The Poem ‘Mother To Son’ By Langston Hughes First Published

The poem ‘Mother to Son’ by Langston Hughes first published in 1922 and ‘The Road not Taken’ by Robert Frost have a number of similarities. These poems are parables in which experienced people give advice about life choices. In both poems, the personas were initially in some trouble in life but they currently have no remorse for the way they made choices and lived. Also, both poems have a moral lesson that life may not always be easy but at the end, the choices that people make will determine their destiny. However, the poems are considerably different in their writing style, diction, the point of view, tone and imagery. This essay aims to compare and contrast the two poems. Though having similarities in the theme and use of symbolism and†¦show more content†¦He, however, chose the road that was less favorable to people. This road represents a road of hard work or integrity since majority of people love short cuts to life. In the end, the speaker is not only relieved but also proud that he took that road. He says ‘I shall be telling this with a sigh’ (Frost 16). The reason for him telling the story is to give advice because he is proud of the decision that he made. Also, Hughes and Frost both use symbolism and imagery to bring out the picture about life. For Hughes, the stairs symbolize the life- life that has been lived through pressing on because of the difficulties and uncertainties involved. The mother symbolizes the old generation of people who are experienced and their role in giving advice. The old generation is familiar with life challenges that the younger generation, symbolized by the son, are undergoing. They provide hope for the young generation. The dark corners without light symbolize times of uncertainties, the corner symbolizes changes experienced in life, and the climbing symbolizes difficult situations requiring extra effort and so on. Reading through the poem a person can easily picture the life that the speaker lived. Conversely, Frost also uses symbolism in his poem. The divergent roads that emerge as the persona is traveling symbolize a dilemma in life. The persona needed to make a tough choice in life for it was impossible to live a double life.Show MoreRelatedThe Writing Style Of Langston Hughes1001 Words   |  5 Pagescollective, is one of the many legacies of Hughes, who has been called â€Å"the architect† of the black poetic tradition. He is certainly one of the world’s most universally beloved poets, read by children and teachers, scholars and poets, musicians and historians. Langston Hughes became the voice of black America in the 1920s, when his first published poems brought him more than moderate success. Throughout his lifetime, his work encompassed both popular lyrical poems, and more controversial political workRead MorePoem Analysis : Langston Hughes Poem1258 Words   |  6 Pages Research Paper and Poem Analysis: Langston Hughes Poem Analysis: Langston Hughes’ poem â€Å"Mother To Son† is a twenty line poem that seems to be from the perspective of a prudent mother that is giving her son, and possibly the readers, some helpful and supportive advice, telling them that, no matter how many adversities they may face, they can not give up. I believe that this is the main theme of the poem, perseverance. â€Å"So, boy, don’t you turn back./ Don’t you set down on the steps./ ‘Cause youRead MoreLangston Hughes: A Jazz Poet1045 Words   |  5 Pages Langston Hughes (James Mercer Langston Hughes) was a poet, columnist, dramatist, essayist, lyricist, and novelist. He was one of the earliest innovators of the literary art form called jazz poetry. Hughes, like others, was active in the Harlem Renaissance, and he had a strong sense of racial pride. Through his poem, novels, short stories, plays, and kids books, he promoted equality, condemned racism, and injustice, and celebrated African American cult ure, and humor. (Illinois). Langston HughesRead MoreJames Langston Hughes And Countee Cullen934 Words   |  4 Pages James Langston Hughes and Countee Cullen were prominent poets. These poets were at the time of the Harlem Renaissance during the 20th century. Hughes and Cullen wrote for others to understand the stories of African-Americans living in the United State. These men had differences in their writing, but one mutual objective. James Langston Hughes was born in Joplin, Missouri on February 1, 1902. Hughes began writing poetry when he lived in Lincoln, Illinois. The Weary Blues was his first book of poetryRead MoreGwendolyn Brooks As A Poet2100 Words   |  9 Pagesracial prejudice in school. The young poet found comfort in reading and writing, which her parents actively encouraged Brooks’ mother declared to her, that she is going to be a poet. Brooks published her first poem Eventide at age thirteen in American Childhood magazine. At age sixteen, she met Langston Hughes, who gave her words of encouragement after reading her poems at a poetry reading. In 1934, Brooks graduated from an integrated high school with a career at the Chicago Defender. Soon afterRead More Langston Hughes Essay1464 Words   |  6 Pages Langston Hughes   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  People always listen to music, watch movies or plays, and even read poetry without once even thinking what is could be that helps and artist eventually create a masterpiece. Often times, it is assumed that artists just have a â€Å"gift†, and people just do not consider the circumstances and situations that gradually mold a dormant idea into a polished reality. This seems to be the case with nearly every famous actor, writer, painter, or musician; including the ever-famousRead More The Life and Works of Langston Hughes Essay1971 Words   |  8 Pages The Life and Works of Langston Hughes nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;â€Å" In a deep song voice with a melancholy tone, I heard that Negro sing, that old piano moan – Ain’t got nobody all in this world, Ain’t got nobody but ma self. I’s gwine to quit ma frownin’ and put ma troubles on the shelf.† The above excerpt is from Langston Hughes prize winning poem, â€Å"The Weary Blues.† Hughes, considered to be one of the world’s outstanding authors of the twentieth century (Ruley 148), is a prolific poet, novelistRead MoreOvercoming Oppression and Exploitation - Langston Hughes Poems and James Camerons Avatar1566 Words   |  7 Pagesothers become bitter and reclusive and turn on those around them in hopes of feeling better about themselves. And many feel they are victims, rightly so. These are all completely normal reactions, but where do they lead us? Through two of Langston Hughes’s poems and James Cameron’s ‘Avatar’ I will discuss how oppressed people react to colonial conquest and exploitation, and how they become better people because of it. The painful ordeal of oppression and colonization turned the black people of AfricaRead MoreWhat Was The Overall Impact Of The Harlem Renaissance1110 Words   |  5 Pagesthe end of the Harlem Renaissance? The financial support of African Americans by rich whites came to end after the Wall Street Crash. 22. Who is the author of Their Eyes Were Watching God and when was it published? The author of Their Eyes Was Watching God is Zora Neal Hurston and was published in 1973. 23. What was the overall impact of the Harlem Renaissance? The Harlem Renaissance help to how American view African American and their culture. The integration of black and white cultures duringRead MoreLangston Hughes Research Paper25309 Words   |  102 PagesIn 1919, when Langston Hughes was seventeen years old, he spent the summer with his father, Jim Hughes, in Toluca, Mexico. Langston had not seen his father since he was a small child, and he was excited about making the trip. However, during this visit, no affectionate bond would develop between Langston and Jim. Jim Hughes was a cold, difficult man, who was driven by ambition to make money and achieve respect. He had moved to Mexico to avoid segregation and racial injustice in the United States