Imagery

Imagery is a very important characteristic of poetry. Langston Hughes often uses imagery to involve us personally with what he is feeling, in his poems. In this particular poem, there are many analogies made. His writing is descriptive, yet simple. The analogies made in "Cross," are between his mother and father. For example, in the opening line he says, "My old man's a white old man and my old mother's black" (lines 1-2). This lets us know his racial identity. We can assume that he is half black and half white from reading that line. Another very important analogy found in this poem is, "My old man died in a fine big house. My ma died in a shack" (lines 9-10). In this line he is basically saying that because his mom was black she died with no material things to leave behind. She was poor, and probably had a little funeral, or possibly no funeral at all. On the other hand, the father, the white man, died with riches. He probably had a lavish funeral. His death was probably acknowledged more than Hughes' mother because he was white and she was black. In those times, white was the superior race. In the poem "I, too," Hughes used analogies to compare skin color. He said, "I am the darker brother," (line 2) which meant the narrator was darker than others. He was comparing the lighter and darker skin colors of people. "Mother to Son" also uses analogies like the poem "Cross." Hughes is comparing the "black" life with the "white" life; showing us how unequal each race was at that time in his life, and the struggles they went through. The poem "Cross," has a lot of symbolism, especially in the line, "My old man died in a big fine house. My ma died in a shack" (lines 9-10). It is symbolic of the inequalities the black race suffered through during those times. They were considered lower status compared to the white race. Hence the analogy between a "fine big house" and a "shack." The poem "Mother to Son," uses symbolism too. When the mother says, "Life for me ain't been no crystal stair," (line 2) she is discussing the inequalities of that period. The crystal stair is a symbol of the "white" life. She goes on to talk about her stairs having tacks, splinters, and boards torn up. This symbolizes the life black people lived. To me, it symbolizes that the white people always had the best of everything, and the black people had what was leftover and used.

"Mother to Son"

The use of imagery is critical as it influences the readers and allows them to vividly describe the poem’s passages. It should appeal to all senses and make it pleasurable to the reader. In Langston Hughes’ poem “Mother To Son” (p. 506), imagery is found by expressing a mother’s life with struggles and obstacles, and the determination to over come them. “Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair”(Line 2), is clearly identified through the mother’s experiences by “tacks”, “splinters”, “boards torn up”, and “bare floors” (Lines 3-6). She expresses her uphill battle in life to her son in a descriptive tone, and emphasizes that he too, will be conquering some of the same obstacles in life. She also appears tired, but forces herself to be strong for the sake of her son. The reader can vividly understand and create visual circumstances to what the mother may have endured over her lifetime. I can imagine that the “landin’s and corners” (Lines 10-11) are certain satisfying focal points that she has reached. This could be the birth of her son or obtaining a satisfying job. I can also imagine that she endured these struggles alone, as there is no reference of a husband or close family for support. The imagery used allows the interpretation of the mother’s persistence to succeed through life by not giving up. Hughes uses similar bold and direct statements in his poems “I, Too” and “Cross” so that the reader can vividly identify its meaning.

"I, Too"

Opening with a single phrase, “I, too, sing, America” (line 1), the narrator of the poem begins by prompting the reader to listen. He has something to say. It is something important and he wants the entire nation to hear it. Hughes then paints a picture to us of who the narrator is and what his life is like. “I am the darker brother,” he states – that although he may not be a literal brother, he is just as much human as his “lighter” brothers and sisters. We are then informed that when company arrives for dinner, he is told to go to the kitchen and eat, but that he doesn’t mind. Being in the kitchen isn’t such a bad thing he tells us as he says, “But I laugh, and eat well, and grow strong.” (Lines 5-7) Later he tells us that soon there will come a time when he will not be sent to the table. While he was “in the kitchen”, he was growing in wisdom and stature. Those who sent him to will be ashamed when they realize that he is beautiful and that he is just as American as they are. Using these images, the narrator speaks to us with a hopeful and humble voice, with just a twist of pride.



