Hughes Poem example essay topic

Literature and Composition II Langston Hughes and Bob Dylan Langston Hughes and Bob Dylan are two poets from different eras in modern American poetry. Although Bob Dylan is more characterized as a songwriter, I see much of his work as poetry. In this essay, I will discuss Hughes' poem "Harlem [1]" and Dylan's "Times They Are A-Changin" ' as commentaries on are culture, but from different backgrounds. Both poets use social protest to make their points. Langston is talking of times that were not particularly good in any way for African Americans. In the poem "Harlem [1]", he speaks of a time when black people were considered lower than the average American citizen.

He remembers how they were not accepted when he was younger; and for him and his race, he feels things haven't changed; and even if they had, how could the past be forgotten or forgiven? Sure, we remember. Now when the man at the corner store Say's sugar's gone up another two cents. And bread one, And there's a new tax on cigarettes- We remember the job we never had, Never could get, And can't have now Because we " re colored. (768) In this verse of the poem he is talking about how African Americans have viewed the world from Harlem and live and unjust life, how can they forget that. Bob Dylan speaks of social protest throughout his poem.

He is proclaiming to the world that we shall all come together and forget the past for a united future. He is saying that everything that has been normal is about to change. Come gather round people Wherever you roam And admit that the waters Around you have grown And accept it that soon You " ll be drenched to the bone. If your time to you Is worth saving " Then you better start swimming " Or you " ll sink like a stone For the times they are a chain'. (711) A difference in the two poets definitely comes into play when we look at of the speakers in these poems. Hughes' persona is that of a black male looking back on how the black race was treated badly, but he is expressing the beauty in their struggle.

Hughes talks about why black Americans should achieve their goals, "On the Cultural Achievements of African Americans" There is so much richness in Negro humor, so much beauty in black dreams, so much dignity in our struggle, and so much universality in our problems, in us-in each living human being of color-that I do not understand the tendency today that some American Negro artists have of seeking to run away from themselves, of running away from us, of being afraid to sing our own songs, paint our own pictures, write about our selves-when it is our music that has given America is greatest music out humor that has enriched its entertainment media for the past 100 years, out rhythm that has guided its dancing feet From plantation days to the Charleston... Yet there are some of us who say, "Why write about Negroes? Why not just a writer?" And why not-if no one wants to be "just a writer?" Negroes in a free world should be whatever each wants to be-even if it means being "just a writer... ".

(Hughes, 773) On the other hand, Dylan's young white male speaker states that the youth of America is changing socially and warning "adults" to join in or get out of the way. Come mother and father Throughout the land And don't criticize What you cant understand Your sons and your daughters Are beyond your demand Your old is Rapidly a gin " Please get out of the new one If you can't lend your hand For the times they are a chang in' (711) The speaker has a strong sense of unity for the human race to move ahead in the world. Ginsberg stated about this album, "Now he's going deeper into an exploration of American roots, which is interesting particularly for one who hasn't been doing that (3). He was saying that in that point of Dylan's life he has taken more of an attention to country pride. Both poems are told from the first person point of view, and speak of personal feelings, yet Dylan uses rhyme, and Hughes uses free verse. Perhaps, Dylan rhymes for the sole purpose of melody.

The biggest difference that I see between these two poets is the time eras and their ages. For Hughes it was the year 1949 when he wrote this poem at the age of 47. He was old enough to make a safe judgement call that not much more could improve for his race in his own lifetime, and if it did, it could not change the fact that for most of his life he couldn't feel equal to the white race. Dylan was 29 when he wrote his poem in 1979. When you compare 1949 to 1979, incredible differences and obstacles have been hurdled. In 1979, black Americans were equal, not "separate but equal".

I think Hughes might have taken the same view as Dylan if he were alive then. Also Dylan, at 29 and having his life not even half over, gave him more of a hopeful view on how America and Americans could become. Hughes was looking for more of a revenge on how his race was treated. So we stand here On the edge of hell In Harlem And look out on the world And wonder What are we gonna do In the face of what We remember. (768) In conclusion these poets have both proved to be dedicated to changing our society, but in opposite ways. Hughes takes the angry resentful view and Dylan takes the reconstructing positive one.

The individual styles work for these remarkable artists.