A poem to look at

1. A poem to look at I, Too, Sing America by Langston Hughes

2. I, Too, Sing America by Langston Hughes I, too, sing America. I am the darker brother. They send me to eat in the kitchen When company comes, But I laugh, And eat well, And grow strong. Tomorrow, I'll be at the table When company comes. Nobody'll dare Say to me, "Eat in the kitchen," Then. Besides, They'll see how beautiful I am And be ashamed-- I, too, am America.

3. POETIC

4. POETIC • Purpose • Organisation (Layout/structure) • Emotive tone • Techniques (metaphor, simile, long sentences, onomatopoeia) • Individual words / key phrases • Contrast

5. First thoughts

6. I, Too, Sing America by Langston Hughes I, too, sing America. I am the darker brother. They send me to eat in the kitchen When company comes, But I laugh, And eat well, And grow strong.

7. Tomorrow, I'll be at the table When company comes. Nobody'll dare Say to me, "Eat in the kitchen," Then. Besides, They'll see how beautiful I am And be ashamed-- I, too, am America.

8. This poem is in response to Walt Whitman's poem "I Hear America Singing", in which he speaks of how happy everyone in America is and how life is perfect. Hughes wrote this to say that no, life is not perfect, especially for black people. When he says "I am the darker brother" (Hughes line 2) It is symbolic and connotative language. It is connotative language because, not only do you think of black people, but also of evil. So he is calling himself evil almost. But not in the way you would think, but it the way that he is ruining Whitman's image of America. Another important point is when he says "I'll be at the table" (Hughes line 9). This shows how he wants to be a part of society, that he has something to say, because when people come to a table it is to exchange thoughts, ideas, and just overall enjoy company. But he has been denied this because of him being sent to the kitchen when guests come over. So he is almost threatening them that he will stay and give them a piece of his mind.