正在阅读《TextCI, Too, SingAmerica》
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LangstonHughes

I, too, singAmerica.

Iamthedarkerbrother.

Theysendmetoeatinthekitchen

Whencompanycomes,

ButIlaugh,

Andeatwell,

Andgrowstrong.

Tomorrow,

I’llbeatthetable

Whencompanycomes.

Nobody’lldare

Saytome,

“Eatinthekitchen,”

Then.

Besides,

They’llseehowbeautifulIam

Andbeashamed —

I, too, amAmerica.

.

1) HowdoesthispoemmakeyouredefinewhatitmeanstobeanAmerican? Howis“America” presentedinthispoem, andhowdoesitmakeyoufeelaboutAmerica?

2) Whateffectdoestheintenselydomesticimageryofthepoem — thehouse, thekitchen, theeating, thetable — haveonthethemesofthispieceasawhole?

3) WhydoyouthinkHugheschosethecomparativeterm “darker” forthepoem’ssecondline, insteadof “dark”?

4) Towhomdoyouthinkthespeakerofthepoemconsidershimself “brother”? Wheredoesthepoemsuggestthis “brother” eatswhenthereisno “company” inthehouse?

5) WhatdoesthepoemsuggestaboutHughes’ assessmentoftheeconomicsituationofAfrican-Americansinthe1920s?

6) WhatdoesthepoempredictwillbetheeventualattitudeofwhiteAmericanstowardblackpeople?

: ReadWaltWhitman’sIHearAmericaSingingandtrytoanalyzehowitissimilartoanddifferentfromI, Too, SingAmericainthetwopoets’ viewsofAmerica, tones, stylesandthemes.

Notes

(1850-1904): Awell-knownAmericansouthernregionalistwomanwriter, bestknownforhershortstoriesandanovel, — theproblemsfacingwomeninasocietythatrepressedthem —madeherliteraryworkshighlypopularinthelatetwentiethcentury.

: French, whichmeansweddinggarments.

: Frenchword, anaffectionatetermmeaning “milkypig”.

: French, meaningnightgown.

: French, meaningasetofclothingandbeddingforanewbornchild.

.(1929-1968): AnAmericanclergyman, activist, , .

(1902-1967): AnAmericanpoet, socialactivist, novelist, playwright, -knownforhisworkduringtheHarlemRenaissance.

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