The Life of Langston Hughes Agenda The of

The Life of Langston Hughes

Agenda: The of Langston Hughes Do Now: What facts/info should we know about an author before we read his/her works? What info can help us understand better?

Facts James Langston Hughes Born in Joplin, Missouri in 1902 Parents: n n mother - school teacher, who wrote poetry. father - storekeeper, who wanted to be a lawyer, but he was denied to take the bar exam. Deeply influenced by Carl Sandburg n unrhymed free verse

Facts Continued Supported by his father, Hughes entered Columbia University in New York. Against his father’s wishes, Hughes dropped out, and participated in jazz and blues activities in nearby Harlem. Wanting to see the world, he enlisted as a steward on a freighter bound to West Africa. He traveled to Paris, worked as a doorman and a bouncer of a night club, and continued to Italy. “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” – 18 years old n First major, published poem

facts continued Considered a leading voices in the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920 s In his works, Hughes portrayed n n people, whose lives were impacted by racism and sexual conflicts southern violence Harlem street life poverty, prejudice, hunger, hopelessness.

facts continued He used the social, political, and religious aspects of the African American experience as stepping stones for poetic expression. Hughes' poetry announced to the world that the streets of black America contained a culture rich and vibrant and fiercely poetic.

What to expect in Hughes’ Poems The poetry Hughes crafted over the course of his lifetime was filled with rhythm and beat. His stanzas weave wildly smooth tunes about life as a black American.

From: “Note On Commercial Theatre” But someday, somebody'll stand up and talk about me and write about me black and beautiful and sing about me and put on plays about me! I reckon it'll be me myself! Yes, it'll be me.

My old man's a white old man And my old mother's black. If ever I cursed my white old man I take my curses back. If ever I cursed my black old mother And wished she were in hell, I'm sorry for that evil wish And now I wish her well My old man died in a fine big house. My ma died in a shack. I wonder were I'm going to die, Being neither white nor black?

Day 2 Agenda: What will we learn from Langston Hughes? Do Now: 1. Review the notes on the life of Langston Hughes 2. Which fact about his life do you feel is most important in understanding his work? Explain EXPLAIN= Complete Sentences, Why

What we will learn Why is Langston Hughes considered a great American poet? What was the influence of Africa and African-American history on his work? What were his achievements as a poet, and what effect did they have on society? What literary devices did he use?

The Literary Devices of Langston Hughes Imagery, Mood, Tone

The Negro Speaks of Rivers I've known rivers: I've known rivers ancient as the world and older than the flow of human blood in human veins. My soul has grown deep like the rivers. I bathed in the Euphrates when dawns were young. I built my hut near the Congo and it lulled me to sleep. I looked upon the Nile and raised the pyramids above it. I heard the singing of the Mississippi when Abe Lincoln went down to New Orleans, and I've seen its muddy bosom turn all golden in the sunset. I've known rivers: Ancient, dusky rivers. My soul has grown deep like the rivers.

One Way Ticket I pick up my life And take it with me And I put it down in Chicago, Detroit Buffalo, Scranton Any place that is North and East – And not Dixie. I pick up my life And take it on the train To Los Angeles, Bakersfield, Seattle, Oakland, Salt Lake, Any place that is North and West – And not South. I am fed up With Jim Crow laws, People who are cruel And afraid, Who lynch and run, Who are scared of me And me of them. I pick up my life And take it away On a one-way ticket – Gone up North, Gone out West, Gone!

HARLEM What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore— And then run? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over— like a syrupy sweet? Maybe it just sags like a heavy load. Or does it explode?

What will be our activities? Create an Author Brochure with Power. Point Use an Image Map to study Hughes’ works Write a Literary Response to his works Create a tribute website Make a travel brochure to 1920’s Harlem

Model: Imagery, Mood, Tone Hold fast to dreams For if dreams die Life is a broken-winged bird That cannot fly. Hold fast to dreams For when dreams go Life is a barren field Frozen with snow.

Agenda: Themes & Symbolism Do Now: When I hear the word “hypocrisy” what do I think of? n Hypocrisy – possessing positive attitudes & actions that you do not actually follow. Please write your response in “free verse”

Symbolism & Theme Symbolism n A person, place or thing that represents something else. It represents something concrete, tangible. Theme n The message about life or human nature that is “the focus” in the story the writer tells.

"Let America Be America Again, " published in Esquire and in the International Worker Order pamphlet A New Song (1938), pleads for fulfillment of the Dream that never was. It speaks of the freedom and equality which America boasts, but never had. It looks forward to a day when "Liberty is crowned with no false patriotic wreath" and America is "that great strong land of love. " Hughes, though, is not limiting his plea to the downtrodden Negro; he includes, as well, the poor white, the Indian, the immigrant--farmer, worker, "the people" share the Dream that has not been. The Dream still beckons. In "Freedom's Plow" he points out that "America is a dream" and the product of the seed of freedom is not only for all Americans but for all the world. The American Dream of brotherhood, freedom, and democracy must come to all peoples and all races of the world, he insists.

The American Dream is bruised and often made a travesty for Negroes and other underdogs, Hughes keeps saying, but the American Dream does exist. And the Dream must be fulfilled. In one of his verses he put it more plainly. He might have been speaking to his harshest political critics or to the white youths who beat him up on that long-ago summer day in Chicago. Listen, America-I live here, too. I want freedom Just as you.

Homework You will write a Literary Response to Langston Hughes about the “American Dream” Your Letter should be at least 1 page long and should include the following: Thoughts/Feelings on 2 of his works Questions/Reactions to his life and/or accomplishments A 4 -8 line poem that you want his advice on

2/7/05 Agenda: Using Literary Terms to understand the poetry of Langston Hughes n Imagery, Mood & Tone Do Now: Please explain the Mood & Tone of the poem you wrote for homework in complete sentences

Symbolism Wake Tell all my mourners To mourn in red -Cause there ain't no sense In my bein' dead.

Symbolism “Suicide's Note” The calm, Cool face of the river Asked me for a kiss.

From: “Note On Commercial Theatre” But someday, somebody'll stand up and talk about me and write about me black and beautiful and sing about me and put on plays about me! I reckon it'll be me myself! Yes, it'll be me.

Tone "Note on Commercial Theatre" You've taken my blues and gone – You sing 'em on Broadway And you sing 'em in Hollywood Bowl, And you mixed 'em up with symphonies And you fixed 'em So they don't sound like me. Yep, you done taken my blues and gone You also took my spirituals and gone You put me in Macbeth and Carmen Jones All kinds of Swing Mikados And in everything but what's about me – But someday somebody'll Stand up and talk about me – Black and beautiful – And sing about me, And put on plays about me! I reckon it'll be Me myself! Yes, it'll be me.

Imagery “Dream Deferred” What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up Like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore-And then run? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over-like a syrupy sweet? Maybe it just sags like a heavy load. Or does it explode?

Agenda: Author Brochures n Do Now: Make sure your homework is in your folder, ready for submissions Next Quiz: Thursday

Literary Circles Refer to the directions on the board. The following slides will offer instruction

Response 1 TOP SECTION: n Write the line of the poem you will respond to BOTTOM SECTION: n n n What are your thoughts, feelings, reactions to the poem? How does this line drive the poem? Why did you choose this particular line?

Response 2, 3, 4 TOP SECTION: n n Your response to the line from the poem THIS MUST BE DONE BEFORE YOU READ ANY OF THE PERSONAL WRITING BOTTOM SECTION: n Your response to the personal piece of writing: Agree/Disagree? What else can you say? Can you add an opinion, reaction?