Dear all attendees of Literature I,
Write your individual analysis on the following poem of Langston Hughes’. Include the general meaning, detailed meaning, intention, connotation, and imagery analysis in your work. However, you don’t need to put sub-headings. Just write in continuous essay form, like what I did in Meeting at Night or I wandered Lonely as a Cloud.
Post your analysis on the reply section below this post before May 3, 2012.
Good luck!
Mother to Son
Well, son, I’ll tell you:
Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.
It’s had tacks in it,
And splinters,
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor—
Bare.
But all the time
I’se been a-climbin’ on,
And reachin’ landin’s,
And turnin’ corners,
And sometimes goin’ in the dark
Where there ain’t been no light.
So, boy, don’t you turn back.
Don’t you set down on the steps.
‘Cause you finds it’s kinder hard.
Don’t you fall now—
For I’se still goin’, honey,
I’se still climbin’,
And life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.
(By: Langston Hughes)
Retrieved on April 23, 2012 from http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/mother-to-son/ )
Universitas Kristen Indonesia 
Detailed Meaning: (Well, son, I’ll tell you: Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair) Mother tells to the son that her life is not rich and beautiful.
(It’s had tacks in it, And splinters, And boards torn up, And places with no carpet on the floor—Bare) Her life is poor, pain, and pity.
(But all the time I’se been a-climbin’ on, And reachin’ landin’s, And turnin’ corners, And sometimes goin’ in the dark Where there ain’t been no light) Then she tells but her life changes to peacefulness, happiness, and sometimes fall in the dark and collapsed that she doesn’t know what she must she do to go out from there.
(So, boy, don’t you turn back. Don’t you set down on the steps. ‘Cause you finds it’s kinder hard) Mother advises her son to success and not vulnerable because one must find a hard life.
(Don’t you fall now—For I’se still goin’, honey, I’se still climbin’, And life for me ain’t been no crystal stair) Mother wants her son be a strong man because she’s stiil defend and strong to face this life that is hard. Throughout his life there is no luxury.
General Meaning: One example of the struggle of life is a matter of life of a mother. The author describes the poor state of maternal and distress. Never have the luxury but ever feel all the paraphernalia of life. Mother advises her son to become a great kid to be able to face the rigors of life. Mother who still fighting for her son’s life.
Intention: Hughes wants the reader to respect the mother. We must not waste the sacrifice that we want to be successful. All she do it are not for herself but her children. Hope the children can face life happily and better.
Connotation: crystal stair = living in luxury / happy, Tacks = tenderness, splinters = pain, boards torn up = it is not appropriate, floor-bare = live alone, climbin ‘on = the above, reachin’ landin’s = down, turnin ‘corners = changed, the dark = slump, no light = no way.
Imagery Analysis: Kinesthetic imagery= goin’, turn back, set down, and fall. Visual imagery= the dark, no light, kinder hard, and floor-bare. Tactile imagery= crystal stair, tacks, splinters, and boards.
We as humans have five senses, namely pengelihat senses, the sense of touch, sense of smell, sense of hearing, and sense of taste. As in the poem mother to son describe a message or a phrase in the suffering of a mother lived her life to her child someday anaknya.supaya got a life full of passion, do not despair. because life really is not easy so we must continue to work hard. A mother who has always wished to live a dark turn into light. Anda mother described to her how life is actually. She says that life is not as beautiful as crystal stair, but life is like tacks in it, and splinters, and boards torn up, and places with no carpet on the floor— bare. It means that life is full of many challenges and sharp stumbling blocks that can pierce of our feet to move. But the mother said she has been a climbing on, reaching landings, and turning corners, it means the mother kept trying in facing and achieving life itself and turn every corner of life even though sometimes going in the dark which sometimes do not shed some light or enlightenment when facing a life. The mother also told to his son that don’t you turn back, don’t you set down on the steps. ‘cause you finds it’s kinder hard. Don’t you fall now for I’se still going, honey, I’se still climbing, the mother wants to tell his son do not ever just be satisfied with what is already owned keep trying and never give up because life is not as crystal stair that we can pass easily.
connotations in this poem, because the writer wants to show us with a dramatic language, such as: “No crystal stair” : life has not been beautiful for the mother. “It had tacks in it /and splinters”: tacks and splinters are hazards that can cause pain. “Boards torn up”: the torn up boards represent damage, obstacles, and hardships in life. “Places with no carpet on the floor / Bare”: these creates the image of being cold, naked and isolated. It creates a mood of loneliness. “I’se been a-climbin’ on”: these two lines push the idea of consistency and endurance in life. “Reachin’ landin’s”: this represents achieving goals in life. “Turnin’ corners”: new things. “Don’t you set down on the steps”: don’t give up. “I’se still goin’, honey / I’se still climbin’”: she is showing her son it can be done and she is the example.
Poem entitled “Mother to son” describes about a mother who gave her son an advice that the Life is very hard. And she also tells her son how she can survive and live a hard life is. This poem want to inform readers of life is not as easy and as beautiful as we thought. As in the second line of this poem. “Life for me Is not been no crystal stair” the words to tell us to work hard in this life. And the message was also conveyed the wish of a mother to her child.
The Intentions of this poem is that the readers to struggle with this life. not to be outdone by the trials and obstacles that we will face in our life. And it is also the wish conveyed by a mother to her child, even though to do it all we will feel tired, dizzy, angry, upset and difficult, but be assured if we seriously doing it, we will get good results and is beneficial to us.
As I know in this poem there are 2 connotations
• “Climbin” means the spirit of life to pursuit the happiness
• “Tacks”, “splinters”, and “boards torn up” show us the problems and obstacles in our life
Finnaly as I know in this Poem there are 3 Imageries
• kinesthetic imagery which include sense of movement (‘tell’, ‘climbin’’, ‘reachin’’, ‘landin’’, ‘goin’’).
• visual imagery ( ‘dark’, ‘no light’, and ‘crystal stair’)
• tactile imagery (‘tacks’, ‘splinters’, and ‘boards’)
ANASTASIA WIDAYANTI (0912150039)
The poem of “Mother to son” by Langston Hughes, describes the message or advice from a mother to her child. Langston hughes wanted to share a story about a mother’s love for her child. The mother said that life is full of life’s difficult obstacles. There was too much dangers, obstacles and difficulties that may cause pain in this life. In this poem can be divided into two parts, the first on the line 2-6 describes the difficult life, and 7-20 on the line explaining that the child will have to fight obstacles in life. As in the poem “Life for me Is not been no crystal stair. It’s had Tacks in it, And Splinters, And boards torn up, And places with no carpet on the floor-Bare. ” (On lines 2-6). The mother explained to the child that life is full of sharp gravel. That is the obstacle that must be faced, but the child will never lose that barrier, but persevere! As in the poem rhyme in lines 7-20. “But all the time I’se been a-climbin ‘on, And reachin’ landin’s, And turnin ‘corners, And Sometimes goin’ in the dark Where there Is not been no light.So, boy, do not you turn back. Do not you set down on the steps. ‘Cause you finds it’s hard Kinder. Do not you fall now-For I’se still goin ‘, honey, I’se still climbin’, And life for me Is not been no crystal stair. ” Through this poem to advise the mother to the child that the child should be a strong child. And must continue to fight for every obstacle is encountered, the barriers make it as something that would make great because the child have been through it. Because life is not easy, so you must be fight!
Through this poem, the reader can imagine meaning in it. The reader can understand the content of the poem because the author likens to things that are easy to imagine. For example: “crystal stair” talking about something that is good because the “crystal stair” is a beautiful thing it seems if we imagine. “Tacks”, “Splinter”, “boards torn up”, “places with no carpet”, “Bar” describes the obstacles or barriers that are very difficult, but we have to pass through. And “climbing” is something we must achieve, in this sense is a word of encouragement that we should not be barriers but slumped fight! Through this poem, the reader can take a positive thing, that life is not as easy as we imagine, but strive for it! Keep fighting!
The poem describe about a mother who tells her son that life is hard and not easy. And also tells how hard a mother struggle to face of a difficult life.
The poem which is written by Langston told that life is not always easy and beautiful. This can we see in line two “Life for me ain’t been no crystal to” this is aware the readers that life is not as beautiful as the Crystal stairs, sometimes we will get many obstacles that requires us to fight hard so that we can get through.
The intention of this poem is to give her son advise to fight the obstacles that he will face, so that his son does not suffer the same fate with his mother, feeling how his mother difficult life. This poem also invite the readers to always try hard in facing a difficult life which has a wide variety of challenges or obstacles and invites readers to not give up in the face of life’s challenges.
There are several connotations used by Langston in this poem. “Life for me ain’t been no crystal” means that life was tough not as beautiful as the Crystal stairs,”Tacks”, “Splinter”, “boards torn up” is the challenges we face.
In this poem there are two types of imegery, visual imegery and kinesthetic imegery. Crystal Stair, tacks, splinters, board, place is a visual imegery. Climbin’, reachin’, goin’ in the dark, turn back are kinesthetic imegery.
