imagery in mother to son

These lines evoke the image of the tenement houses where poor and disadvantaged African Americans were forced to live in the northern cities, particularly after the Civil War when many left the South. He was born in Joplin, Mississippi. In the didactic poem “Mother to Son” by Langston Hughes, the author uses symbols and imagery from what the mother says to give advice to her son. Summary of Mother to Son. Start studying Figurative Language - Mother to Son. Her advice is to carry on, to keep climbing the stairs despite the desire to give up. I am trying to write a paper on this poem but I can't find all the imagery and I don't know how to explain it. Structure: The poem is a monologue by a mother. The torn boards could be meant to show a person’s effort to break apart the stairway completely. "It's had tacks in it/ and splinters" (select words/phrases that express what the mother demands of her son. Copyright © 2003 - 2021 - UKEssays is a trading name of All Answers Ltd, a company registered in England and Wales. The mother uses the "crystal stairs" to point out that there is hardship’s in life. A Closer Look at "Mother to Son" by Jody Pittock, cathy a. feldman This module has been written with the intent of implementation mid school year. VAT Registration No: 842417633. Copyright 2021 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Education. Published: 23rd Sep 2019 in "I'se been a-climbin' on, / And reachin' landin's, / And turnin' corners," the mother says, conjuring the image of a climb through all of life's hardships. They embody the idea of leaving troubles and tragedies behind. Remember that TWIST stands for Tone, Word Choice, Imagery, Style, Theme. In line two of the poem, the poet says that the life of the mother ‘aint’t been a “crystal stair”. She encourages her son to face life’s challenges head-on and tries to inculcate strength and courage in him. The turns and landings in the mother’s ascend might resemble short achievements and success from spiritual, or personal, and maybe racial struggles. 2. Perform a TWIST analysis of a selection from "Mother to Son". / Cause you finds its kinder hard. The mother warns him in the seventeenth line not toe ‘fall now’ because she has already gotten them to the point they’re at now, and is ‘sill climbin’. Finish up by explaining why she is so insistent in lines 17-20) She tells her son, Dont you set down on the steps. “Mother to Son” also reappeared in Hughes’s first collection of poems called The Weary Blue in 1926. In lines eight to thirteen, she describes that, in spite of the hardships she went through, she had persisted to advance. The “goin’ in the dark” may symbolize the mother’s constant struggles in spite of her own abating faith. This informational module has been designed with four purposes in mind: 1. Hughes' image of the difficult, upward journey toward a better life is advice meant for everyone in times of struggle. He spent his career serving as a merchant seaman and working in a Paris nightclub where he showed some of his poems to Dr. Alan Locke, a strong supporter of African American Literature. The mother also tells the son: “For I’se still goin’, honey,” (18). Disclaimer: This is an example of a student written essay.Click here for sample essays written by our professional writers. What is the imagery in Mother to Son? The mother gives advice to her son by using her own challenges in life. He lived in Mexico for a period of time during his youth and spent a year at Columbia University. The stairs referred to by the mother in this poem are in a state of disrepair and dilapidation. Mother To Son By Langston Hughes Analysis. The phrase “crystal stair” in line two of the poem implies the privilege and influence enjoyed by the white community. Mother to Son. She says of the staircase, "It's had tacks in it, / And splinters, / And boards torn up, / And places with no carpet on the floor— / Bare." but all the time i'se been a climbin' on." Registered Data Controller No: Z1821391. Imagery is language that appeals to the senses. The imagery of darkness conveys the idea of being without hope. "Mother to Son" by Langston Hughes is a monologue that conveys the idea of hope through simple imagery. Her personal progress symbolizes the advancement for all African Americans as well. What Is the Imagery in the Poem "Mother to Son"? Explain the imagery in detail. The extended metaphor in "Mother to Son" is the mother's life described as a staircase. The mother is not satisfied with just telling her son her story. Using the analogy of a crystal stairway, this mother explains to her son that the journey of her life, and life overall, is like a stair that is deceased, and broken, containing small cracks, splinters, and torn up boards, rather a smooth, good looking “crystal stair.” The crystal stair is used as a metaphor for the American’s dreams, and the dreams promise of liberty and fairness. She has had to struggle and work hard to survive and improve her circumstances. We've received widespread press coverage since 2003, Your UKEssays purchase is secure and we're rated 4.4/5 on reviews.co.uk. The Symbolism and Imagery in 'London' by William Blake, Themes for the Short Story "The Ring" by Isak Dinesen, Symbolism in the Short Story "Bad Neighbors", Brand X Pictures/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images. Her professional experience includes teaching and tutoring students of all ages in literature, history and writing. And life for me ain’t been no crystal stair. Do you have a 2:1 degree or higher? Things such as reduced favorable circumstances and poverty. Hughes uses symbols in the poem "Mother to Son". Well, son, I’ll tell you: Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair. Metaphors connect things that readers already know to a new element or way of seeing the world. After stating some of the obstacles and hazards the son might stumble into, the mother explains the prize of continuity and faith in one’s goal. A metaphor is a literary device that compares one element to something else. He connects that with how the mother has yet to back down. Looking for a flexible role? The mother in the poem says that while climbing the stairs over the course of her life she was "sometimes goin' in the dark / Where there ain't been no light." We see that the son never speaks, we never hear him; this means that the mother’s knowledge of life and advice might for that reason apply to all readers, but especially to younger African-American readers. “Mother to Son by Langston Hughes.” Poetry Foundation, Poetry Foundation,     www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/47559/mother-to-son. Deepen the students’ ability to analyze meanings of metaphors in poetry. This quote is the true meaning of what me to be determined and persevere life. The two first lines of this poem set up what the title indicates: this poem is a touching speech spoken by a mother to her son. In these last lines, mom’s advice twists once more. In each imaginable perception, the crystal stair implies smoothness and an easy way, elegance, wealth, and a well-lit path toward a rich haven. Mutually, if a bunch of sons back down, the whole contest for equality will most likely fail. The imagery of stairs that lead heavenward are evoked in the line "Life for me ain't been no crystal stair." To export a reference to this article please select a referencing stye below: If you are the original writer of this essay and no longer wish to have your work published on UKEssays.com then please: Our academic writing and marking services can help you! No plagiarism, guaranteed! She uses imagery to advise her son to do likewise. In "Mother to Son" what is the extended metaphor? The mother is the point around whom everything about the family revolves. In the didactic poem “Mother to Son” by Langston Hughes, the author uses symbols and imagery from what the mother says to give advice to her son. Clark has also published short literary fiction in the "Southern Humanities Review" and has co-authored a novel. With this poem, Hughes adds details that allure to the reader’s touch, hearing, and eyes. What Is the Meaning of the Staircase Used in the Poem "Mother to Son"?

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