Sound and Sense in Langston Hughes The Negro Speaks of...

Sound and Sense in Langston Hughes The Negro Speaks of Rivers The text of the poem can be found at the bottom of this page. In Langston Hughes poem The Negro Speaks of Rivers, Hughes makes use of some interesting poetic techniques. This poem is written in free verse, and seems, at first glance, to be very unstructured. Hughes repeats words and lines, but does not make use of repeated sounds. Hughes rivers are very rich in symbolism, and are not just simple bodies of water. Finally, some of his word choices near the end of the poem help to bring the message of the poem across more strongly. These poetic techniques contribute greatly to the quality of the poem. In this poem, Hughes chooses to use free verse.†¦show more content†¦The second and ninth lines, though they are very different in length, both focus on the ancient rivers. This repetition helps to reinforce the message of the poem. Also, lines four through seven all begin with the word I, and all four of these lines mention a river. This structural repetition frees the audience to concentrate on the meaning of the poem, and also reinforces how these rivers and what they represent have been so important in the history of the African-American people. It also gives a regular rhythm to this part of the poem. Some free verse poems are still structured with most of their lines approximately the same length. Hughes chooses to ignore this tradition, and varies his line lengths dramatically, from the three-word Ive known rivers (1, 8) or Ancient, dusky rivers (9) to the twenty-seven word seventh line, I heard the singing of the Mississippi... These variations in line length help to focus the reader. Short lines are generally more memorable than long lines. The line Ive known rivers by itself is very powerful. How can a person know a river? This idea that Hughes has known rivers implies that he, or the African-American race for which he speaks, is very deeply connected to the rivers. Such lines, since they are so short, are naturally accented when one reads this poem. Longer lines, like the second and seventh, do not stick as easily in the readersShow MoreRelatedPoetry for a Generation1184 Words   |  5 PagesPoetry for a Generation â€Å"We Negro writers, just by being black, have been on the blacklist all our lives. Censorship for us begins at the color line† (AfricanAmericanQuotes). Langston Hughes was an African American poet who made poetry that reflected what he witnessed in the urban communities throughout his life. Langston Hughes’ poetry spoke the words, feelings, and hardships that African Americans had to live with on a day to day basis. Though bi-racial, Langston Hughes knew very clearly what wasRead MoreAnalysis Of Langston Hughes And His Harlem Dream1639 Words   |  7 PagesLangston Hughes and His Harlem Dream The 1900s found many African Americans migrating from the south to north of the United States in an event called the Great Migration. Many Southern African-Americans migrated to a place called Harlem and this is where the Harlem renaissance originated from. The Harlem renaissance began just after the first world war and lasted into the early years of the great depression. Harlem became the cynosure for blues and jazz and birthed forth a Negro Artist era calledRead MoreLangston Hughes And His Harlem Dream1902 Words   |  8 PagesLangston Hughes and His Harlem Dream An explosion of written and artistic creativity, a time of social awareness and enlightenment among the black race. 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From theRead MoreAnalysis Of Langston Hughes Poem The Negro Speaks Of Rivers 1242 Words   |  5 PagesProfessor Merton Lee EN-101-12 28 October 2014 Essay 2 While reading Langston Hughes’ poem, â€Å"The Negro Speaks of Rivers† the theme of roots is predominant throughout the reading, this theme raises question to the whole meaning of the poem. Although the word â€Å"roots† itself is never in the actual text, it contains strong details of the poem promoting deep imagery and depiction of veins, tributaries, and the roots of the plants and trees. Hughes wanted to give the reader the illusion of a timelessness in theseRead MoreAnalysis and Interpretation of I, Too Sing America by Langston Hughes1148 Words   |  5 Pagesconsidered to be very characteristic for radical poetry of Langston Hughes. The majority of literary critiques and historians refer to Hughes as one of the first American poets, who set the standards and examples how to challenge the post-World War I ethnic nationalism. 