Why Does Langston Like Poetry?
“I try to write poems that will awaken and enlarge the souls of my people”
– Langston Hughes
The celebrated American poet Langston Hughes made his mark on the world of literature during the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s. A champion of African American culture and the rights of the disenfranchised, Langston sought to use his poetry to inspire and uplift. But what was it about poetry specifically that Langston liked?
Most poets will tell you that there is something powerful about language and its ability to conjure up emotion and evoke imagination. To Langston, poetry provided a way to express the depth of African American life and experience while maintaining the strong sense of community they had built. In the poem “Dreams”, Langston writes, “Hold fast to dreams, / For if dreams die, / Life is a broken winged bird / That cannot fly”. Here, Langston is conveying the need for unity and strength even in the face of adversity.
In addition to its unique ability to express emotion and ideas, poetry is also able to convey complex concepts quickly and efficiently. Poetry packs a great deal into a compressed form, allowing Langston to communicate his ideas and emotions in a concise and direct way. Furthermore, poetry is much easier to remember than prose, meaning that Langston’s words could more easily stand the test of time and become a source of inspiration and motivation for generations to come.
Langston himself had a deep appreciation for the powerful effect of words. He was committed to conveying the African American experience without succumbing to stereotypes and employing poetic devices to deliver his message. In the poem “Let America Be America Again”, Langston conveys a feeling of hope and optimism by starting each of the stanzas with “O, let America be America again” and ending it with a litany of what America should be.
Langston was a master of poetic form and structure, finding ways to express his poetic vision in a succinct, artistic way. From the sonnets of “Montage of a Dream Deferred”, to the free verse of “I Wrestle with the World”, Langston was adept at wielding language in a memorable, powerful way.
Ultimately, Langston’s love for poetry was a reflection of his love for humanity and his admiration for its sometimes contradictory nature. By writing poetry, Langston sought to capture the struggles and hopes of African Americans, while also highlighting their courage and strength. In this way, Langston’s poetry could serve as a platform to bring attention to the issues of inequality and injustice, while also reminding us of our ability to rise above them.
Langston’s Impact
Though Langston wrote during the Harlem Renaissance of the 20s and 30s, his words continue to resonate with readers today. His poems have inspired countless writers and activists and are some of the most widely known works of literature in the world. His work has been championed by everyone from President Barack Obama to Oprah Winfrey, as it speaks to the injustices of the past, present, and future.
In addition to its impact on modern society, Langston’s poetry has also had a great influence on the development of African American literature and culture. His poems are some of the earliest works to document the African American experience, and through them, Langston provided insight into the struggles and successes of his people. His work has served as a source of inspiration for countless artists and writers, and its relevance and importance continues to this day.
Though Langston passed away in 1967, his legacy lives on through his poetry. His work is celebrated and studied in both academic and popular settings, and his influence has reverberated across generations. For Langston, poetry was a way to bring attention to the struggles of African Americans, while maintaining the strong sense of community they had built.
Techniques Used by Langston
In his poems, Langston frequently employed techniques such as metaphor, imagery, and symbolism in order to convey his ideas. Through metaphors, he was able to draw comparisons between ideas and situations, allowing readers to gain a deeper understanding of his message. Similarly, Langston used vivid imagery to create vivid mental images that could help readers visualize his ideas and emotions.
Langston also employed symbolism as a means of conveying deeper messages. In the poem “Dreams”, for example, Langston’s use of a broken-winged bird conveys the idea that dreams are fragile and can be easily crushed. This is a powerful and effective way of conveying the fragility of hope, and the need for unity and strength to keep it alive.
In addition to these poetic techniques, Langston also employed literary devices such as alliteration and assonance. Alliteration is the repetition of starting sounds in words, and Langston used this technique to great effect to draw attention to particular words and phrases in his poems. In the poem “Dreams”, for example, he uses alliteration when he writes, “Hold fast to dreams / For when dreams go / Life is a barren field / Frozen with snow”. Here, the repetition of the “f” sound helps to emphasize the message of the poem.
Assonance, on the other hand, is the repetition of vowel sounds in words, and Langston used this technique to create a lyrical and poetic effect in his work. In the poem “I Love Myself”, for example, Langston uses assonance to create a dreamy and romantic effect when he writes, “And I love myself / When I think of love / Gentle and tall / And like a waterfall”. Here, the repetition of the “o” and “a” sounds creates a tranquil and peaceful atmosphere that helps to convey Langston’s message of love.
Comparison with Other Poets
Though Langston was a unique poet, there are certain elements of his work that are reminiscent of the work of other poets. His use of metaphor, symbolism, and alliteration is similar to that of Walt Whitman, as both poets sought to convey complex messages in a lyrical and poetic way. Similarly, Langston’s use of vivid imagery and figurative language is reminiscent of William Wordsworth, who was known for his expressive and emotive writing.
That said, there is a clear distinction between Langston’s work and that of other poets. Whereas Whitman and Wordsworth wrote of nature, love, and beauty, Langston sought to capture the struggles and hopes of African Americans. His work is steeped in the culture and experience of African Americans, and as such, it is uniquely powerful and impactful.
Though there are similarities between Langston and other poets, his work is ultimately distinct in its focus and purpose. He sought to capture the lives of African Americans, with a focus on the struggles, achievements, and opportunities of the disenfranchised. In this way, Langston’s work is uniquely powerful and impactful, and his legacy continues to this day.
Conclusion on Langston’s Poetry
Langston’s love for poetry was a reflection of his love for humanity and his admiration for its sometimes contradictory nature. Through his work, Langston sought to bring attention to the issues of racism and injustice, while also reminding us of our ability to rise above them. His poems are some of the earliest works to document the African American experience, and they continue to resonate with readers today. Their influence has been lauded by everyone from Oprah Winfrey to President Obama, as they speak to injustices of the past, present, and future. His work has served as a source of inspiration for countless artists and writers and has had a great influence on the development of African American literature and culture. Indeed, Langston’s legacy lives on through his poetry.
