Download Langston Hughes

The Harlem Renaissance
The Early Years
Most poplar and Versatile writer of
the Harlem Renaissance
Wanted to capture the traditions of
Black Culture in written form
1902-1967
Task




Recognize the poetry of Langston Hughes,
Learn about the Harlem Renaissance,
Review the history of Langston Hughes,
Gain a greater understanding of the poetry of
Langston Hughes.
Langston Hughes and the People
 Black people loved reading his works and hearing him
read his poems at public presentations all over the
country. To them he was" Harlem's Poem."
In the Beginning
 Langston Hughes was of the Harlem Renaissance, an
artistic movement of the 1920's in which black artists
living in Harlem and elsewhere blossomed in musical,
poetic, theatrical and cultural expression.
Still Here
 Still Here I Been scared and battered.
My hopes the wind done scattered.
Snow has firz me, Sun has baked me,
Looks like between 'em they done Tried
to make me Stop laughin', stop lovin',
stop livin'-- But I don't care!
I'm still here!
Poetry analysis example
 Still Here – Written Analysis
 Still Here
 Still Here was written by Langston Hughes. The poem is about the speaker
going through a lot in his or her life, but still managing to stand strong and be
proud at the end. One theme expressed through the poem would be : ” It is
important to stand your ground and overcome any obstacles life may present
you with. “
 In the poem, rhymes and hyperboles are used at first to express the speaker’s
life before they had overcome oppression. The rhymes are very gloomy, and the
hyperboles are used in such a way they bring out the extent of pain she has
faced in her life. The last lines focus on how proud the speaker is that she has
passed up the evils of life.
 I think the speaker feels very proud about the subject. Even though the
majority of the poem talks about the bad in her life, the last few lines really
make up for it when she states that she is even stronger now, and is proud to be
where she is today. ” But I don’t care! ” shows the reader that she wants to put
the past behind her and move on.
Langston Hughes
The Renaissance
 The Harlem Renaissance is a period in
American history where the influence
of African-Americans in politics,
literature, music, culture and society
grew and became a part of the
mainstream.
The Faces of the Harlem
Renaissance
His Gift
 Langston Hughes’s poems have a common theme: the
experience of being black. He is a poet of the Harlem
Renaissance. As a child, he had no real family: instead
he was passed around between extended family and
friends.