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The creative structure and style of poetry creates a different form of writing that can either have rhythm, alli teration or have a direct message. In the poem I Too Sing America, by Langston Hughes had a significant message in that he desired to voice his expression on the issue of black oppression in America. Langston basic themes focused on the AmericanRead MoreEssay on Langston Hughes1393 Words   |  6 PagesLangston Hughes  Langston Hughes was one of the first black men to express the spirit of blues and jazz into words. An African American Hughes became a well known poet, novelist, journalist, and playwright. Because his father emigrated to Mexico and his mother was often away, Hughes was brought up in Lawrence, Kansas, by his grandmother Mary Langston. Her second husband (Hughess grandfather) was a fierce abolitionist. She helped Hughes to see the cause of social justice. As aRead MoreWhat Qualities That Make A Langston Hughes Work Memorable And Timeless2528 Words   |  11 PagesHunter There are certain qualities that make a Langston Hughes’ work memorable and timeless. Whether it is the topics that choose to write about or types of characters he chose to portray. Imagery provides the reader with a visual picture of what the writer is trying to convey, rhythm gives the story its beat, and the metaphor gives the work its deeper meaning. All three components can always be found in a Langston Hughes piece. Most of my own poems are racial in theme and treatment

Aging And Cognition Short Paper Essay - 2152 Words

Aging and Cognition Short Paper Allura Lothary One of the most crucial recurring themes regarding aging research has been what is the most valid and representative measurement of age. Chronological age has often been the standard measurement for conducting aging research, especially when focusing on comparisons between younger adults and older adults. However, several studies have shown that this measure alone may not be the most valid or best way to predict declines in cognitive functioning. From more recent studies, it seems that time to death instead of chronological age may be the best predictor of cognitive declines. Other measures such as health, future time perspective, and perceptions of aging have also been suggested as more definitive alternatives to chronological age. To demonstrate the difference in chronological age and time to death as a measure of old age, Hulur et al. (2015) used between and within person measures in order to demonstrate cognitive dedifferentiation at the end of the lifespan. This study found evid ence for dedifferentiation in cognitive abilities between and within persons. They were also able to find the most between person dedifferentiation when using time to death as the variable related to age, instead of chronological age. These results demonstrated the benefits to using time to death as a measurement in comparison to chronological age. Since they were able to test both measures, this showed clear evidence for which measure would beShow MoreRelatedGERIATRIC ASSESSMENT: MALNUTRITION989 Words   |  4 Pagesthe indicator of existing medical and socio-economic problems, but can also be a cause of physiological and psychological dysfunctions. Proper nursing assessment in the elderly should be applied in order to identify and address this problem. In this paper I would like to focus on two main points of geriatric assessment – physiologic and psychosocial. There are two categories of factors that can contribute to malnutrition in the elderly population. Physiological factors include chewing or swallowingRead MoreAnimal Cognition : Understanding Cognitive Abilities Of The Domestic Dog1100 Words   |  5 PagesAdvances in Canine Cognition: Understanding Cognitive Abilities of the Domestic Dog The present paper is dedicated to explain and describe the different advances and developments achieved in canine cognition. It seems to be growing interest in the cognitive abilities of the domestic dog; this interest is, certainly not new; many researchers have been studying canine cognition for quite some time and the knowledge about this area has increased. 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Saving Private Ryan by Steven Spielberg Free Essays

Steven Spielberg’s acclaimed 1998 war film Saving Private Ryan tells the story of the search for Private James Francis Ryan (Matt Damon), an American soldier missing in Normandy, France, during the Second World War. Captain John Miller (Tom Hanks) receives orders to assemble a group of soldiers to find the fourth son of the Ryan family, who have received notification on the same day of the death of three of their sons while in action. The film opens with an aged veteran visiting the American Cemetery in Normandy with his wife, children and grandchildren. We will write a custom essay sample on Saving Private Ryan by Steven Spielberg or any similar topic only for you Order Now He falls to his knees and breaks down in tears at the graveside of a fallen comrade. The film then cuts to a twenty-five minute sequence which has become the focus of much close analysis and critical commentary. The reconstruction of the US landings on Omaha Beach on the 6 June 1944, at the beginning of the Normandy invasion, places the viewer at the centre of the bloody onslaught, as machine-guns fire mercilessly into the bodies of the soldiers as they make they way forward into German defences. Bodies are ripped apart (a soldier holds his exposed intestines), limbs fly in the air (a soldier bends down to pick up his lost arm), bodies