‘Theme for English B’ Poem

Read the poem below and answer the questions below.     (20 marks)

    Theme for English B.

    The instructor said,
    Go home and write a page tonight.
    And let that page come out of you.
    Then, it will be true.

I wonder if it is that simple?

I am twenty-two, colored, born in Winston-Salem.
I went there, then Durham, then here
To this college on the hill above Harlem,
I am the only colored student in my class.
The steps from the hill lead down into Harem,
Through a park, then I cross St Nicholas,
Eighth Avenue, seventh, and I come to the Y
The Harlem BranchY, where I take the elevator
Up to my room, sit down, and write this page:

It’s no easy to know what is true for you or me
At twenty-two, my age. But I guess I’m what
I feel and see and hear. Harlem, I hear you:
Hear you, hear me-we two-you, talk on this page.
(I hear New York, too) me- who?
Well, I like to eat, sleep, drink, and be in love.
I like to work, read, learn and understand life.
I like a pipe for a Christmas present,
Or records- Bessie, bop, or Bach.
I guess being colored doesn’t make me not like
The same things other folks like who are other races.

So will my page be colored that I write?
Being me, it will not be white.
But it will be A part of you, instructor.
You are white
Yet a part of me, as I am part of you.

That’s American.
Sometimes perhaps you don’t want to be part of me.
Nor do I often want to be part of you.
But we are, that’s true!
As I learn from you,
I guess you learn from me- Although you are older- and white- And somewhat more free.
This is my page for English B.
(Langstone Hughes)

Questions.

a)    Who is the speaker in the poem? Illustrate your answer.  2 mks
b)    Identify two themes in the poem. Explain.  4 mks
c)    Describe the mood of the poem? What details contribute or help establish that mood? 2mks
d)    What point does the speaker seek to make by listing the things that he or she likes?  2mks
e)    What is the tone of the poem? Explain 2 mks
f)    Identify the use of personification in the poem. 2mks
g)    In what ways is the speaker and the addressee similar and different?  2mks
h)    Describe the relationship between the persona and the addressee 2mks
i)    i)     “I wonder if it is that simple.” Rewrite as a yes/no question.
    ii)     Rewrite the following beginning with: neither….
        You don’t want to be part of me. Nor do I often want to be part of you   l mk

Theme for English B ANSWERS

(a)    black man in America / African-American student- “I am the only coloured student in (no mark without illustration)
(b)    racism- he is discriminated based on skin colour education- African-Americans acquire education but in an indiscriminately manner
(c)    somber, solemn, serious- the black student is in a class dominated by white students ‘’sometimes perhaps you don’t want to be part of me.”
(d)    wants to prove that he is just like others, his colour notwithstanding.
(e)    Contemplative/introspective- the persona is examining the difficult issues he is undergoing.
(f)    “Harlem, I hear you.”
(g)    Similarities- both are human and have same needs.
    Differences- they are from different races (black and white)
    Note: there should be clear indication of similarities and differences
(h)    an uneasy one/not close to one another.
    There is mutual respect / tolerance because they are really part of each other.
(i)     is it really that simple?
    (no mark if question mark is missing)
    Neither you nor 1 want to be part of each other.
    (no mark if the two pronouns i.e. you and I are interchanged)