This poem tells about how the mother’s life with a difficult journey. For example, “Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair” means that life is hard as we can think. “It’s had tacks in it, and splinters, and boards torn up, and places with no carpet on the floor—Bare”. This is mean many challenges in the life. She express to her son about life is not easy because she had been gone through life. She is sure that her son will gain the experiences in his life. She would like to tell her son to be ready to face and pass the life games. “But all the time I’se been a-climbin’ on, and reachin’ landin’s, and turnin’ corners, and sometimes goin’ in the dark, where there ain’t been no light”. This means that she is trying to be able strong woman to pass any challenges in life. “So, boy, don’t you turn back. Don’t you set down on the steps. . . . Don’t you fall now—For I’se still goin’, honey, I’se still climbin’,” and it means she doesn’t want her son to give up to face the life whatever happens.‘Cause you finds it’s kinder hard” means she knows that her son almost give up with the situation.
The author want to tell the readers about every single mother in the world want their children to survive to face the life without give up and they always help their children to be a good person in the life in the future. So the author using the connotation to give a real image about life such as ‘crystal stair’ to express that the mother life is not wonderful; the author uses ‘tacks’, ‘splinters’ means something will gain painful; To express about the hard in life, the author uses ‘The torn up boards’; then, ‘no carpet on the floor’ and ‘Bare’ to tell how the life could be coldness and loneliness; To express how struggle in life is, the author using ‘I’se been a-climbin’ on’; ‘reachin’ landin’s’ means gain the goals in life whatever happens; ‘turnin’ corners’ means trying to find something new way; ‘dark’ can represent challenges; ‘no light’ represents no ways to go out ; ‘don’t you turn back’ means never go back in the past ; and ‘set down on the steps’ means get ready to make a movement to go to new life in the future.
The imagery of the author using is kinesthetic, visual, and tactile. Kinesthetic imagery: ‘tell’, ‘climbin’’, ‘reachin’’, ‘landin’’, ‘goin’’ . Visual imagery : ‘dark’, ‘no light’, and ‘crystal stair’ are visual imagery. Tactile imagery: ‘tacks’, ‘splinters’, and ‘boards’.
Poem “Mother to son by Langston Hughes” describes a mother who is giving advice for her son. In generally that life is not easy to stay in. And in this poem his mother give him advice about life is always filled with obstacles and challenges.
The mother said that life is not easy, it is a life long journey that must be met with hard times, that which in life is full of obstacles that we have never experienced before. Examples such as the mother says in the poem “Life for me Is not been no crystal stair. It’s had Tacks in it,
And Splinters,
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor ”
His mother also said that in life sometimes will encounter problem where we are difficult to get a street light or a solution of the problems that we experience life. “And Sometimes goin ‘in the dark
Where there Is not been no light. ”
But despite all hardships in life or the problems experienced, his mother was giving encouragement to his son in this poem that her son should not be defeated by life, should not easily give up in life filled with challenges, should remain strong through it and not give up. “‘Cause you finds it’s hard Kinder.
Do not you fall now ”
In lines 18-19, the mother emphasizes a sense of the word that makes the child’s heart to not be afraid and do not surrender in the face of life. In lines 18-19 is to make glad the heart of the child, because his mother gave a tremendous passion for his son so his son could compete with life.
This poem has some connotations that words such as “crystal stair” it means get something good, “Splinter” “boards torn up” it means something bad That we get in our life.
And in this poem is supported of imagery. The words are the which descibe the imagery, “Splinters” “tell”, “climb”, “Tacks” “goin ‘in the dark”, “honey,” “turn back”, “set down”, “son”, “fall”
“Crystal stair”, “Splinters”, “torn”, “places”, “carpet”, “peace”, “corners”.
In my opinion, this poem gives us a little lesson that life is not easy as we think, so we must keep spirit and never give up to stay in.
Mother to son poem is about the life of a mother to her son that life is a struggle that must be faced and has many challenges that must be passed and she had to pass though sometimes very exhausting and painful, but life must go on. Through in this poem also say that life is not always enjoyable and easy, life is always sacrificed and struggled hard to face the challenges that exist, from the poem we can also see that the mother wanted to tell you how her real life, but the poet not using the word “Suffering” but he just told us that his life is not always full of comfort, convenience and enjoyment we can see from the “Life for me is not been no crystal stair ….” and “Place with no carpet on the floor” but in the next sentence also mentioned that the mother is still fighting against all the challenges that exist in life as in the phrase “I’see been climbin’ on” and “and reachin’ landin’”, in the next sentence “Do not you fall now” that we are reminded to not give up so easily on the circumstances, although we are finding things difficult in life. Overall poets want to tell the message to us through this poem that life is a “gift” that we are obliged to strive for and do not waste our time just to give up and resigned to the situation because it will not change your life to the better life.
In this poem the reader can see, touch, and feel that poetry can be understood properly. In this poem there are some pictures: “crystal stairs”, “carpet on the floor”, “goin’ in the dark”, “no light”, appeal to our sense of sight and Convey not only shape but also color and motion. And also there are kinesthetic imagery such as: “I’see the climbin ‘on”, “reachin’ landin’”, “turnin’ corners”, “still goin’”, “turn back”,”set down”, “Kinder hard” were potrayed kind of sense of movement and sense of feeling. Throughout the above explanation can combine the poet’s words so beautifully that we are reminded to not give up so easily on the circumstances, although we finding difficult, Things in life.
In addition, in this poetry there are some words that connotation and denotation conveyed by poets, such as: “crystal stairs” is stairs or paths filled with beauty, but “no crystal stairs” meaningful life does not always get the comfort, enjoyment and convenience in every way. “Splinters”, “board torns up”, “place with no carpet on the floor” to explain that this is something useless, and doesnot considered, but in this poem tells the life full of challenges and obstacles. but also tell us that life is a struggle and effort with the word “I’see been climbin’ on’,” reachi’ landin’ “, and the last one that we should not easily discouraged “do not you turn back”, “dont set down”, “do not you fall now”.
conclusion, the poet want to convey a moral message to all the readers and remind us that life is so mean to do that we must be able to fight and achieve everything we desire to be better.
sorry sir, my student number :0912150005. class B
In the poem the author tells readers about a mother who advised her to struggle in later life. Because the mother who has gone through a very hard life, and he was able to survive, so he had to make sure his son to keep trying hard in life.
The poem is a metaphor that describes how the life of the mother during the course of his life hard. “Life for me is not no crystal staircase” states that life is not as easy as we imagine. “It has an umbrella nails in it, and fractions, and boards torn, and places with no carpet on the floor-Bare.” There told me that there are many obstacles in life in this world. Had so many experiences that he can get, then that experience is retold to their children, how hard life in this world because he wanted his son to be ready to face life. “But all the time I’se a-climbin ‘, and reachin’s landin’s, and angles, and sometimes going ‘turnin in the dark, where there’s never any light”. The mother continues to try, so he was able to get through all the challenges, “So, boy, you do not come back. Do not put ladder, Do not you fall now-For I’ se still go in honey, I’ se still climbin, “He kept wanting her to not be easily discouraged in any case. Since you find it hard friendly “According to the mother, the child’s life should be better than her life.
The author hopes that readers understand the content and intent of the content of the poem. Especially to every mother who cares for each son about life, so that every child does not easily give up in life experienced any problems, so that future children would be much better than his mother’s life.
The content of these poems to tell about the life journey of a mother who is very heavy. Thus, the author uses connotation to give a realistic sense of poetry. The author uses “crystal ladder ‘to say that life is not wonderful mother. Then, the authors use the’ spikes ‘,’ fragments ‘which means something that can cause pain in our lives. To represent the damage in life, the authors use the’ Board to torn. I then used ‘no carpet on the floor’ and ‘Bare’ implies coldness and loneliness. To represent the struggle of life, the author uses ‘I’ se a -climbin’ on ‘.’ Reachin ‘the landin ‘ means to achieve goals in life; ‘means turnin’ corners ‘try something new;’ dark ‘can represent barriers;’ no light ‘is unexplored;’ do not you turn your back ‘means do not run away from life, and’ put on the ladder “to indicate not give up .
The use of imagery in poetry. There are several images in the poem: kinesthetic, visual, and tactile. ‘Submit’, ‘climbin”,”’ reachin ‘landin”,’ go” is a kinesthetic image that includes a sense of movement. ‘Dark’, ‘no light’, and ‘crystal ladder’ is a visual image. ‘Nail umbrella’, ‘chips’, and ‘board’ is a tactile image.
General meaning of the “Mother to son” by Langston Hughes is Poem that tells of struggle during his lifetime. This poem tells about the hardships a mother faced and all the hard times she went through in her life. In a poem about a mother who tells her that even though it’s a lot but he still stands and he got through it and he tells his son to be strong And in this poem the mother giving advice and motivation to their children. In order for children to live a life of his spirit, and also did not give up on life’s challenges.