catch fire, and the ceaseless unnerving rattle of gun fire, represent a stunningly powerful and vivid experience for the film’s viewers. â€Å"The intense and fearful exhilaration created by a freely and rapidly moving camera is central. The graphic realism of the sequence; with the continuous jerky movement of hand-held cameras, capturing the madness and confusion of the battle; and the painstaking attention to gory detail, with blood and water splashing the camera lens, was to be heralded by many as one of Spielberg’s defining cinematic achievements. Hendrik Hertzberg wrote on the film’s release in ‘The New Yorker’: â€Å"What makes â€Å"Saving Private Ryan† utterly distinctive is the sense that it has no agenda other than to capture the experience of being a combat soldier in the last global war. The vivid depiction of death and injury experienced by Captain Miller, as he succeeds in leading his company of Rangers at Omaha Beach, sets the tone for the remaining two hours of the film, as the viewer follows him in his next mission to find and return James Ryan to his mother. Captain Miller assembles seven men for the task, and the soldiers move into Normandy’s neighbouring Neuville. Private Carpazo (Vin Diesel) is the group’s first victim, when he is shot dead by a German sniper. With tempers fraying and internal mistrust building, the locating of James Frederick Ryan, the wrong soldier, leads to further dissent. However Captain Miller finally discovered Ryan’s whereabouts, in Ramelle, following a chance meeting with one of his friends. On the way to Ryan the soldiers loose their second victim, Wade (Giovanni Ribisi), and Miller’s leadership is again questioned when he prevents a surrendered German being shot by one of his men, named Reiben, (Edward Burns), and sets him free. Captain Miller succeeds in reasserting trust, confidence and comradeship in the group by revealing personal details about his past and origins, including his position as an English teacher. Susan Hayward writes: â€Å"the gore of war is matched by the unheralded heroism of an individual who stands for humanity. † When the group of remaining soldier finally reach Ramelle they find American paratroopers, including Ryan, defending the town from advancing German troops with very few soldiers. When told of their mission, and the death of his brothers, Ryan refuses to stand down, instead courageously heading for the bridge which will need to be held, asking Miller and his men to join him. As the German tanks arrive, Miller reluctantly agrees and takes command of the few soldiers. Heavily outnumbered, malnourished and exhausted, most of Captain Miller’s men are fatally injured. Spielberg again graphically visualises the horror of war as one man is stabbed, another shot in the throat, and another shot down with repeated unrelenting gun fire. Spielberg uses camera distancing and focal points as a means to involve the viewer within the frantic action of this battle sequence. The knowledge that somewhere above snipers prey on the men is constantly drawn upon. Captain Miller himself is eventually shot down and soon dies in the arms of Ryan as backup arrives too late from another American infantry. The town is saved, but only three men, including Ryan, survive. As the film ends the veteran at the graveside of Captain Miller is revealed to be James Ryan. He stands to attention and salutes the American flag, which lies on the grave, acknowledging his comrade’s sacrifice and honour in his own and his country’s name. Saving Private Ryan received much critical acclaim, including eleven Academy Award nominations. Steven Spielberg achieved the Best Director award, Cinematographer Janusz Kaminski and film editor Michael Kahn’s contribution to the film’s brutal realism was also acknowledged by the Academy. Produced with an estimated budget of â€Å"$70 000 000† Saving Private Ryan was theatrically released by Paramount Pictures, and distributed by Spielberg’s Production Company DreamWorks, andmade â€Å"$30, 576, 104† on its opening weekend alone. The continued popularity of the film, by audiences and critics, and what has led many to label the film as the best War film ever made, is attributable to the timelessness of the visual effects and memorable scenes (most notably the opening Omaha sequence, and the final battle for the bridge). The historical accuracy and artistic license of the film has been invariably considered in the decade following the release of Saving Private Ryan, but the consensus is that the style and form of the film ensure a powerful and captivating, if harrowing, experience for any viewer. It is a film which places audiences at the centre of the narrative; viewers are â€Å"encouraged to review and consider what they see- and, if point-of-view matters, to contemplate why. † As with his earlier graphic Holocaust film Schindler’s List (1993), Steven Spielberg ambition is to exceed visual entertainment, using reconstructive dramatisation as a means to ‘experience’ the unimaginable in a wholly believable way. 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