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Comment 15 of 35, added on September 19th, 2005 at 5:24 PM.
I thhink that James Hughes was trying to show everybody that color has
turned everyone against each other, and if we could only see past that,we
would know what he is trying to tell, and show us.
Molly Dorm from United States
Comment 14 of 35, added on September 2nd, 2005 at 2:21 PM.
I already know about the meaning of this poem. Theres no point in me saying
what everyone else has said about this being a plea for equality or saying
something about equality.
I just wish I could find an alternative meaning out of this, something
really important that no one else has seen yet, that's all I really want.
I focused on the lines of introduction on the teacher, and I concluded that
Langston Hughes is merely trying to express reality in abstract form. here
in further detail is my statement that focuses on the intro of the
teacher.
The poem "Theme for English B" was a very interesting poem and was able to
make me think twice about real life situations and how they can be
translated so easily into art. The instructor in this poem is almost like
the voice of reason, or someone who guides the reader along to a path. I
found the instructor to be like Obe Wan Kinobe in Star Wars, where the
instructor is guiding the pupil along by not giving them all the answers,
but posing the important questions that will make them think in different
ways.
Upon reading the introduction of Langston Hughes poem called "Theme for
English B," I realized that there's a lot going on in the opening sequence.
Mr. Hughes is discussing his life in this poem in very intimate detail. He
immediately brings the reader into his own world with his descriptions of
the environment around him and exaplaining the thoughts going on in his
head. What made this introduction unique to me is that he pulled his life
into the page and showed us how he is living, and ddin't go for structure
or particular elements besides pure expression of his thoughts and
environment. The instructor is displayed as a robotic force that is merely
giving the students orders to be carried out. I also found it interesting
that he made the rhyme scheme work for something that the teacher
apparently said. I doubt that the teacher said those very exact words the
way that he describes them, but I do think he tried to bring the idea of
the seed the teacher planted in his head as being an abstract and poetic
concept, in other words, he tried to equivocate something that was poetic
in real life into true poetry, and show us the true quality of that
statement.
Overall I feel that this poem was very creative and allowed me to think a
lot about the possibility of using everyday people or places in art.
Langston Hughes poem made me concieve of possible alternatives to
constantly thinking in an abstract form. Instead he used something tangible
like his teacher, as a conduit in a greater machine that is his poem. I
liked how he was able to take this assignment that was given to him and use
it to ponder greater questions of his own existence in this world as a
human being. I constantly was suprised in reading over and over the poem
and how it made real life seem so surreal. The poem was not calculating in
it's approach to displaying the real world, in other words, it didn't just
summarize things that were going on, but streched into another boundary of
thought. The subjects that were covered were also interesting, like
discussing racial qualities, and the silliness in trying to differentiate
what a person might like, or how they might interpret something based on
purely the color of their skin. The author used a lot of reality and
imaginative qualities to make something that really evades easy
catergorical ideas.
Philip from United States
Comment 13 of 35, added on August 30th, 2005 at 12:25 PM.
This poem of Lamgston Hughes, I believe, depicts the society at the time.
The white man being more free than himself. But mostly his leading theme
was that we are America. Everyone: from the wealthy white man to the
poorest of blacks. If only Langston could live now to see the melting pot
we have become. He would live in happier times, though of course he would
have nothing to write about. For those interested another great read of
Hughes is his autobiographical journey "I Wonder as I Wander". It has
countless stories about his lectures, many in the South during the time of
segregation and Jim Crow laws.
Jennifer from United States
Comment 12 of 35, added on June 18th, 2005 at 8:43 AM.
Hi everybody!
I have to confess, i'm also a big fan of Hughes. I recommend also
on:"Dream Deferred","Cross" of Hhghes.enjoy...
Arik from Israel
Comment 11 of 35, added on May 17th, 2005 at 12:11 PM.
I don't necessarily believe that he was simply relating to his prof
strictly on an American equality standard (We're both Americans, we're
equal). If it were simply that as what makes them equal, what about the
Saudi Arabian and the Japanese men? Are they not equal simply because they
do not live in the same country? No, they are equal based on common traits
and characteristics of the human.
And Hughes points this out:
"I like to eat, sleep, drink, and be in love.
I like to work, read, learn, and understand life"
Does not everyone like to eat? Does not everyone like to drink? Does not
everyone like to be in love, to work, read, understand life? Whether you
agree or disagree with me, if you look deeper into your own self you will
find this as true, that you like to eat, be in love, search for the answers
in life. And this is not limited to Black or White, American or Saudi
Arabian or Japanese.
Staci from United States
Comment 10 of 35, added on May 15th, 2005 at 1:37 PM.
Just like to say that Rock writes alot... but i did enjoy reading his (or
her) comment. On the subject of the poem, I think that it is beautiful and
well written.
John from Grenada
Comment 9 of 35, added on May 4th, 2005 at 7:35 PM.
I feel the same way, Kate. I became a fan of Hughes after reading this
poem, "Let America Be America Again", and "I Too Sing America". I like the
points he raises in his poems because I feel that I can agree with a lot of
them and I like the fact that he is speaking out against racism and
discrimination.
I think that the point Hughes is trying to make here is that despite the
difference in the color of their skin, they are still the same. They learn
from each other because they exist together. And whether they like it or
not, they will interact and learn from each other. I think that that is
what he was trying to say with the paper because he makes it out to be the
instructor's paper and not his because it is white and he is black. When
he says that's American, I think he is saying that is what being American
is about. Being about to share things with other people and learn from
other people without having to worry about race.
Frank from United States
Comment 8 of 35, added on April 20th, 2005 at 5:32 PM.
i luv dis poem its so original
it makes no sense but all the sense in the world
it makes u feel special w/o even noticing it
its a peice of me and can b a peice of u 2
Julisa from United States
Comment 7 of 35, added on January 21st, 2005 at 12:49 PM.
I believe Langston Hughes was trying to explain to the instructor who he
was. He explained to him what he sees on the outside, a black man of 22
years of age. He is African American and and his instructor is white. They
are still both human. No matter what the color of their skin is. God
created them both, they will always be a part of eachother somehow. In the
poem, Hughes describes his path from school to his home. He speaks of
walking down a path in to Harlem. I think he is trying to express that he
had to work hard to be able to move up towards the college. HE comes from
somewhere no one would expect a black man to accomplish anything.
Gabriela from United States
Comment 6 of 35, added on January 20th, 2005 at 6:26 PM.
I really love Langston Hughes, so I liked this poem. The speaker is a 22
year old college student who is studying at Columbia University (Hence: New
York City).
It is in first person as well, and he is a talented student. The setting
is, obviously, in New York City, in the 20th century. The theme is that
whites and blacks are not that different if you think about it. Blacks and
whites may be a seperate skin color, but we are all just regular people.
There are 3 stanzas, there is no rhyme, and it is in free verse. It is
almost like an autobiography of Hughes, himself.
PUMA boy from United States
This poem has been commented on more than 10 times. Click below to see the other comments.
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I thhink that James Hughes was trying to show everybody that color has
turned everyone against each other, and if we could only see past that,we
would know what he is trying to tell, and show us.
Molly Dorm from United States