	Imagery

		Back to main page

"Cross" Imagery is a very important characteristic of poetry. Langston Hughes often uses imagery to involve us personally with what he is feeling, in his poems. In this particular poem, there are many analogies made. His writing is descriptive, yet simple. The analogies made in "Cross," are between his mother and father. For example, in the opening line he says, "My old man's a white old man and my old mother's black" (lines 1-2). This lets us know his racial identity. We can assume that he is half black and half white from reading that line. Another very important analogy found in this poem is, "My old man died in a fine big house. My ma died in a shack" (lines 9-10). In this line he is basically saying that because his mom was black she died with no material things to leave behind. She was poor, and probably had a little funeral, or possibly no funeral at all. On the other hand, the father, the white man, died with riches. He probably had a lavish funeral. His death was probably acknowledged more than Hughes' mother because he was white and she was black. In those times, white was the superior race. In the poem "I, too," Hughes used analogies to compare skin color. He said, "I am the darker brother," (line 2) which meant the narrator was darker than others. He was comparing the lighter and darker skin colors of people. "Mother to Son" also uses analogies like the poem "Cross." Hughes is comparing the "black" life with the "white" life; showing us how unequal each race was at that time in his life, and the struggles they went through. The poem "Cross," has a lot of symbolism, especially in the line, "My old man died in a big fine house. My ma died in a shack" (lines 9-10). It is symbolic of the inequalities the black race suffered through during those times. They were considered lower status compared to the white race. Hence the analogy between a "fine big house" and a "shack." The poem "Mother to Son," uses symbolism too. When the mother says, "Life for me ain't been no crystal stair," (line 2) she is discussing the inequalities of that period. The crystal stair is a symbol of the "white" life. She goes on to talk about her stairs having tacks, splinters, and boards torn up. This symbolizes the life black people lived. To me, it symbolizes that the white people always had the best of everything, and the black people had what was leftover and used. "Mother to Son" The use of imagery is critical as it influences the readers and allows them to vividly describe the poem’s passages. It should appeal to all senses and make it pleasurable to the reader. In Langston Hughes’ poem “Mother To Son” (p. 506), imagery is found by expressing a mother’s life with struggles and obstacles, and the determination to over come them. “Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair”(Line 2), is clearly identified through the mother’s experiences by “tacks”, “splinters”, “boards torn up”, and “bare floors” (Lines 3-6). She expresses her uphill battle in life to her son in a descriptive tone, and emphasizes that he too, will be conquering some of the same obstacles in life. She also appears tired, but forces herself to be strong for the sake of her son. The reader can vividly understand and create visual circumstances to what the mother may have endured over her lifetime. I can imagine that the “landin’s and corners” (Lines 10-11) are certain satisfying focal points that she has reached. This could be the birth of her son or obtaining a satisfying job. I can also imagine that she endured these struggles alone, as there is no reference of a husband or close family for support. The imagery used allows the interpretation of the mother’s persistence to succeed through life by not giving up. Hughes uses similar bold and direct statements in his poems “I, Too” and “Cross” so that the reader can vividly identify its meaning. "I, Too" Opening with a single phrase, “I, too, sing, America” (line 1), the narrator of the poem begins by prompting the reader to listen. He has something to say. It is something important and he wants the entire nation to hear it. Hughes then paints a picture to us of who the narrator is and what his life is like. “I am the darker brother,” he states – that although he may not be a literal brother, he is just as much human as his “lighter” brothers and sisters. We are then informed that when company arrives for dinner, he is told to go to the kitchen and eat, but that he doesn’t mind. Being in the kitchen isn’t such a bad thing he tells us as he says, “But I laugh, and eat well, and grow strong.” (Lines 5-7) Later he tells us that soon there will come a time when he will not be sent to the table. While he was “in the kitchen”, he was growing in wisdom and stature. Those who sent him to will be ashamed when they realize that he is beautiful and that he is just as American as they are. Using these images, the narrator speaks to us with a hopeful and humble voice, with just a twist of pride.