Essay On I Hear America Singing

From this poem one can feel the compassion that Whitman has for the common American workingman. He has much respect for him and believes that he is what makes up America and what causes America to keep on moving. He portrays the workers to all be singing to emphasize that they are proud of the work that they do. Whitman and Sandburg both enjoy going through and naming each of the workers separately in order to display the vast number of people who fall into the working class. In the poem above you can see how Whitman talks about how the different workers enjoy their jobs and are happy with the talents that they have in their specialized positions. The last line of part 1 demonstrates how the workers leave their work and are able to relax and enjoy their lives at night when the work day is over. The second part of I hear American Singing is Whitman sending an invitation to all of those who are

Born ten years after the death of Walt Whitman, there was no possible way for Langston Hughes to ever meet or communication with Whitman, but that did not mean Hughes could not establish a connection to him, or at least his work. In 1925, Hughes wrote a poem titled “I, Too” was inspired by and directed in response to the poem “I Hear America Singing”, which was composed by Whitman much earlier. Whitman’s poem consisted of a variety of different American laborers who “sing” as they do their jobs. This well-known poem never specifically addresses the ethnicity of these singing laborers of the American population, but Hughes sets about to rectify that omission.

In “I Hear America Singing,” Walt Whitman’s message of the American identity is that it is diverse and proud. The fact the American identity is diverse is proven best in the first line, which states, “I hear America singing, the varied carols I hear.” In this line, the word “varied” proves that it is diverse because if something is varied it has a variety of things amassing it. The American identity being proud is proven by the line, “Each singing what belongs to him or her and to none else.” This line proves that the American identity is proud because it is saying that we celebrate what only we have. This celebration evinces that we are proud of what we gain by working.

In this paper I will be talking about the similarities and differences in the two different poems. The two poems were written by two incredible poets and were probably one of the best in their lifetimes. The first poem is written by Walt Whitman and is called “ I Hear America Singing”. The other poem is by Langston Hughes and is called “I, Too, Sing America” .Many people believe that Langston Hughes wrote his poem “I, Too, Sing America” in response to Walt Whitman's poem “ I Hear America Singing”. Some people have a completely opposite opinion and say that the two poems have nothing to with each other. Langston Hughes did many things in his life. Some of them include being an American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and a

America is a country that has been through many different times of trials. Wars and disease have spread across that nation several times. During times of depression, though, a group of people seems to always emerge from the destruction. That group of people are the poets and writers of America. Through trial and strife, writers are able to find inspiration for their works, and are able to give readers hope for a better day. Walt Whitman was an amazing writer who wrote several poems concerning the great United States of America, talking about the people that have built the nation up from the dust. But, a group of people that Whitman forgot to write about on most occasions were the slaves and black people of which America thrived. Langston Hughes was a black man in the 20th century that took note of Whitman's poems, and their lack of recognition towards his people. Whitman wrote a poem called, "I Hear America Singing," in which Hughes wrote the poem, "I, Too Sing America," in response. In the poem by Hughes, there are several different ways that the writing interlaces with Walt Whitman's.

In the poem "I Hear America Singing" by Walt Whitman, the reader envisions a country of people working for the greater good of mankind. These people come together as part of the whole society developing industry and production. Each person has a different occupation, but each job is important to the bigger picture. The bigger picture and theme being that of a country in which everyone is working together to create a successful and harmonious civilization.

and her lover from these vicious acts. If god does not seem to be interesting in their safety, then why should they waste energy praying to him? These are some of the complex and sensitive questions Hughes manages to raise from two short lines, illustrating his skill as a poet. The last two lines of the final stanza returns the reader to the tragedy of the young couple. The woman says, “Love is a naked shadow/ On a gnarled and naked tree” (Hughes 11-12). These ending lines are filled with imagery and emotion, thereby leaving the reader struck by the powerful meaning of the poem and the reality that these two people are humans with emotions whose lives have been ruin by this one act. Hughes skill in representing deep emotion and impacting the reader while still depicting very real situations serves to promote his plea for change (Gohar, 151).