Detail meaning this poem Mother to So: A message from a mother to her son. Life for me aim’s been no crystal stair- Life has not been beautiful, transparent, or easy for the mother. It hasn’t been an easy climb. It’s had tacks in it, And splinters,- Tacks and splinters are hazards that can cause pain, just like hazards in life. And boards torn up, – The torn up boards represent damage, obstacles, and hardships in life. And places with no carpet on the floor – Bare. So the mother wants her child to survive in any condition. Here, the mother told her fight for life, so that children can mimic how the struggle of the mother.
Therefore, the purpose of this poem is the love of a mother to her child and so much attention to the child because he always gives lessons and life experiences are valuable for future son so he can become a better person and be more careful in future. In conclusion, Langston Hughes’ moving poem is A mother is never dropped his son, and therefore the mother tried to give advice and warnings to his son to be careful in the future and empowers not only the son, but also the reader with precious words of wisdom.
“Mother to Son” describes mother’s love and concern for her son by teaching her son life lesson about not giving up through the experience of her own life. She tells him about how hard life and tries to inspire him to try harder in his life even if life becomes difficult.
To transmit us from our immediate surroundings into a world of the imagination, the poet uses connotations. For example; crystal stair, tacks, splinters, boards torn up, no carpet on the floor- bare, the dark, climbing, and a landing.
Hughes says in the mothers voice “Well, son, I’ll tell you:/ life ain’t been no crystal stair.”(Lines 1-2). In this line Hughes establishes for the reader that the speaker in the poem has not had an easy life; the stairs show the how difficult mother’s life has been and how she must climb up the stairs everyday to improve her life and how she still continues to struggle.
“It’s had tacks in it,/ And splinters,/ And boards torn up,/ And places with no carpet on the floor-“(Lines 3-6). The tacks, the splinters, the torn up boards, all are used to relate the hardships of the mother’s life to the hardships of climbing up battered stairs. A splinter or a tack would be symbolic of the mother having suffered many hurts and certainly will cause pain.
“So boy, don’t you turn back./ Don’t you set down on the steps/ `Cause you finds it’s kinder hard./ Don’t you fall now-“(Lines 14-17). These are all about advice from mother who doesn’t want her son to give up. Then, she reveals how tough life has been for her but it hasn’t dimmed her spirits, “For I’se still goin’, honey,/ I’se still climbin'”(Lines 18-19).
Every line in the poem contains some image: crystal stair, tacks, splinters, boards torn up, no carpet on the floor- bare, the dark, no light, landin’s and corners—all appeal to our sense of sight (visual imagery) and convey not only shape but also color and motion. Finally, reachin’ landin’s,turnin’ corners, goin’ in the dark, turn back, set down on the steps, fall now, and still climbin’ appeal to kinesthetic images.
Finally, the poet has a message for all of us in this poem; life is hard but one that must be attempted and achieved. The poet tells us to not give up on striving for success in life simply because things are not always easy.
Through Langston Hughes’ poem, Mother to Son, he demonstrates the love and concern a mother has for her son by the wisdom she imparts on him through the example of her own life, a climb up a staircase. Hughes does this by using stylistic devices such as figurative language, diction, and rhythm. The advice given in the poem is graphic and stirring: life is hard, full of stumbling blocks, but one must keep climbing.
The metaphor in this poem relates life to a staircase. “Well, son, I’ll tell you:/ life ain’t been no crystal stair.”(Lines 1-2). The mother, who is talking to her son, is saying life is not that easy. It is a long and hard journey. This entire poem is based on this one metaphor. “It’s had tacks in it,/ And splinters,/ And boards torn up,/ And places with no carpet on the floor-“(Lines 3-6). Hughes puts an emphasis on how difficult life has been for the mother. The tacks, the splinters, the torn up boards, all are used to relate the hardships of the mother’s life to the hardships of climbing up battered stairs. The mother doesn’t want her son to avoid this staircase, this life. She wants him to forge onward and upward. “So boy, don’t you turn back./ Don’t you set down on the steps/ `Cause you finds it’s kinder hard./ Don’t you fall now-“(Lines 14-17).
Hughes’ uses dramatic monologue to convey his voice, the words like: ain’t, I’se, and climbin’ which is common language in the black culture. His diction gives the impression the woman is not well educated, but is street smart and wise. The rhythm of the poem has no rhyme but a beat; it flows in a weary but determined delivery and it builds like a stairway, one step at a time. In her narrative, she reveals how tough life has been for her but it hasn’t dimmed her spirits, “For I’se still goin’, honey,/ I’se still climbin'”(Lines 18-19). Hughes shows life as an ascent up a staircase: it’s a hard climb, but one that must be attempted and achieved.
There are three imageries in the poem:
– kinesthetic imagery which include sense of movement (‘tell’, ‘climbin’’, ‘reachin’’, ‘landin’’, ‘goin’’).
– visual imagery ( ‘dark’, ‘no light’, and ‘crystal stair’)
– tactile imagery (‘tacks’, ‘splinters’, and ‘boards’)
In conclusion, Langston Hughes’ moving poem “Mother to Son” empowers not only the son, but also the reader with precious words of wisdom. The advice is simple but pertinent to the poetic theme: in order to over come the hurtles of life, a person must possess courage and determination.
In the poem the author tells readers about a mother who advised her to struggle in later life. Because the mother who has gone through a very hard life, and he was able to survive, so he had to make sure his son to keep trying hard in life.
The poem is a metaphor that describes how the life of the mother during the course of his life hard. “Life for me is not no crystal staircase” states that life is not as easy as we imagine. “It has an umbrella nails in it, and fractions, and boards torn, and places with no carpet on the floor-Bare.” There told me that there are many obstacles in life in this world. Had so many experiences that he can get, then that experience is retold to their children, how hard life in this world because he wanted his son to be ready to face life. “But all the time I’se a-climbin ‘, and reachin’ landin’s, and angles, and sometimes going ‘turnin in the dark, where there’s never any light”. The mother continues to try, so he was able to get through all the challenges, “So, boy, you do not come back. Do not put ladder, Do not you fall now-For I’se still go in ‘, honey, I’se still climbin, “He kept wanting her to not be easily discouraged in any case. Since you find it hard friendly “According to the mother, the child’s life should be better than her life.
The author hopes that readers understand the content and intent of the content of the poem. Especially to every mother who cares for each son about life, so that every child does not easily give up in life experienced any problems, so that future children would be much better than his mother’s life.
The content of these poems to tell about the life journey of a mother who is very heavy. Thus, the author uses connotation to give a realistic sense of poetry. The author uses “crystal ladder ‘to say that life is not wonderful mother. Then, the authors use the’ spikes ‘,’ fragments ‘which means something that can cause pain in our lives. To represent the damage in life, the authors use the’ Board to torn. I then used ‘no carpet on the floor’ and ‘Bare’ implies coldness and loneliness. To represent the struggle of life, the author uses ‘I’se a-climbin’ on ‘.’ Reachin ‘the landin’ means to achieve goals in life; ‘means turnin’ corners ‘try something new;’ dark ‘can represent barriers;’ no light ‘is unexplored;’ do not you turn your back ‘means do not run away from life, and’ put on the ladder “to indicate not give up .
The use of imagery in poetry. There are several images in the poem: kinesthetic, visual, and tactile. ‘Submit’, ‘climbin”,”’ reachin ‘landin”,’ go” is a kinesthetic image that includes a sense of movement. ‘Dark’, ‘no light’, and ‘crystal ladder’ is a visual image. ‘Nail umbrella’, ‘chips’, and ‘board’ is a tactile image.
The poem tells all the listener/reader about words from mom to her son. The words is containing all the motivation for her son to struggle and not easy to give in every part in our life. The poet communicates with using mother and son in communicating this. It express the mother does not want her son be a quitter although life is not easy to be faced.
The poet tells that life is not easy by using “Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair”. No crystal stair shows that life is not easy. The other words emphasize that life is not easy such as “tacks” “splinters” “boards” “places with no carpet”. But, the poem tells that people have to struggle in life. No matter how big is your problem, just face it your own. “reachin” “climbin” “turnin” “goin in the dark” show that struggle is the way to face the life which is not easy. People have to be optimistic. The poems tell all the reader/listener to struggle no matter how often you fail.
The poem wants show to all the reader/listener how mother’s love to her son. There is no mother in the world that wants her son be a loser. This is a form of mother’s love to her son. The mother tells her son to be strong in fighting his life. Life is not easy. But we have to take it easy. There is always a big burden in our life. But we have to be stronger than the burden. That’s how life becomes so fantastic.
*something miss sir
the poem imagine in Kinesthetic, visual, and tactile imagery.
