Mother to son langston. An Analysis "Mother to Son" by Langston Hughes 2022-11-02

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"Mother to Son" is a poem written by Langston Hughes in which a mother advises her son to persevere and keep going through life's struggles, using the metaphor of a staircase to represent the journey of life. The mother speaks from her own experience, having faced many challenges and hardships in her own life, and encourages her son to keep climbing, even when the going gets tough.

The poem begins with the mother saying, "Well, son, I'll tell you: / Life for me ain't been no crystal stair." She goes on to describe the various difficulties and obstacles she has encountered along the way, including "tacks" that have "left marks" on her feet, and "splinters" that have "cut up [her] feet." Despite these challenges, the mother has continued to climb, saying, "I'se been a-climbin' on, / And reachin' landin's, / And turnin' corners, / And sometimes goin' in the dark."

The mother's message to her son is one of resilience and determination. She tells him to keep climbing, no matter how difficult it gets, and to never give up. She advises him to "stick to the fight / When you're hardest hit" and to "never turn back." The mother's words are filled with hope and encouragement, as she tells her son that he will reach the top of the staircase, even if it takes time and effort.

The metaphor of the staircase is a powerful one, as it suggests that life is a journey, with ups and downs, twists and turns, and moments of darkness and light. The mother's message is one of perseverance and resilience, as she encourages her son to keep going, even when the going gets tough. It is a message that is timeless and universal, and one that is particularly relevant in today's world, where challenges and difficulties are a constant part of life.

In conclusion, "Mother to Son" is a beautiful and poignant poem that speaks to the human experience of overcoming challenges and struggles. It is a message of hope and encouragement, reminding us that no matter how difficult life may seem at times, we can always keep climbing and reach new heights.

Mother to Son Poem Analysis

mother to son langston

The light, therefore, stands for safety and certainty, as well as hope. I love you mamma. Despite all the challenges the mother kept moving forward and also faced times of confusion and uncertainty. Other poems may contain concrete elements such as creative spacing within or between lines to reflect pauses, distance, or emotional depth in the poem. As we progress in our careers, in any profession, we may not always have that same motivation and energy that we once had.

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An Analysis "Mother to Son" by Langston Hughes

mother to son langston

The mother says her life has not been a smooth ride. Thank you for sharing. The mother says she has faced a lot of troubles in her life as one may face these troubles when climbing up a staircase. Out of nowhere someone sent me this poem. He must rather face them and keep pushing forward. He must watch out for broken boards, splinters, and tacks.

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Mother to Son Langston Hughes Lesson Plan (Poetry Analysis)

mother to son langston

Therefore, she advises her son that he should never give up. The Dramatic Monologue, Boston: Twayne Publishers, 1996. There was a time when life offered him some rest from the struggle she had been enduring. So Langston Hughes, or rather his successors, please continue to give us your poetry in the language of the people. Literary and poetic techniques allow him to portray his feelings and ideas regarding his community. This advice is therefore directed at the reader.

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Mother to Son

mother to son langston

The poet uses dialect to clarify that the mother is uneducated. . The mother tells her son that life has never been easy or free of difficulties. So, boy, don't you turn back. The staircase is symbolic of progressing through life and having the will to keep climbing. Langston Hughes is one African American who used poetry as a way of expressing himself and the experiences that his community went through. The speaker is seen to put side by side the history of African-Americans with a never-ending flight of broken-down stairs, evident in the overcrowded and crumbling dwelling places in which loads of poor blacks found them enforced to live in the ghetto neighborhoods of northern cities Miller, p.

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“Mother to Son” by Langston Hughes Meaning

mother to son langston

He brings out Harlem as being a crossroads for the experiences of African Americans Berry, p. When the top of the stair is reached, the goal will be achieved. According to the black renaissance, African Americans tried all their best to go against the white oppression which is what is being dictated by the mother to the son. Well, son, I'll tell you: Life for me ain't been no crystal stair. Whilst it may be a good idea theoretically to have a common language with universally aplicable rules of grammar and syntax and standardised vocabulary it would, I believe, be the death of great literature and poetry.

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Mother to Son by Langston Hughes

mother to son langston

The tone of the speaker is compassionate; a feeling which is evident when she tells her son that she is aware of what he is going through as she has been through it herself and that he should not lose hope. The real staircase, however, is often plunged into darkness, and this darkness covers a multitude of dubious, difficult choices, as well as being dangerous. Hughes, being one of the people who fought most against the oppression as a leader of the Negroes, tries to express what the older generation felt about the young generation who could not possibly understand what was going on at that time Rampersad, p. The mother in the poem uses a metaphor of a staircase to convey "the hardships of Black life" while also emphasizing her progress and perseverance. I will never forget you both. University of Missouri Press.


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mother_to_son__langston_hughes_.pdf

mother to son langston

The world is full of news of children dying because of selfish immature parents and thugs, social injustice and endless political indifference. Such an approach also helps Hughes to become closer to readers and help them to understand his message. English is a label used to cover hundreds maybe thousands of languages, dialects, etc that have sprung up as Western culture, rightly or wrongly, has spread around the globe. The social, artistic, and political climates of the Renaissance have also been vividly brought about Rampersad, p. Despite all of the things mentioned in the first seven lines, the speaker is still moving forward.

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Themes in "Mother to Son" Poem by Langston Hughes

mother to son langston

It is a powerful testimony to never give in to hardships and trials. Langston nailed it with his pen. So, the main theme of the poem is that of perseverance. However, she never gave up; she tried climbing even during the worst of times. The mother also tells her son to not be misled or lose hope. Langston Hughes 1902-1967 was a well-known African American writer.

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