1answer.
Ask question
Login Signup
Ask question
All categories
  • English
  • Mathematics
  • Social Studies
  • Business
  • History
  • Health
  • Geography
  • Biology
  • Physics
  • Chemistry
  • Computers and Technology
  • Arts
  • World Languages
  • Spanish
  • French
  • German
  • Advanced Placement (AP)
  • SAT
  • Medicine
  • Law
  • Engineering
iVinArrow [24]
3 years ago
12

The poems by Walt Whitman and Langston Hughes that you read in this lesson speak about the changing American identity. Revisit t

he poems, and then write a three-paragraph response that describes the American identity from your perspective. How is your American identity different and similar to the ones described by Whitman and Hughes? Cite evidence from both poems to support your response.
English
2 answers:
Sati [7]3 years ago
7 0

From my perspective the two authors describe american identity in different ways. While Walt Whitman uses the working class as the main staring people in his poem, Hughes fights for the recognition and rights of African-American people.  

Whitman uses the similarities that binds all of his characters as they are part of the working class. Whitman celebrates in this poem the laborer, whom he views as truly embodying the American. (These are the people, part of the society, often overlooked by poets.) Moreover, the song he hears is them at work – the sound of the carpenter sawing wood or the mason laying his stone. A really interesting, and progressive, part of this poem comes in line 8, when Whitman decides to include women at their domestic labor in his catalogue. The work that women do as mothers, as homemakers, as “the girl sewing or washing” contributes as much to America as the male labor performed outside of the home. In this way, Whitman’s vision of America is inclusive regarding gender.

For Whitman, America is made up of individuals but who form this nation as community. (Your textbook identifies this as the American ideal of e pluribus unum – “Out of many, one.”) To give a bit of historical context, Whitman publishes this poem in 1860, three years before the outbreak of the Civil War. So when Whitman writes this poem stressing American unity, he is witnessing his country dividing along political lines. Even today, we might question the accuracy of Whitman’s vision of America as harmonious – are there those whose voices are not included in the song of America?  

On the other hand, Hughes in the opening line of the poem (“I, too, sing America”) is a direct response to Whitman’s “I Hear America Singing.” Hughes’ word-choice is important here. The first word of the poem, “I,” suggests an urgency to assert his identity. The “I” here is not just Hughes but is more general – the “I” is that of the African-American. Hughes’ use of “too” creates a sense that his song, his voice, has been overlooked and not listened to in the carol of America. The black American experience, that defined by slavery, violence, dehumanization, segregation, is a part of our national identity and history, albeit one that is hard to accept. In the opening to his poem, Hughes rightfully demands recognition for this part of the American song, that has been mostly demeaned and neglected.

From my perspective, a characteristic that we share as Americans is the need to break away from the old, the rigid, the conventional.


ANTONII [103]3 years ago
5 1

Answer:

America is a melting pot of people of diverse ethnicities who share the common American dream—freedom, equality, and the pursuit of happiness.

The American identity is often reflected in American literature, which shows the many different perspectives that exist in the United States. As the nation's identity has grown and changed over time, that growth and change is reflected in American literature.

Your response should also clearly describe a personal opinon about the American identity and be supported by evidence cited from the poems as well as the video and textual analysis.

Explanation:

You might be interested in
A critical summary about music for my mother
erma4kov [3.2K]

Answer:

Goodl luck idrk

Explanation:

4 0
3 years ago
Read 2 more answers
the more men have to lose, the less willing are they to venture. what rhetorical strategy is thomas paine most clearly using in
nevsk [136]
Thomas Paine is clearly using Parallelism.
8 0
3 years ago
Read 2 more answers
it is the activity of creating articles or literary pieces for electronically navigate another document shared post.​
d1i1m1o1n [39]

Electronic Literature - it is the activity of creating articles or literary pieces for electronically navigate another document shared post.

7 0
2 years ago
Please answer this po!​
Natali5045456 [20]

Answer:

I don’t know what I was doing

Explanation:

7 0
3 years ago
Explain the connection between time and the eternal God, as stated by Augustine.
Harrizon [31]

Augustine believed that time belongs to God, therefore, it's a concept that cannot be applied to explain God's actions. Augustine proposed that Gods existence could be placed in a timeless present simple. He believed that eternity cannot be measured in terms of time, and said that God is eternal as eternity does not pass and is always present.

Hope it helps!

5 0
3 years ago
Other questions:
  • Suppose there is a well on a farm. For years it has been providing all of the water needed for the crops. Suddenly, it stops wor
    10·2 answers
  • : In the last paragraph, the phrase “took the plunge” is used. Which phrase would replace the words with more specific language?
    6·1 answer
  • What are transitive and intransitive verbs
    9·1 answer
  • What is the best way to structure an argumentative essay once the claim has been made?
    15·2 answers
  • Why didn't liberal abolitionist like Uncle Toms Cabin?
    5·1 answer
  • First Read: Comprehension
    12·1 answer
  • What is an incentive?
    10·1 answer
  • What do you prefer? <br> A:Child's Play<br><br> B:Annabelle
    9·1 answer
  • PLSSSSSSS HELP! FIRST WHO AWNSERS GETS BRAINLIEST!!!
    5·1 answer
  • Find the preposition.
    5·1 answer
Add answer
Login
Not registered? Fast signup
Signup
Login Signup
Ask question!