Mother to Son describes a mother’s love to her son. From the title we can know that this poem is a message from mother to her son. Langston Hughes wants to share about what an endearing and loving scene between a hard working mother and her son in black people. The mother told her son that this life has not been beautiful, transparent or easy for the mother. There was too much hazard, damage, obstacle and hardship that can cause pain in life. Word bare shows she sometimes can be isolated and feel loneliness. But all the time, I’se been a-climbin’ on, And reachin’ landin’s, And turnin’ corners shows about consistency and endurance in life. Even though life is not easy but the mother always try to achieve goals and triumph. Moreover, she has done it in courage and faith. The mother was a model for her son. She advised her son not to get weak easily, because she has passed and she never stopped to try. She also asked her son not to run away from life and not to give up although life is really hard. by reading this poem, we all need to get up off the steps and persevere. The struggles we face today are minute, and minimal compared to the struggles our ancestors made.
This poem has so many connotations in each word to make meaningful, so reader can grasp the meaning of it. Crystal stairs means beautiful, transparent or easy. Tacks and splinters mean hazard in life. The torn up board means damage, obstacle and hardship in life. Bare means being loneliness. A-climbin’ on means consistency and endurance. Turnin’ corners mean trying new things. Going in the dark means courage and faith. No light means unexplored and foreign territory. Turn back means run away. Set down in the steps mean give up. Fall means get weak.
This poem has also some imagery to make it beautiful to read. Crystal stair, tacks, boards, no carpet on the floor, the dark, and no light – all appeal to sense of sight (visual image). Torn up, I’se been a-climbin’ on, and reachin’ landin’s, and turnin’ corner, and sometimes goin’ in the dark, don’t you turn back, set down on the steps, don’t you fall, I’se still goin’, and I’se still climbing – all appeal to kinesthetic imagery.
Huges’ poem “Mother to Son” is talking about a mother who is tell about life to her son this poet tells that do not give up in life. It also tell about It tells about a mother who had struggled and still struggling in life. Although so many challenge in life but we have to be strong. The poet manages to assemble up the image of a mother lovingly.
Then in this poem the mother gives motivation to her son to prepare himself to face the life. There are so many obstacles but he does not think to give it up. It also emphasize regarding the struggle for life that the one will experience but still have the strength to face it and the mother takes care of his son.
From this poem the poet wants to the reader know that every mother always cares about her children. Mother always advices her children about many things. Maybe it sounds bored for the children, but above all, the mother really cares for her children’s future.
There are so many imageries that connect with the use of connotations. The use of “crystal stair”, “tacks”, “splinters”, “boards torn up”, “places with no carpet on the floor” and also “goin’ in the dark”, “ain’t been no light” are all visual imageries that bear connotative meanings. “Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair” means that the life of the mother had not been an easy or simply beautiful one like a crystal stair. The dictions of “tacks”, “splinters”, “boards torn up”, “places with no carpet on the floor” were chosen carefully so that the reader grasp the sense of them as a connotation of obstacles for all of those words represent errors or something broken or wrong. As for “goin’ in the dark”, Hughes connotatively plays with our sense that darkness may be seen as a hopeless situation, lost and even a scary one.
In conclusion, Langston Hughes’ moving poem “Mother to Son” empowers not only the son, but also the reader with precious words of wisdom. Through the skillful use of literary devices such as informal language, symbolism, metaphors, and repetition, Hughes manages to create the image of a mother lovingly, yet firmly, talking to her son about life. The advice is simple but pertinent to the poetic theme: in order to overcome the hurdles of life, a person must possess courage and determination.
This poem tells the story of a mother who gives advice to his son about life is always full of obstacles and challenges. The mother said that life does not always run smoothly, and often the mother is having a hard-mas. It is readily apparent in describing the poem “to me Is not no crystal staircase”. This poem describes a process that is passed by this mother.
And Splinters,
And boards torn,
And places with no carpet on the floor
Bare (2,3,4,5). The mother delivered what he experienced keapada son. That in life, we will often encounter’s hard and painful times. But his mother said that life is full of obstacles and the process is painful. However, this r \ should not make us give up in despair taupun to live his life. Instead he must continue to strive to be mengalahakan challenges in his life. As written in this poem: Do not you fall now-
For I’se still goin ‘, honey,
I’se still climbin ‘,
Through these words the mother advises her son. That her son was a strong boy in menghadpi many challenges in his life. “And Sometimes go in ‘in the dark”, “Where there Is not been no light” “Climbin on”, “Do not turn back” and “set down” for instance, “. Which means darkness That describes a future That has not been clear and definite. However, signaled to survive, continue to move forward and do not easily give up.
Through short poems full of meaning as this can make the reader understand what the author has to say to the reader. readers can also see and understand what the poem, each line of the poem can be thought of as meaning such as “And Splinters,
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor “. Each stanza in the poem can make the reader to imagine the circumstances that happened in the poem.
There are some connotative words used in the poem “mother to son” is not no crystal staircase means that life does not always go smoothly, but we have to pass through and must not give up any situation.
Mother to Son, this poem tells us about mother who give some advises to her son in order to motivated him not to give up easily. Life is not easy, not as we have imagined, in this life we have to face any problems, but don’t ever give up because the problem has certain the solve. A mother who has a bitter experience in her life, she felt like a lot of tacks in it, splinters, boards torn up, and places with no carpet on the floor. so because of her experience in life, she didn’t want that her son experiences like her.
There are some detailed meanings I found in the poem. as though, Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair, It’s had tacks in it, and splinters, and boards torn up, and places with no carpet on the floor, bare, this poem tells the reader that life is not easy. But all the time I’se been a-climbin’ on, and reachin’ landin’s, and turnin’ corners,
and sometimes goin’ in the dark, where there ain’t been no light. It means that we don’t ever give up to face the problems, we must struggle to solve them. So, boy, don’t you turn back, don’t you set down on the steps, cause you finds it’s kinder hard, don’t you fall now, for I’se still goin’, honey, I’se still climbin’, and life for me ain’t been no crystal stair. It shows that the mother give some advises to her son in order to motivate him.
Moreover in the intention poet want to tells the reader that many problems in this life, but in this poem he also wants the reader not to give up, because there are many ways to solve them.
Then, I found some conotations. Such as, “the crystal stair” it means there is the happiness in life when we can achieve it. “Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair”, “It’s had tacks in it” and splinters”, “and boards torn up”, “and places with no carpet on the floor”, “bare” Its shows that many kind of obstacle in this life. “Don’t you set down on the steps” It shows the spirit of mother to support her son.
In Mother to son, Langston tells about how it shows the hardship of many women ago but over all it shows us that we can never give up because there are always people all over the world that suffer more than we do and that they have gone through harder times than us, giving us no reason to surrender in our struggle or fight.
From this poems, Langston Hughes wants to tell us how poor the black people life. How tough life has been for the mother but it hasn’t dimmed her spirits. Life as an ascent up a staircase we must hard to climb for the one that we want achieved.
In this poem, Langston gives many metaphors about life. Starting from the “no crystal stair” (Line 2) , this metaphor is to comparison her life (mother) with the crystal look. Her life is not beautiful as the crystal look. “It’s had tacks in it. And splinters. And boards torn up. And places with no carpet on the floor”(Lines 3-6). Hughes puts an emphasis on how difficult life has been for the mother. The tacks, the splinters, the torn up boards, all are used to relate the hardships of the mother’s life to the hardships of climbing up battered stairs. The mother doesn’t want her son to avoid this staircase, this life. She wants him to forge onward and upward. He uses the word “Bare” (Line 7) on a line by itself to emphasize the word’s symbolic meaning of alone. Another metahpores are “So boy, don’t you turn back. Don’t you set down on the steps.`Cause you finds it’s kinder hard. Don’t you fall now”(Lines 14-17) show us that the mother want her son don’t give up whatever happened.
There are many connotations in this poem, because the writer wants to show us with a dramatic language, such as: “No crystal stair” : life has not been beautiful for the mother. “It had tacks in it /and splinters”: tacks and splinters are hazards that can cause pain. “Boards torn up”: the torn up boards represent damage, obstacles, and hardships in life. “Places with no carpet on the floor / Bare”: these creates the image of being cold, naked and isolated. It creates a mood of loneliness. “I’se been a-climbin’ on”: these two lines push the idea of consistency and endurance in life. “Reachin’ landin’s”: this represents achieving goals in life. “Turnin’ corners”: new things. “Don’t you set down on the steps”: don’t give up. “I’se still goin’, honey / I’se still climbin'”: she is showing her son it can be done and she is the example.
In this poems, there are two imagery such as visual image and kinesthetic imagery.
For visual image there are some phrases like; no crystal stair, no carpet on the floor, in the dark, no light. And kinesthetic imagery on the poems are climbin’ on, reachin’ landin’s, turnin’ corners, turn back, set down on the steps, fall now, still climbin’.
Through his poem, Mother to Son, Langston Hughes wants to share about mother’s love and caring for her son. She wants her son to be strong when as she has done in her own life. She has through many obstacles in her life that sometimes could make her give up but she chose to survive so she could see her son lives his life.
