the rivers" really proves that he is comparing his life to the history of those rivers. I really enjoy this story.
ReplyDelete