Exploring the Poetry of Langston Hughes
A Grade 12 ELA worksheet focusing on the life, themes, and literary techniques of Langston Hughes, including a reading passage and various question types.
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Exploring the Poetry of Langston Hughes
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Read the provided poem by Langston Hughes carefully and answer the questions that follow. Pay close attention to themes, literary devices, and the historical context of the Harlem Renaissance.
I, Too
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.
1. What is the central theme of Langston Hughes's poem "I, Too"?
The struggles of immigrant communities.
The longing for a return to African roots.
The assertion of African American identity and equality within America.
A call for armed revolution against oppression.
2. The line "They send me to eat in the kitchen / When company comes" is an example of:
Metaphor
Literal description of a domestic scene
Symbolism for racial segregation and inequality
Hyperbole
3. Analyze the significance of the speaker's repeated declaration, "I, too, am America." How does this repetition contribute to the poem's message?
4. Discuss how the tone of the poem shifts throughout the stanzas. Provide specific examples from the text to support your analysis.
5. Langston Hughes was a prominent figure during the , an artistic and cultural explosion in the 1920s.
6. Hughes often incorporated the rhythms of blues and into his poetry.
7. Langston Hughes primarily wrote about the experiences of the white working class in America.
True
False
Match the literary term with its definition or example.
8. Allusion
a. The use of an object or idea to represent something else.
9. Symbolism
b. A reference to a well-known person, place, event, literary work, or work of art.
10. Imagery
c. Visually descriptive or figurative language, especially in a literary work.
11. Explore how Langston Hughes's work contributed to the broader goals and artistic expressions of the Harlem Renaissance. In your response, refer to specific themes, styles, or historical contexts relevant to his poetry.