The Negro Speaks of Rivers
The Negro Speaks of Rivers: An Analysis Langston Hughes, a poet in the early twentieth century is known for his poems about urban life and racialaffirmation. In the poem The Negro Speaks of Rivers, Hughestells a story of the black man's evolution to America. Thepoem illustrates racial pride and dignity. Hughes usessymbolism, free verse, and tone to create a clear picture of In the poem The Negro Speaks of Rivers Hughes uses theuse of symbolism to convey the story of his people. Thepoem must be critically analyzed to fully understand theessence of Hughes writing. The use of the "I" throughoutthe poem refers to the black people as a hole, not as anindividual person. The "rivers" are used as a metaphor for
Hughes illustrates the poem to be direct andcomprehensible. He is now ablack man who has experienced the pain of slavery andracism, and his soul now has the trademark of theseexperiences. The "muddy bosom" is refereedto as a black mother which he rests secure forever. The poem traces themovement of black life from the Euphrates and Nile Rivers inAfrica to the Mississippi. The Euphrates symbolizes theoriginal center of human civilization. At the end ofthe poem Hughes writes, "My soul has grown deep like therivers", suggest the understanding beyond the memory of thesuffering of slaves, but a more deeply memory of freedom. An Exampleof free verse is written throughout the whole poem. "I looked upon the Nile and raised the pyramidsabove it" refers to the act of slavery. The poem The Negro Speaks of Rivers is written in anopen form of poetry. . Hughes combines manydifferent aspects of literature including symbolism, tone,and free verse to illustrate the experiences of the Negroman. The second time the line appears it suggeststhat he is no longer the same man who "bathed in theEuphrates" and built his hut near the Congo. Thesunset represents Afro American's freedom. Hughes uses the AbeLincoln as a symbol of American slavery which was atransformation of slaves into free men.
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