Question

The poems “I, Too” by Langston Hughes and “From the Dark Tower” by Countee Cullen both use figurative language to express their opinions about racial segregation. Read each poem, and then match each characteristic to the correct poem.


I, too
Tomorrow,
I'll be at the table
When company comes.
Nobody'll dare
Say to me
"Eat in the kitchen,"
Then.

The dark tower
We shall not always plant while others reap
The golden increment of bursting fruit,
Not always countenance, abject and mute,
That lesser men should hold their brothers cheap;
Not everlasting while others sleep
Shall we beguile their limbs with mellow flute,
Not always bend to some more subtle brute;
We were not made to enterally to weap.


Now match each characteristic to the correct poem.
1) a reference to Walt Whitman's, "I hear america singing."
2) paradox of social injustice
3) uses set meter and rhyme scheme
4) symbol of wasted efforts
5) tone of anger and resentment
6) uses free verse

Answer 1

The characteristics of each poem are:

• "I, Too" by Lansgton Hughes: 1, 6

1- This poem is a reference, and a sort of answer, to Whitman's poem "I Hear America Singing." In his poem, Whitman talks about how every American -mechanics, carpenters, boatmans- is singing. However, he makes no mention of black people. This is why the poem is entitled "I, Too," to express that Hugues, an African American man, is still an American.

6- This poem does not have specific rhyme scheme or meter. Therefore, it is written in what is known as "free verse."

• “From the Dark Tower” by Countee Cullen: 2, 3, 4, 5

2- The social injustice paradox means that social injustice is rooted in the lack of access to education, money and power, and that the solution lies in institutions which are always supported by those with money and power. This poem refers to this paradox because it refers to white people oppresing African Americans and not allowing them to be rightfully repaid for their work.

3- This poem is written in iambic pentameter and has a traditional (ABAB) rhyme scheme.

4- The poem symbolizes the great efforst black people did while working, only to have their profits taken by their white maters.

5- The whole poem is filled with an angry tone. Lines such as "Not always bend to some more subtle brute;" clearly express the resentment and repudiation she feels for white people.

Answer 2

Answer:

(From the dark tower)- Paradox of social injustice

uses set meter and rhyme scheme

symbol of wasted efforts

(I, Too)- references a Walt Whitman work

uses free verse

Explanation: I GOTCHA GUYSSS LOL its right trust me