She said to her son that “Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair” which means life is not something easy to go through. The next four lines explains that there are many obstacles in life (It’s had tacks in it, And splinters, And boards torn up, And places with no carpet on the floor—). Although life always bring obstacles, she chose to survive no matter how and where life will take her (I’se been a-climbin’ on, And reachin’ landin’s, And turnin’ corners, And sometimes goin’ in the dark, Where there ain’t been no light).
The main point of this poem is when the mother said in the last seven lines. She ask his son to survive, to continue his life although the obstacles always follow him wherever he goes because his mother, herself, does the same.
There is no doubt that Hughes is a great poet. We can see it from his way in writing this poem. He applies many theory of writing poem. The author uses many connotation words in his poem. The first connotation word is shown on the second line, crystal stairs, to indicate a way that can bring us the higher level (stairs) in our life with a beautiful way like crystal, (no obstacles include the process). The next are tacks(l.3) splinters (l.4), boards torn up (l.5), which can be interpreted as obstacles that we are going through in life. The words corners (l.11) and dark (l.12) are also another way that author use to present a condition when life begins to be worst, there is no way, we just found corner as we know corner is stuck at one point in the middle, and dark is a condition when we don’t know what to do. The word light (l.13) refers to hope. Then, the word, fall means give up (l.17). The last connotation that he use is climbing (l.19) that has a meaning still try to do something in order to survive.
Besides connotation, he also put imagery to make the reader can feel what he want to transfer through his poem. He uses the words such as “crystal stair”, “carpet on the floor”, “in the dark”, and “no light” to lead the reader as if they could see those things as visual imagery. Not only that, but he also brings some words like “I’se been a-climbin’ on” , “reachin’ landin’s” , ” turnin’ corners” , “set down on the steps” , “Don’t you fall” , and “I’se still climbin’” to make the reader could feel the sense of movement through kinesthetic imagery.
in conclusion, Hughes, the author of this poem want to tell the reader to be brave to face the life. Life will not be easy, it always bring problems for us. Like a competition, everyone wants to be a winner. He hopes we can win the life if we want to survive no matter how hard the life is.
In the poem the author tells readers about a mother who advised her to struggle in later life. Because the mother who has gone through a very hard life, and he was able to survive, so he had to make sure his son to keep trying hard in life.
The poem is a metaphor that describes how the life of the mother during the course of his life hard. “Life for me is not no crystal staircase” states that life is not as easy as we imagine. “It has an umbrella nails in it, and fractions, and boards torn, and places with no carpet on the floor-Bare.” There told me that there are many obstacles in life in this world. Had so many experiences that he can get, then that experience is retold to their children, how hard life in this world because he wanted his son to be ready to face life. “But all the time I’se a-climbin ‘, and reachin’ landin’s, and angles, and sometimes going ‘turnin in the dark, where there’s never any light”. The mother continues to try, so he was able to get through all the challenges, “So, boy, you do not come back. Do not put ladder, Do not you fall now-For I’se still go in ‘, honey, I’se still climbin, “He kept wanting her to not be easily discouraged in any case. Since you find it hard friendly “According to the mother, the child’s life should be better than her life.
The author hopes that readers understand the content and intent of the content of the poem. Especially to every mother who cares for each son about life, so that every child does not easily give up in life experienced any problems, so that future children would be much better than his mother’s life.
The content of these poems to tell about the life journey of a mother who is very heavy. Thus, the author uses connotation to give a realistic sense of poetry. The author uses “crystal ladder ‘to say that life is not wonderful mother. Then, the authors use the’ spikes ‘,’ fragments ‘which means something that can cause pain in our lives. To represent the damage in life, the authors use the’ Board to torn. I then used ‘no carpet on the floor’ and ‘Bare’ implies coldness and loneliness. To represent the struggle of life, the author uses ‘I’se a-climbin’ on ‘.’ Reachin ‘the landin’ means to achieve goals in life; ‘means turnin’ corners ‘try something new;’ dark ‘can represent barriers;’ no light ‘is unexplored;’ do not you turn your back ‘means do not run away from life, and’ put on the ladder “to indicate not give up .
The speaker of “Mother to Son” by Langston Hughes is teaching her son a life lesson about not giving up. She wants to ensure he has a better life then she had so she tells him about how hard life can be at certain times. It is easier to give up then to persevere and succeed with a task. The theme of persevering despite adversity is significant because it is harder to succeed after you have given up. In this poem, the speaker tells her son about her life and tries to inspire him to try harder in his life even if life becomes difficult. The speaker in the poem, the mother, tells her son, “Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair” (2). She is express to her son and the audience of the poem that life is difficult and is not easy at certain points. “It’s had tacks in it, and splinters, and boards torn up…” (3-5). Life presents you with obstacles and impediments can stand in your way, but you must get past them. The speaker tries to convey this message to her son because she wants him to prepared and ready for the challenges he may soon face in his life. The speaker might be worried or afraid of the choices her son might make, so she is informing him on how to deal with the adversity of living your life. She may have experienced similar incidents so she is warning her son about what could happen..
“So, boy, don’t you turn back” (14). The speaker here is conveying an important message to her son. She is explaining that if you turn back, or give up on what you are trying to accomplish, it is hard to succeed at that task. The speaker wanted to insure her son would stand out and have the courage to fight what he believes in instead of letting the world tell him how things were supposed to work. The author has experienced some of the feelings he describes in this poem, which gives the poem some historical importance to him. The speaker intention in this poet is to give a light of effort for everyone that never give up to reached their dream and keep their faith that a success will come for everyone that wants to grab it. Although there is so many handicaps that will be across, it will never make that dream would fade away. To be successful, perseverance is a crucial factor in how your life unfolds.
The “crystal stair” is one of connotation that the speaker use to figure that a successful story that we want to built is like a ladder that made of crystal that will always looks courageous like a crystal. Likewise, the speaker uses the symbols of “landin’s” and “corners” to symbolize moments of success or goals that are trying to be met. The speaker met these goals despite the obstacles she faced which leads back to the theme of the poem. They represent the speaker’s effort and determination leading to a culmination of a goal. Landings on a staircase are flat places, or even the top of the staircase, which represent an achievement. Corners represent turning points that can make a positive impact on life. The achievements and positive turning points are described after the examples of obstacles in the poem because you must overcome the obstacles in order to attain the goal or achievement.
Moreover, the use of imagery is also can be found to influences the readers and allows them to vividly describe the poem’s passages. It should appeal to all senses and make it pleasurable to the reader. In Langston Hughes’ poem “Mother To Son” , imagery is found by expressing a mother’s life with struggles and obstacles, and the determination to overcome them. There are two imageries that can be found in this poem. The first is visual imagery which represented by the word such as crystal stair, dark, and no light. Second, the kinesthetic imagery is figured within a words like reachin`, landin`s, turnin`, and fall. All those imageries has made this poem is more meaningful and clearly full of messages that the poet wants to share. Even thought the poem is serves with an anomaly language ,it still has a deeply meaning that life that we through is must be full of trials we just have to built our perseverance and believe that all dreams that we had is always can be reached.
The poetry from Langston Hughes above, tell us about a mother which is given message to his child about how to face the difficult problem in our life. The message which her given to his children is about never surrender for every problem in your life. Moreover we can see obviously the detailed meaning from this poetry is, life not always easy and sometimes it is very difficult to passed. There was nothing comfortable place in our life. Sometimes our life at the top, but sometimes also falls to the ground. Until we get a very difficult situation, which is no one people can help us to find solution for your problem in your lives. Thus don’t surrender to face every problem in your life. We must be optimistic and daring to find solutions for all problem in our life. Therefore the intention from the author’s through this poem is giving spirit and optimistic spirit to the reader for finding solution of every problem we face in our life. There are many problems in life, but we must be optimistic to face it. The author also give us message which contain never surrender to against the problems in our life. With spirit and brave heart, we would be able to pass all the problems in our life. Furthermore we can found connotation from this poem. Some of connotation are “crystal stair” tell us about the way of life which is very hard to be passed. “Tacks”, “splinters”, and “boards torn up” show us the problems and obstacles in our life. “Places with no carpet on the floor” also said there are nothing easy in life.“reach land” and “turnin corners” means the way of life always complicated. “Climbin” means the spirit of life to pursuit the happiness. According to me, there are eleven images in this poem. There are climb, reachin land, turnin’ corners, set down, and finds are kinesthetic imagery. And the other are crystal stair, tacks, splinters, boards torn up, carpet on the floor, and dark are visual imagery.
Mother to Son
“Mother to son ” general meaning of the poem above is describing about a mother who tells her life experiences and indirectly provide some moral message about living life to their children. Live a life where that was not an easy thing, because a lot of obstacles and temptations that must be so greatly need at going through with the fight and passion to keep moving forward. the mother wanted to make sure that his son could one day be a better approach for cloning in its self. Detailed meaning of the poem is that life is not as easy and as beautiful as we imagine it will be many challenges to be we are going through.
