Walt Whitman And Langston Hughes Essay

Poetry, perhaps more than other genre of writing, often sparks controversy and discussion. Authors Walt Whitman and Langston Hughes are two authors in American Literature whose poetry is both debated and praised by critics. "I Hear America Singing" by Walt Whitman and "I, Too, Sing America" by Langston Hughes have sparked many discussions on their controversial content. Walt Whitman was the first of the two authors to write, followed by Langston Hughes who was influenced by Whitman's work. While Whitman's poem, "I Hear America Singing" reflects the happiness of the American people, the poem written by Hughes takes a different approach. While the two authors discuss similar subject matter, there are many differences that can be identified between these two literary works.

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The first of many variations is related to the structure of writing used by the authors. For example, in "I Hear America Singing" Whitman writes in a sing song style, evident in the line, "I hear America singing, the varied carols I hear," while Hughes' treatment is more direct and abrasive as seen in the line, "They send me to eat in the kitchen." Further, in "I Hear America Singing," the sentences are long and flow easily into subsequent phrases, whereas "I,

"I Hear America Singing" focuses on the glories of America, showcasing the happiness and joy that is present on a daily basis. This is clearly evidenced in one of the lines from Whitman's poem: "Singing with open mouths their strong melodious songs." However, "I, Too, Sing America highlights the darker side of American life during this era. Unlike Whitman, Hughes' poem takes a much more serious tone, that forces the reader to consider the other side of the coin. This is poignately illustrated in the line, "And be ashamed -" which points to the "they" that will be ashamed in the future for how "they" treated the African American