Key facts of “Thank You Ma’am” by James Mercer Langston Hughes (February 1, 1902 – May 22, 1967)




The Harlem Renaissance:
The Harlem Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned the 1920s. At the time, it was known as the "New Negro Movement", named after the 1925 anthology by Alain Locke. The Movement also included the new African-American cultural expressions across the urban areas in the Northeast and Midwest United States affected by the Great Migration (African American), of which Harlem was the largest. Though it was centered in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City, in addition, many francophone black writers from African and Caribbean colonies who lived in Paris were also influenced by the Harlem Renaissance.
Harlem became an African-American neighborhood in the early 1900s. In 1910, a large block along 135th Street and Fifth Avenue was bought by various African-American realtors and a church group. Many more African–Americans arrived during the First World War.
Characterizing the Harlem Renaissance was an overt racial pride that came to be represented in the idea of the New Negro, who through intellect and production of literature, art, and music could challenge the pervading racism and stereotypes to promote progressive or socialist politics, and racial and social integration. The creation of art and literature would serve to "uplift" the race.
Jazz poetry:
Jazz poetry is poetry that "demonstrates jazz-like rhythm or the feel of improvisation".[1] During the 1920s, several poets began to eschew the conventions of rhythm and style; among these were Ezra Pound, T. S. Eliot, and E. Cummings. The significance of the simultaneous evolution of poetry and jazz during the 1920s was apparent to many poets of the era, resulting in the merging of the two art forms into jazz poetry. Jazz poetry has long been something of an "outsider" art form that exists somewhere outside the mainstream, having been conceived in the 1920s by African-Americans, maintained in the 1950s by counterculture poets like those of the Beat generation, and adapted in modern times into hip-hop music and live poetry events known as poetry slams.
Publication: The story was published in 1958 and is not in the public domain. Although some sources cite 1933 as the date of publication.
Characters: The story features two characters; Roger and Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones.
Theme: Langston Hughes' "Thank You, M'am" contains three main themes: love and trust, forgiveness, and dignity.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

PRE-SHAKESPEREAN DRAMA OR THE UNIVERSITY WITS:

Image
      The Pre-Shakespearean dramatists are known as the ‘ University Wits’ . They are so called as nearly all of them were closely associated with oxford and Cambridge University . As we know the condition of the drama that preceded them was precarious and chaotic; - “The classicists had form, but not fire; the popular dramatists had interest, but little sense of form”. They tried and were able to unite the classical conception of the drama and enthusiasm and favour of the popular dramatists. They were usually actors and dramatists. Their training began as actors. They revised old plays and finally became independent writers. They all were more or less acquainted with each other, and most of them led irregular Bohemian lives. Their plays had several features in common. Albert sums up- (a)            There was a fondness for heroic themes , such as the lives of great figures like Mohammed and Tamburlaine. (b)            Heroic themes needed heroic treatment: great
Read more

Banalata Sen an analysis

Banalata Sen was a recurrent theme in Jibanananda's creation with its richtapestry of imagery. Was there a Banalata Sen? There is no documentation thatthere was indeed someone by that name in his real life. Expressions suggestingthe end of time, and the use of words like "darkness remains" suggest end oflife themes, that were common in Jibanananda's works related to Banalata Sen,but nothing beyond this is hinted at in these works. Banalata Sen has found her stands with the best of the lady characters of the world. She has been ordained with the characters of the solitary reaper, Lucy, Maria, Phenomenal women and others. Immortal poets like Herman Goering and William Butler Yeats stands as the primal inspiration to the idea of this woman. She stands as a hope, a ray of light among the abyss of darkness, a speck of treasure of happiness in the pool of emptiness. She is the humanity personified; Banalata is the direction of love that resides in the romanticism
Read more

POST SHAKESPEREAN DRAMA OR THE JACOBEAN DRAMATISTS: THE JACOBEAN PERIOD (1603-1625):

Image
  * The death of Queen Elizabeth in 1603 created a situation of utter confusion and turmoil in society which had momentous impact on English literature. James-I ascended the throne in 1603. * The early decades of the 17 th century may be called the age of transition. By this time the Renaissance exuberance and optimism are succeeded by a mood of disillusion . First , there were series of plots to assassinate Elizabeth. There was no heir to the throne. Apprehension of civil war and intervention of foreign powers gripped the mind of the people. The situation reached its crisis in the rebellion of Essex on February 1, 1601 and his execution. A feeling of uncertainty was sharpened with the accession of James I.   * Court standards were lowered. Uncertainty and fears increased with the constant threats to the power of James. The Jesuits plotted against James constantly. * Elizabeth was popular and tactful. She compromised in matters of religion. James was unpopular
Read more