There are some of the moral message of the poem is as follows: “Life for me Is not been no crystal stair.” “It’s had Tacks in it,”, “And Splinters”, “And boards torn up”,” And places with no carpet on the floor “which means life is not always easy, sometimes we fall and will be a lot of obstacles, trials and the temptation to go through later on. For Mom’s shape and teach their children how to get up again later in the fall and that her children do not easily give up and despair,”But all the time “. “I’se been a-climbin ‘on’, but must keep moving forward and looking to the future better. “And reachin ‘landin’s”,’ And turnin ‘corners’,” And Sometimes go in’ in the dark “,” Where there Is not been no light “” Climbin on “,” Do not turn back “and” set down “for instance,”. Which means darkness that describes a future that has not been clear and definite. However, signaled to survive, continue to move forward and do not easily give up.
Furthermore , the poet’s intention is to provide a moral message to everyone to never look back but to keep looking forward, to never stuck with a problem – the problem is there but to be enthusiastic and confident that every problem is certainly no solution.
So this poem is a poem that was in there a lot of motivation to encourage readers to be more zealous in living life day to day
I think The poem uses imagery kinesthetic, visual, and tactile. ‘tell’, ‘climbin’’, ‘reachin’’, ‘landin’’, ‘goin’’ are kinesthetic imagery which include sense of movement. ‘dark’, ‘no light’, and ‘crystal stair’ are visual imagery. ‘tacks’, ‘splinters’, and ‘boards’ are tactile imagery.
Thank you Sir..
This poem describes about a mother who gives advice to his son about life is always filled with obstacles and challenges. The mother said that life is not always smooth sailing and sometimes bitter as it says on the poem “Life for me Is not been no crystal stair.
It’s had Tacks in it,
And Splinters,
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor
Bare (2,3,4,5). The mother said that sometimes life has a sharp gravel and not always good to faces. But his mother said that life is indeed full of obstacles, but that does not mean we should lose the challenge, but we have to stand the storms and faces it, mother told her son how to be strong man in the face of all adversity. as stated in the poem above”‘Cause you finds it’s hard Kinder.
Do not you fall now-
For I’se still goin ‘, honey,
I’se still climbin (14-18) through the mother’s sentence was confirmed to his son to become a strong boy, who will hold a variety of hammered from the outside, that can stand on its own feet in the face of all odds, life is not easy, then he must brave to deal with .
Through these short poems can describe a meaning that can be absorbed by the reader, the reader also can understand and comprehend what is the content of the poem, each line of the poem can be imagined to be a meaning such as “no carpet on the floor, dark, no light-all appeal to visual imagery and Convey. This poem can invite the reader are able to imagine about every line of the poem
There are some connotative words used in Langston Mother to Son are Such as “crystal stair” talk about something good, and no crystal stair means that life is not always running smoothly, but we must pass through. Tacks “,” Splinter “,” boards torn up “,” places with no carpet “,” Bar “talk about the obstacles or difficulties in life. And “climbing” on something that can be used as a spirit, strong, and not give up on everything
Poem “Mother to son by Langston Hughes” describes the meaning of how a mother facing a life that is not easy, and gives us a lesson about the meaning of a life. As we know that life in this world is not as easy as back your hand. This poem tells the story of the mother who has a way of living a long and winding. Therefore, in this poem the mother wanted to convey a message to his son that life is a struggle.
This poem is about how a mother motivates her to live a life. The main plot of the poem was a mother to give a small advice to his son. Like this “Well, son, I’ll tell you,
Life for me Is not been no crystal stair”.
Here is described how “The mother” to explain to the child severe pain and the struggle for life. But most of the metaphors used to describe the struggle of the mother. Throughout the poem tells of a mother who tries to convince his son to never give up on life because not only he who has or has trouble finding himself. The mother wanted their child future is not easy to give up, on anything or anyone.
Each line in the poem contains some picture of a mother’s loving, yet firm, spoke with his son about life. for example “there is no crystal staircase”, “where no carpet on the floor”, in “the dark”, “no light” , “I’se still climbin” not-all appeal to our sense of sight and convey not only the shape but also color and motion. a-climbin ‘on, ‘turnin’ corners, again, set on top, hard-friendly appeal to the imagery that potrayed kinesthetic sense of movement and feeling kind of feeling. It also emphasizes on the struggle of life a person will experience but still has the power to deal with day in and day out. Here the mother wanted to mentally prepare the child for life.
Choice of words are simple and rich visual imagery that produces a sense of meaning connotations. There are words connotative so much in the poem. “Life for me Is not been no crystal stair”, “boards torn up”, “places with no carpet on the floor”, “goin ‘in the dark”, “Where there Is not been no light”. Langston choose words and arrange it so beautiful that the readers can be dissolved in the mother feelings. Langston also want the audience to use imagery to feel and understand what the mother said the whole poem. The sentence on lines 14 through 18 explain that a mother was giving advice to his son to not give up in facing life.
In poetry there are elements such as visual imagery = dark word in life there is darkness, tactile image = hard life, and kinesthetic imagery = describe the feelings of a mother for the problems that occurred in his life, no torn board, there was no carpet on the floor, this illustrates that suffering – the suffering experienced by a mother during her lifetime. My opinion of this poem we can learn how to appreciate
and enjoy life as well as possible.
In the poem that title “Mother to Son” is generally tells that life is difficult and hard, but we should not hopeless. We must be spirit.
The Intention that is conveyed the author through this poem, he reveals just how difficult this life but our spirit should not be extinguished. Mother always motivate his son to follow in his footsteps. We are brave to face risks and don’t afraid anything happening. In the poem “ Mother to Son” Langston Hughes shows love and concern of a mother to her son by the wisdom he taught him by example from his own life, life like climbing stairs. For climbing a ladder is not easy, full of stumbling blocks, but we must be continue to climb, We can not go back, or sit down, because one would catch a break, turn, landed, and kept walking. Just like life, it is difficult,it has many challenges, but we must be continue to live it. We can not stop it because life must go on.
In the poem “Mother to Son” there are some connotation phrases like “Well, son, I’ll tell you
Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.” (Lines 1-2). The mother, who is talking to her son, is saying life is not just something you can walk through with ease. The mother, who speak with her son, saying life is not just something you can walk through easily. It is a long and hard journey. It was a long and hard. This poem is based on the metaphor of the whole. “It’s had Tacks in it, / And Splinters, / And boards torn up, / And places with no carpet on the floor-,” (Lines 3-6). “It had tacks in it. Hughes puts an emphasis on how difficult, life has been for the mother. Hughes puts the emphasis on how difficult life was for the mother. The Tacks, the Splinters, the boards torn up, all are used to relate the hardships of the mother’s life to the hardships of climbing up stairs Battered. Tacks, splinters, the board is a mess, all the difficulties of life are used to connect the mother to the difficulties of climbing the ladder and blue. The mother does not want her son to avoid this staircase, this life. She wants him to forge onward and upward. “So boy, do not you turn back. / Do not you set down on the steps / Cause you finds it’s hard Kinder. / Do not you fall now-” (Lines 14-17). “So son, do not you come back / Do not be put on the stairs /` Because you find it’s kinder hard .
Moreover, this poem is supported of imagery . That is kinesthetic imagery and visual imagery. “tell”,”climb”, “goin’ in the dark”, “turn back”, “set down “,fall “ are kinesthetic imagery.
“crystal stair”, “tacks”, “splinters”, “torn”, “places”, “carpet”, “peace”, “corners”, “son”, “honey” are visual imagery.
In conclusion, Langston Hughes’ poem “Mother to Son” says not only the son, but also the reader with precious words of wisdom. Through the skillful use of literary devices such as informal language, symbolism, metaphors, repetition, as well as clever use of format, Hughes manages to muster up the image of a mother lovingly, yet firmly, talking to her son about life. The advice is simple but pertinent to the poetic theme, a person must possess courage and determination.
General meaning of the “Mother to Son “ is about a mother takes care of his son
Connotations: “Tacks” connotation: a sharp object, “Light” rays connotation, “Nice” the connotation of something feeling. Image analysis: Dark: visual imagery, Tacks: visual image, Kind: image kinesthetic, carpet: tactile pictures.
A poem which the reader should see, touch, smell, hear, and feel in order to understand the meaning. Every line in the poem contains some image: no carpet on the floor, dark, no light-all appeal to visual imagery and convey not only color but also motion. climbin’ on, reachin’ landin’s, turnin’ corners, goin’ in the dark, turn back, set down on the step, fall, I’se still goin appeal to kinesthetic imagery.
The Mother to Son poem is a mystical poem filled with hidden message that conveys that life is hard but never give up. This poem featured the mother to son relationship that gratifies the hate and misfortune of a mother. A mother’s point of view to her son that she overlooks as a challenging role as a mother. Speaker, extended metaphor, imagery, and sound built the mother’s despair status and with colloquial format it made us imagine a fact situation that will brought us in wander.
