Essays on Langston Hughes

Making mistakes is not the greatest thing to do in life. We are not perfect, and neither is this world. It is normal to make mistakes in life, but you will regret that mistake. How I did with my father. But we always learn from...

Langston Hughes is a classic American author whose writing style is, perhaps, one of the most malleable styles in the history of American literature. In the first place, he is among the exclusive echelon of writers to oscillate back and forth in his works between...

Langston Hughes was one of the most prolific writers of Harlem Renaissance era. Hughes’s works are best known for the sense of black pride they convey and Hughes’s implantation of jazz into his poetry. In 1926, Hughes wrote the critically acclaimed essay, “The Negro Artist...

Raymond Smith once wrote, “Hughes attempted to integrate the two facets of double consciousness (the American and the Negro) into a single vision – that of a poet.” Langston Hughes, possibly the most prominent black American poet, incorporates these complementary aspects of consciousness into his...

James Langton Hughes is known as one of the most influential and realistic African-American authors of all times (Dace 8). His works still act as a mirror that reflects our society’s morals and opinions that are hidden behind skin deep façades. Born in 1902, to...

“Thank You Ma’am” by Langston Hughes is about a boy named Roger. In the beginning of the story Roger steals from a woman named Mrs. Jones and attempts to steal her purse. Roger fails to do so, so the woman takes him to her house...

Specifically from a literary perspective, the Harlem Renaissance, also known as the New Negro Movement, is often treated as one of the most artistically prolific, localized movements in Western literature, which has produced such writers as Gwendolyn Bennett, Nella Larsen, Esther Popel, and Jean Toomer....

In an essay entitled, “The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain,” African-American poet Langston Hughes discusses the importance of creating a black voice in a predominantly white America. Hughes strived to do this in his own work, as he used the rhythmic styles of jazz...

In “The Weary Blues”, Langston Hughes uses negative language to create a generally discouraging atmosphere. The relentless dark imagery makes the reader overlook an underlying message, as the poem actually encourages its readers to push against any obstacles in their way. Rather than being beaten...

Born in 1902 in Joplin, Missouri, Langston Hughes embodied the subtle status of African-American culture during his career as a novelist, poet, and scholar. Hughes was a unique poet, in that he sought to communicate the voices of black America and reflect the culture, lifestyle,...

“Hold fast to your dreams, for without them life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly” This is one of Langston Hughes’ most notable quotes, which urges his audience to hold on to their dreams. Langston Hughes was one of the most famous and...

Langston Hughes is a respected and esteemed African American Icon. His poetry and writing created a platform for black artists during the Harlem Renaissance, yet today he is one of the few underappreciated names in modern American poetry. Despite his pivotal role in the Harlem...

Langston Hughes’ spectacular flair for poetry began on February 1, 1902 when he was born in the small town on Joplin, Missouri. Through Langston Hughes contribution to poetry, he truly inspired a generation of children and adults alike to follow the meaning in his poetry....

An old lady walks along the street of a dark alley. Suddenly, a mischievous boy steals her purse. Imagine the look of fear in her eyes! In “Thank You, M’am” by Langston Hughes, the same thing happens to Mrs. Jones. During the beginning of the...

Did an elder ever call you because of your behavior when you were younger? Or did you make a mistake and someone gave you a second chance? ‘Thank you, ma’am’ by Langston Hughes illustrates an encounter between Roger, a teenage boy, and Mrs. Luella Bates...

“Man is born free; and everywhere he is in chains” is a quote by Rousseau from his book The Social Contract. The opening lines were meant to address an individual’s freedom narrowed by the government, however, the quote is perhaps heavily famous due to its...

Langston Hughes, one of the world’s most famous poets, was known for his literary art and jazz poetry created during the Harlem Renaissance. He was a social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist who attended Lincoln University to study African American Life and History. “Thank You...

Through the short stories “Thank You Ma’am” by Langston Hughes and “Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin, the authors employ many exceptional techniques to characterize both leading female protagonists. In “Thank You Ma’am” Langston recounts Ms. Louella Bates Washington Jones with primarily indirect characterization...

The 1920’s in America were a time of change, and that change was shown socially, economically, and politically. This was the time when people in America began to be less concerned with their individuality and more concerned with what we call the mainstream. For the...