What is the significance of the tone change from I too sing America to I too am America?

Category: books and literature poetry
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The tone of the poem is pride and defiance. It speaks of a racial divide in America that white people are perfectly content to ignore. Sending the speaker to the kitchen to eat can be symbolic of segregation, but also of America's desire to ignore the race problem.



Correspondingly, what is the purpose of I too sing America?

I, Too is a short, free verse poem that focuses on African American identity within the dominant white culture of the USA. It encapsulates the history of oppression of black people by means of slavery, denial of rights and inequality.

Also, what does the speaker mean when he says I too am America? A possible answer is that the speaker is confirming his right to be a part of the promise and purpose of America, Another, he to is proud of America and what it does, he is also American.

Besides, why is the tone of Langston Hughes I too determined?

I say this tone is surprising because the poem wrestles with a very unsavory subject: America's racist history. However, for all that, when Hughes announces his ability to "laugh" (5), to "eat well" (6), and to "grow strong" (7), he also announces his capacity for joy in the face of a racist society.

What is the structure of I too?

Langston Hughes. In this poem each stanza is split up into two sentences. The poem is being read in first person; "I, too, sing America." The first and the last lines are the only exception they are their own sentence. There are no rhyming words in this poem.

32 Related Question Answers Found

What figurative language is used in I too sing America?

"I, too, sing America" (Personification) - everyone with different colours are equal. This means that the black man is also an American citizen. "I am the darker brother" (Metaphor) - This means that the speaker is a Black American citizen. Langston uses this to describe the speaker, who he is in his community.

What does the speaker of I too express?

What hope does the speaker of "I, Too" express? That they will not have African Americans eating in the kitchen when company comes.

What does the table symbolize in I too?

Table” – symbolism to explain a place were other people will see. Table is considered more important then kitchen. “Eat well, grow strong” – symbolism that represents the power. It means later, black people will be having strong position in society.

What is the extended metaphor in the poem I too sing America?

Answer Expert Verified. Hughes uses the extended metaphor of "eating in the kitchen" to show racial inequality and segregation. At a time in the future, the speaker believes all men will be treated equally and the people who treated African Americans badly will be ashamed of their actions.

What does sitting at the table represent in I too?


The table in the dining room is where important people meet, talk and dine as equals. Right now, the speaker, being black, is forced to eat in the kitchen. In this poem, he reclaims his right to metaphorically sit at the table, which means to be treated as equal to the white people.

What is the main theme of the poem I too?

Although a short poem, the themes of 'I, Too, Sing America' are many. First, there is a theme of overcoming. The speaker of the poem does not allow the racism and mistreatment to define him. Finally, Hughes reminds his audience of a continual theme in his writing, that being black is beautiful.

What does the title I too mean?

The poem "I, Too" by Langston Hughes is an excellent example of a poem using the word "I" as something other than its literal meaning. "I, Too" is about the segregation of African Americans, whites and how soon segregation will come to an end. The line states "I, too, sing America".

What does eating in the kitchen represent in I too?

"Eating in the kitchen is a metaphor for what kind of treatment? he is being treated poorly and is being sent away so that the guests don't see him. It is where the servants eat. He says that American will see how beautiful he is and be ashamed that they have treated him this way for so long.

What is the overall tone of the poem I too sing America?

The tone of the poem is pride and defiance. It speaks of a racial divide in America that white people are perfectly content to ignore. Sending the speaker to the kitchen to eat can be symbolic of segregation, but also of America's desire to ignore the race problem. Kind of like out of sight and out of mind.

Why did Langston write I too sing America?


I, Too. "I, Too" is a poem written by Langston Hughes that demonstrates a yearning for equality through perseverance while disproving the idea that patriotism is limited by race. In the poem, Hughes describes a ubiquitous racial oppression that degrades African Americans at the time.

What is the tone of Let America be America again?

Langston Hughes is writing a poem of someone who feels that America does not live up to what it should be. The tone is angry and resentful. He points to the people who've come here with hopes and dreams and they're being let down.

What is the tone of America?

The poem America by Claude McKay is about how African Americans were treated. He is using personification throughout the poem because he is referring America as a she. The poem stared off as bitter and sad then the tone changed to hope and love that he has for America.

What is the significance of the four rivers mentioned in the Negro Speaks?

The poem connects four great rivers in the Middle East, Africa, and America---Euphrates, Congo, Nile and the Mississippi. His purpose was to show the movement of the Negro through time.

What is the significance of the speaker being sent to eat at the kitchen setting in Langston Hughes poem I too?

Kitchen. The “kitchen” symbolizes racial segregation in America. In lines 3-4, the speaker notes that he is sent “to eat in the kitchen / When company comes.” This is part of an extended metaphor that runs through the heart of the poem. The speaker compares American racism and segregation to a house.

How does Langston Hughes feel about America?


Langston Hughes' poem, ''Let America Be America Again,'' is both a criticism of America as it has been--marred by power, oppression, and greed--and what it can be: a place of freedom, hope, equality, and justice for all.

How is the Speaker affected when he is asked to eat in the kitchen?

How is the speaker affected when he is asked to eat in the kitchen? The speaker is embarrassed that he is asked to eat in the kitchen. The speaker is angered by the unfair treatment he receives. The speaker is confident that things will change for the better.

What is the purpose of the poem I too?

I, Too is a short, free verse poem that focuses on African American identity within the dominant white culture of the USA. It encapsulates the history of oppression of black people by means of slavery, denial of rights and inequality.