This poem tells about mother’s love and her concern to her son. It empowers not only the son, but also the reader with precious word of wisdom. It also demonstrates the love and concern a mother has for. The mother wants her son to know that don’t give up with your live. You have to working toward by taking life one step and a time even if they are full of tacks and splinters.
She wants to tell her son that life is not easy. You have to step carefully when you through the obstacles of your life. No matter how difficult your life, how many obstacles you have. You have to be a strong boy. It is depicted so obvious in “But all the time I’se been a-climbin’ on, and reachin’ landin’s, and turnin’ corners, and sometimes goin’ in the dark where there ain’t been no light. So, boy, don’t you turn back”. It means climbing the stairway to heaven and the path to heaven is not always and easy journey. Every mother wants to see her child succeed in life. Maybe she spends her parenthood encouraging her off spring to follow in her footstep, take risks and not to be afraid.
Through this poem wants to give us advices that there is no glamour and magnificence in her life. Not only that, she also had obstacles in her life that she has had to overcome. The mother simply is describing to her son what her life has been like. Some advices of that poem such as, life is hard, full of stumbling blocks, but one must keep climbing, one cannot turn back or sit down, because one will catch a break, a turn, a landing, and keep going.
There are many connotations in that poem such as, “crystal stair” means glamour and magnificence life, “tacks” means the sharpness and discomfort of life’s obstacles, “splinters” means inflammatory pain and the difficulties in removing and overcoming this pain in life. “bare” means aloneness, “board torn up and place with no carpet on the floor” mean the obstacles in life that she has to overcome.
I found some words which use visual imagery such as crystal stair, tacks, splinters, board, place, carpet, floor, corner, dark, light. I also found kinesthetic imagery there, such as, climbin’ on, bare, reachin’ landin’s, turnin’ corner, turnin’ corners, set down on the step, turn back, fall, goin’,
The poem indicates that we all have both a problem and hardship in our life even though we do, we have to keep going on and never give up to face this life. The writer demonstrates the love and concern the mother has for her son by the wisdom words. She gives an advice about the live that will be challenging and never think about giving it up although it would be either full of the harsh obstacles or problems. Moreover, the poet tells about the struggle for life that must be faced. Then, it also shows that the mother gives motivation to the son, so that the son will somehow be prepared to face his life. But actually this poet is not only for a mother to a son but also everyone who reads this poet. The writer wants to give an advice with the precious words through this poet. Besides, there are some repetition because the writer emphasizes the meaning itself. And the using of the informal language in order that can be understood easily of familiar to our daily conversation.
Furthermore there are some connotations in this poet.
Firstly, Life aint’t crystal staircase. It means life isn’t easy to be faced.
Secondly, Dont you set down on the steps. Cause you find it’s kinder hard. It means that teaching a life lesson abou not giving up.
Thirdly, It’s had tacks in it, and splinter, and boards torn up. It means on life there are obstacles or impediments, past is just past never regret it. Cause life must go on, never look back.
And the last, So, boy, don’t you turn back. It tells us if we’re turn back (give up) on what we’re trying to accomplish, it would be hard to be success on life.
This works is a poem which reader should see, touch, smell, hear, and feel in order to understand the meaning. Some of words in poet contain some images: crystal stair, tacks in it and slinter, boards torn up, no carpet on the floor ― bare.
All of them appeals to our sense of feel. From this poem we can feel how harsh this life.
general meaning mother son : Langston Hughes’ poem, “Mother to Son” resemble to the well-known expression “let’s have a father to son chat”. However, in this case, the saying is altered to “mother to son”. Poetic devices such as informal language, symbolism, metaphors and repetition were used in this poem. This poem is written from the mother’s point of view in the advice form so the audience could feels the warmth and approachability of southern dialect. Readers will immediately have an impression of a middle-aged women battered by life’s struggles, with no formal education but plenty of life experiences to share with the son.Informal language is cleverly used to visually portray a truthful motherly figure that has valuable advice to offer. The persona of the poem is an African-American showed by the dialect used with the missing ‘g’ such as in “climbin’, turning’ ” etceteras.
Detailed meaning : Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair- Life has not been beautiful, transparent, or easy for the mother. It hasn’t been an easy climb.
It’s had tacks in it, / And splinters,- Tacks and splinters are hazards that can cause pain, just like hazards in life. And boards torn up, – The torn up boards represent damage, obstacles, and hardships in life. And places with no carpet on the floor – / Bare.- This creates the image of being cold, naked and isolated. It creates a mood of loneliness. But all the time / I’se been a-climbin’ on- These two lines push the idea of consistency and endurance in life. And reachin’ landin’s- This represents achieving goals in life. The landing is a point of triumph. And turnin’ corners, -Turning corners means trying new things. And sometimes goin’ in the dark -Going in the dark can represent courage and faith. Where there ain’t been no light.-No light represents unexplored and foreign territory. So, boy, don’t you turn back.-Don’t run away from life. Don’t you set down on the steps.-Don’t give up. Cause you finds it’s kinder hard.- Because it is hard. Don’t you fall now – Don’t get weak.
For I’se still goin’, honey, / I’se still climbin’- She is showing her son it can be done and she is the example. And life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.- It wasn’t easy for the mother either.
Langston Hughes “Mother to Son” empowers not only the son, but also the reader with precious words of wisdom. Through the skillful use of literary devices such as informal language, symbolism, metaphors, and repetition, Hughes manages to create the image of a mother lovingly, yet firmly, talking to her son about life. The advice is simple but pertinent to the poetic theme: in order to overcome the hurdles of life, a person must possess courage and determination.
Hughes’s Mother to Son tells the reader about a mother that advices her son to struggle in his life. The mother has gone through the hard life, and she is able to survive, so she ensures her son to keep trying hard in his life.
The words in the poem are metaphor which the author tries to portray how the mother’s hard life with a hard road. “Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair” express that life is as not as easy we can imagine. “It’s had tacks in it, and splinters, and boards torn up, and places with no carpet on the floor—Bare”. They imply that there are many obstacles in the life. She tells her son about how hard the life is because she has experienced it. She thinks that her son maybe will experience it. She wants her son to be ready to face the life. “But all the time I’se been a-climbin’ on, and reachin’ landin’s, and turnin’ corners, and sometimes goin’ in the dark, where there ain’t been no light”. The mother keeps trying, so she is able to pass the obstacle. “So, boy, don’t you turn back. Don’t you set down on the steps. . . . Don’t you fall now—For I’se still goin’, honey, I’se still climbin’,” She wants her son not to give up. ‘Cause you finds it’s kinder hard” According to the mother, the son’s life is better than hers.
Through this poem, the author wants the readers to understand that every mother always cares about her children. Mother always advices her children about many things. Maybe it sounds bored for the children, but above all, the mother really cares for her children’s future.
In this poem, the author wants to portray the journey of the mother’s life. Thus, the author uses connotation to give the poem a realistic meaning. The author uses ‘crystal stair’ to say that the mother life has not been beautiful. Then, the author uses ‘tacks’, ‘splinters’ which means something that can cause pain. To represent the damage in life, the author uses ‘The torn up boards’. The author then uses ‘no carpet on the floor’ and ‘Bare’ to imply coldness and loneliness. To represent struggle in life, the author uses ‘I’se been a-climbin’ on’. ‘reachin’ landin’s’ means achieving the goals in life; ‘turnin’ corners’ means trying something new; ‘dark’ can represent obstacles; ‘no light’ represents unexplored; ‘don’t you turn back’ means not to run away from life; and ‘set down on the steps’ to state not to give up.
The poem, definitely, uses imagery. There are three imageries in the poem: kinesthetic, visual, and tactile. ‘tell’, ‘climbin’’, ‘reachin’’, ‘landin’’, ‘goin’’ are kinesthetic imagery which include sense of movement. ‘dark’, ‘no light’, and ‘crystal stair’ are visual imagery. ‘tacks’, ‘splinters’, and ‘boards’ are tactile imagery.
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General meaning of the “Mother to Son “ by Langston Hughes
poem is brings some moral message for us. That life is worth
to struggle, there is no desperation in life. what she had
been gone through life and that it had not been an easy
one. Using descriptive tone, she said that he too would have
to face and conquer obstacles in his life. this poem the
mother giving advice and motivation to their children. In
order for children to live a life of his spirit, and also did
not give up on life’s challenges. Because life is not easy,
should have the determination and spirit to be able to
achieve a better life. As for “goin’ in the dark”, Hughes
connotatively plays with our sense that darkness may be
seen as a hopeless situation, lost and even a scary one. This
connects with “ain’t been no light” where we may see it as a
situation where there was no way out or solution. Moreover,
“goin’ in the dark” may also portray kinesthetic imagery.
