The paper compares Claude McKay's “Harlem Shadows” and Langston Hughes' “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” with regards to the topic of walking during the Harlem Renaissance.
The poems arise from the Harlem Renaissance and deal with the topic of racism and the oppression of the Blacks. Moreover, both poems include the theme of walking. Hughes and McKay, who write about their emotions and experiences with Blacks being oppressed by society, do not actually take a walk or journey in the poems, which will be further discussed in the following chapters. The selected pieces differ from each other in their style and the way the theme of walking is presented which has to be examined. In literature classes, one should draw attention on these works as they are different from common Walk Poems and deal with important topics.
The second chapter will have a closer look on the Harlem Renaissance. Apart from the historical background, emphasis will be put on the so-called “Negro-culture” in literature. The mentioned poems by McKay and Hughes will be analyzed with regards to the theme of walking. A conclusion summarizes the results and points out the importance of these literary works in the context of the Harlem Renaissance as well as the representation of Walk Poetry.
Table of Contents
- 1 INTRODUCTION
- 2 THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE
- 3 HARLEM SHADOWS BY CLAUDE MCKAY
- 3.1 ANALYSIS
- 3.2 WALKING IN HARLEM SHADOWS
- 4 THE NEGRO SPEAKS OF RIVERS BY LANGSTON HUGHES
- 4.1 ANALYSIS
- 4.2 WALKING IN THE NEGRO SPEAKS OF RIVERS
- 5 CONCLUSION
- 6 WORKS CITED
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper analyzes Claude McKay's "Harlem Shadows" and Langston Hughes' "The Negro Speaks of Rivers" within the context of the Harlem Renaissance. The objective is to compare and contrast the poems' use of the "walking" motif to represent the experiences of African Americans facing racism and oppression. Key themes explored include:- The Harlem Renaissance and its cultural significance.
- The theme of walking in poetry and its symbolic representation.
- The portrayal of racism and oppression in the selected poems.
- A comparison of poetic styles and techniques employed by McKay and Hughes.
- The significance of these poems in representing the African American experience.
Chapter Summaries
1 Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage for the analysis of Claude McKay's "Harlem Shadows" and Langston Hughes' "The Negro Speaks of Rivers." It establishes the historical context of the Harlem Renaissance, highlighting the intertwined American and African American cultures and the pervasive racism faced by African Americans. The chapter introduces the concept of "walk poetry" and its relevance to the chosen poems, emphasizing the unique way in which McKay and Hughes utilize the theme of walking, deviating from traditional walk poetry. The introduction clearly outlines the paper's objective: to compare and contrast the poems' use of the walking motif to represent the experiences of African Americans facing racism and oppression. The chapter concludes by providing a roadmap for the rest of the paper, detailing the structure and content of the following chapters.
2 The Harlem Renaissance: This chapter delves into the historical and cultural background of the Harlem Renaissance, exploring its roots in the Great Migration of African Americans from the rural South to the urban North. It discusses the economic and social factors that propelled this migration, including poor economic conditions and racial discrimination in the South. The chapter emphasizes the rise of the "Negro Culture" in Harlem, where African Americans found a space to express their identities and challenge racial stereotypes through literature, art, music, and other cultural forms. The chapter highlights the significance of Harlem as a center for African American cultural expression and its role in shaping the identity and racial pride of the community. The creation of a vibrant cultural environment through collective resistance to white racism and segregation is a major theme of the chapter.
Keywords
Harlem Renaissance, African American Literature, Claude McKay, Langston Hughes, Walk Poetry, Racism, Oppression, "Harlem Shadows," "The Negro Speaks of Rivers," Cultural Identity, Social Commentary.
Frequently Asked Questions: Analysis of "Harlem Shadows" and "The Negro Speaks of Rivers"
What is the main focus of this academic paper?
This paper analyzes Claude McKay's "Harlem Shadows" and Langston Hughes' "The Negro Speaks of Rivers" within the context of the Harlem Renaissance. The main objective is to compare and contrast how both poems use the "walking" motif to represent the experiences of African Americans facing racism and oppression.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
Key themes include the cultural significance of the Harlem Renaissance; the symbolic representation of "walking" in poetry; the portrayal of racism and oppression in the selected poems; a comparison of McKay and Hughes' poetic styles and techniques; and the significance of these poems in representing the African American experience.
What is the structure of the paper?
The paper is structured as follows: An introduction setting the context and outlining the objectives; a chapter dedicated to the historical and cultural background of the Harlem Renaissance; in-depth analyses of both "Harlem Shadows" and "The Negro Speaks of Rivers," each with a section dedicated to analyzing the "walking" motif within the poem; and finally, a conclusion and a list of works cited.
What is covered in the introduction chapter?
The introduction establishes the historical context of the Harlem Renaissance, introducing the concept of "walk poetry" and its unique application in the chosen poems. It clearly states the paper's objective: comparing and contrasting the poems' use of the walking motif to represent the experiences of African Americans facing racism and oppression. It also provides a roadmap for the rest of the paper.
What does the chapter on the Harlem Renaissance discuss?
This chapter explores the historical and cultural background of the Harlem Renaissance, including the Great Migration, economic and social factors driving this migration, the rise of "Negro Culture," and Harlem's significance as a center for African American cultural expression and racial pride. It emphasizes the creation of a vibrant cultural environment through collective resistance to white racism and segregation.
What poems are analyzed in detail?
The paper focuses on a detailed analysis of Claude McKay's "Harlem Shadows" and Langston Hughes' "The Negro Speaks of Rivers," specifically examining the use of the "walking" motif in both poems and its symbolic significance.
What are the key words associated with this paper?
Key words include: Harlem Renaissance, African American Literature, Claude McKay, Langston Hughes, Walk Poetry, Racism, Oppression, "Harlem Shadows," "The Negro Speaks of Rivers," Cultural Identity, and Social Commentary.
What is the overall purpose of this analysis?
The overall purpose is to provide a scholarly analysis of two significant poems from the Harlem Renaissance, exploring their thematic content and literary techniques, and placing them within their historical and cultural context. The focus on the "walking" motif provides a unique lens through which to examine the experiences of African Americans during this period.
- Citation du texte
- Bauke Janssen (Auteur), 2020, The topic of walking during the Harlem Renaissance. Differences between Claude McKays "Harlem Shadows" and Langston Hughes "The Negro Speaks of Rivers", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/992630