Walt Whitman's "Song of Myself" is a vision of the American spirit, a vision of Whitman himself. It is his cry for democracy, giving each of us a voice through his poetry. Each of us has a voice and desires, and this is Whitman's representation of our voices, the voice of America. America, the great melting pot, was founded for freedom and democracy, and this poem is his way of re-instilling these lost American ideals. In this passage from "Song of Myself" Whitman speaks through his fellow man and speaks for his fellow man when his voice is not socially acceptable to be heard.

Langston Hughes, in the poem, I, Too, voices his response to Walt Whitman’s, I Hear America Singing. The first stanza of the poem conveys that African Americans are also apart of America. It also explains the cultural segregation African Americans experienced during this time. Hughes displays how African Americans were not seen as equals, although slavery was abolished. However, this section continues to show, that although, African Americans are segregated they refuse to be powerless.

Langston Hughes’ “I, Too, Sing America” was published in 1945. This poem envisions a day in which both races will be equivalent and able to eat together at the same table. The poem starts off with Hughes saying “I, Too, sing America” (Hughes, 1945, line #). Langston 's use of the word “too” shows that he wishes to be included in the population that is called “America.” In addition, he used the verb sing. This may date back to the African American tradition of tribal songs. Furthermore, slaves would often sing songs of liberation while working on plantations. In using the word “sing,” he is informing the people of America that he is included in this group and is doing so in his own culturally rich way. In addition he is further stating that he, too, has a voice and can make a prominent contribution to the country, whether or not they believe he can. The second stanza begins by saying “I am the darker brother” (Hughes, 1945, line #). This is referring to his skin color and the fact that he is African American, and even though his skin color is different, he is still a “brother,” or an American citizen and should not be treated differently for that. The rest of the stanza says

teeth” (Sandburg 765). He sees both cities Chicago and America as emerging entities, and although they seem dark, dirty places, they will eventually become the shining beacon that so many depict them as. Though America ruined its first impression, its secondary beauty that stems from the people is able to redeem its glory. To Sandburg, America is an imperfect land with perfect and optimistic beauty.

In history, there have been many African American heroes such as Martin Luther King Jr, Rosa Parks, Harriet Jacobs, Frederick Douglas etc. They all contributed to free slaves from slavery. The author of "I, Too" is an African American whose work was about African Americans, he has received love from many people because of his poems. Hughes was a hardworking man who traveled through many countries; Hughes transmitted hope to his readers by letting them know that we all equal no matter our physical appearances. Hughes writes for everyone, not just a particular group. In his writing, he writes personal experiences and what happens around the world. Langston Hughes responds to Whitman's poem "I Hear America Singing" by using point of view and theme in order to convince others about hope and equality in America.

In this poem Whitman identifies America and the people that make up the country. By doing this Whitman perceives the world around him and pinpoints man which fits into individualism. One of Whitman's romantic ideas in "I Hear America Singing" is his belief that America is made up of individuals. By making such a connection, Whitman shows that he believes that American is represented through the working individuals by them each doing their respective jobs Few would argue that Whitman is depicting the honest challenges of working individuals, but within his composition, Whitman conveys an ideal thought or hope of what he aspires for America to be or to be represented as. One can see where Romanticism is used into his depiction of

He uses the word “I” in most of his poems. In poetry was written without rhymes and schemes. In “I Hear America Singing” is uses a list of people, places and events to show the relationship between all that exist in the world, such as human and nature, as well as human and human. For example, “I loafe and invite my soul\ I lean and loafe at my ease observing a spear of summer grass “. Walt Whitman believed in democracy and the themes of his poem prove just that. He used his writings as a way to express the voice of the people and to bring awareness to the situations that exist in the world. In his poetry he described the world as he viewed it, a unified nation composed of unique but equal individuals. When one reads the work of Whitman, they can vision a world where everyone has a purpose and that purpose is unique to that individual. His poetry seems to have no structure as the work of Frost. Whitman chose to use ordinary people as the subjects of his work, so he choice of words is a clear representation of his subjects and adds uniqueness to his