Other kinesthetic imageries are “a- climbin’ on”, “reachin’
landin’s”, “turnin’ corners”, “turn back”, “sets down on the
steps”, “fall”, and “climbin’”, “So, boy, don’t you turn
back” (line 14), “Don’t you set down on the steps” (line 15)
and “Don’t you fall now” (line 17),
are all warnings that her son must not give up (turn back,
set down) or give in (fall) to the hardships. This poem also
shows about the love of a mother and a mother to her son’s
advice to always be strong and the spirit to live a life full of
challenges. The mother tells her son that life for me is not
no crystal staircase. The crystal staircase here is like a life
that went up. While Crystal’s own words describing a thing of
luxury, the glamorous and affluent life. which is placed with
no carpet on the floor –Bare. “This represents a suffering,
bitter story that she experienced during his lifetime. There
are many obstacles,
challenges and problems in his life. This poem also shows
about the love of a mother and a mother to her son’s advice
to always be strong and the spirit to live a life full of
challenges. Because the mother has been through periods of
darkness, where there is no light. Where she fell, but he
kept the spirit to climb, to get through these dark times,
when in reality, his life could not arrive at the crystal
staircase. In this poem, the mother tells her son that his
son should have a dream and also a strong effort. Because
of all this is a life process, which must be passed. This poem
describes some of the imagery. imageries chosen by Hughes
allow the interpretation of the mother persistence to
succeed through life by not giving up. In my opinion, these
imageries also made us understand and we can create visual
circumstances. However, the thing that caught my attention
is the use of broken English. It tells that the mother is not
well educated, and we need to keep going on and don’t give
up on life. determined and built like stairs, one step at a
time. in this poem I found two of imaging, namely the visual
and kinesthetic imagery. visual imagery as a crystal
staircase, tacks, splinters, torn board, places with no carpet
on the floor – Bare, a cliff, landing, go in the dark and no
light. However, the thing that caught my attention is the
use of broken English. It tells that the mother is not well
educated and we need to keep going on and don’t give up on
life.
This poem describes how her great love of a mother towards her child. This poem is great for young people, because young people can feel the love of a mother who her real. This poem tells that his struggle was not easy in this life. she’s ups and downs like the content of the poem “Life for me Is not been no crystal stair.
It’s had Tacks in it,
And Splinters,
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor-
Bare.
I read this poem about the struggle of a mother in the face of the struggle of life as told to her children.Lines 12-13 “And sometimes goin’ in the dark Where there ain’t been no light.” This tells of failure felt by the mother. because she was always felt there was no light in the darkness of the future life of the mother. mother was feeling desperate in her life. she was disappointed and sad about her life’s journey. mother was very lenient with her son and loved her children and a strong woman. mother didn’t want her children the same fate as her.
mother is always giving advice to her son in order to move on and never afraid to face her failure in later life. mother always told about her life in order to set an example that life is not easy. author wants the reader not to give up her life. because life will not be smooth as we want. and we should be proud of our mother. because he had fought for us her children.
In this poetry there are elements such as visual imagery. They are crystal stair, had tacks in it, splinters, boards torn up, no carpet on the floor, goin’ in the dark, and no light. And the other are the kinesthetic imagery. They are climbin’ on, reachin’ landin’s, turnin’ corners, turn back, set down on the steps, and still climbin.
General meaning of the “Mother to Son “ by Langston Hughes poem is brings some moral message for us. That life is worth to struggle, there is no desperation in life. what she had been gone through life and that it had not been an easy one. Using descriptive tone, she said that he too would have to face and conquer obstacles in his life. this poem the mother giving advice and motivation to their children. In order for children to live a life of his spirit, and also did not give up on life’s challenges. Because life is not easy, should have the determination and spirit to be able to achieve a better life. As for “goin’ in the dark”, Hughes connotatively plays with our sense that darkness may be seen as a hopeless situation, lost and even a scary one. This connects with “ain’t been no light” where we may see it as a situation where there was no way out or solution. Moreover, “goin’ in the dark” may also portray kinesthetic imagery. Other kinesthetic imageries are “a- climbin’ on”, “reachin’ landin’s”, “turnin’ corners”, “turn back”, “sets down on the steps”, “fall”, and “climbin’”, “So, boy, don’t you turn back” (line 14), “Don’t you set down on the steps” (line 15) and “Don’t you fall now” (line 17),
are all warnings that her son must not give up (turn back,
set down) or give in (fall) to the hardships. This poem also shows about the love of a mother and a mother to her son’s
advice to always be strong and the spirit to live a life full of challenges. The mother tells her son that life for me is not no crystal staircase. The crystal staircase here is like a life that went up. While Crystal’s own words describing a thing of luxury, the glamorous and affluent life. which is placed with no carpet on the floor –Bare. “This represents a suffering, bitter story that she experienced during his lifetime. There are many obstacles,
challenges and problems in his life. This poem also shows about the love of a mother and a mother to her son’s advice to always be strong and the spirit to live a life full of challenges. Because the mother has been through periods of darkness, where there is no light. Where she fell, but he kept the spirit to climb, to get through these dark times, when in reality, his life could not arrive at the crystal staircase. In this poem, the mother tells her son that his son should have a dream and also a strong effort. Because of all this is a life process, which must be passed. This poem describes some of the imagery. imageries chosen by Hughes allow the interpretation of the mother persistence to succeed through life by not giving up. In my opinion, these imageries also made us understand and we can create visual circumstances. However, the thing that caught my attention is the use of broken English. It tells that the mother is not well educated, and we need to keep going on and don’t give up on life. determined and built like stairs, one step at a time. in this poem I found two of imaging, namely the visual and kinesthetic imagery. visual imagery as a crystal staircase, tacks, splinters, torn board, places with no carpet on the floor – Bare, a cliff, landing, go in the dark and no light. However, the thing that caught my attention is the use of broken English. It tells that the mother is not well educated and we need to keep going on and don’t give up on life.
“Mother to Son” by Langston Hughes is a short 20 line poem that packs significant meaning in the short poem. Hughes uses the device of an older female speaker to give advice to a son from the next generation. “Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair” the poets strong metaphor that features and conveys the message of the poem, with its colloquial language it made the poem more realistic and more fascinating . A diverse organization of the poem make us wander and imagine the poor woman’s condition featured on the Mother To Son poem. Langston Hughes as the poet of the poem relate his life and experiences to this poem. On his early age, his life ain’t been no crystal stair, his parents divorced when he was a small child and left with his grandmother ’till he was thirteen. A son without a father nor a mother would be velar and challenging as a kid, Langston really pours his emotion and being to the poem making the poem more real-life and interesting. Using extended metaphor, imagery, sensory language and sound built the poem with mysteries, message, and meaning that bring us to a world of a poor woman dealing with a hard life.
From the beginning to the end you’ll meet a woman with despair and threadbare on her voice, stressing out to the readers of the poem saying, “Life ain’t been no crystal stair. It’s had tacks in it, and splinters, and boards torn up, and places with no carpet on the floor – bare.” Keen and compelling words made the speaker reach out to the reader of the poem, describing herself in pity and inadequate.The speaker of the poem has a real voice that interacts with the reader and leave us mystified and imagine her world dealing with problems and trials. A colloquial language was used relating to as a real life situation. A mother’s point of view to her own son, describing her perspective s in life as a mother.
The poet used extended metaphor to expound the meaning of the literary work and to impart the hidden message of the poem. The free verse poem cogitate the mother’s poor condition attributing her challenging life. “I’se been a-climbin’ on, and reachin’ landin’s, and turnin’ corners, and sometimes goin’ in the dark.” A quote from the poem that is parallelism, it creates the rhythm of the poem making it more significant and with sense. Various part of the poem has extended metaphor for instance the quote “Life ain’t been a crystal stair.” is a good example of extended metaphor, comparing to as life is hard but never give up. As a whole it conveys the message of the literary work that life is hard but never give up. The metaphors on the Mother to Son poem is one of the figure of speeches that built the poem with consequential words that brings the reader in wander and mystified with the mother’s uneasy condition.
The poem will not be meaningful without imagery and sound the intention of the poet is to reveal the message of the free verse poem and stating the life of the mother’s inadequate condition. Imagery made it more effective to disclose the essence of the poem. Sound made the poem more realistic and interesting, making it close to real life scenario. All in all the poem made it more substantial and a real life experience. Poets intention to maintain the essence of the poem made a revelation to us and make us realize the inadequate condition of the mother.
The Mother to Son poem is a mystical poem filled with hidden message that conveys that life is hard but never give up. This poem featured the mother to son relationship that gratifies the hate and misfortune of a mother. A mother’s point of view to her son that she overlooks as a challenging role as a mother. Speaker, extended metaphor, imagery, and sound built the mother’s despair status and with colloquial format it made us imagine a fact situation that will brought us in wander.
The poem “Mother to Son” by Langston Hughes is so touching my heart as a younger generation. According to me, its general meaning is to show about the speech from a mother to her son as well as an overall set of advice from an older generation to a younger generation. The mother wants to share about her experiences of the hardship that she goes through in life. Besides that, she also wants to give the motivation to her son for passing all the problems in life.
Then, based on the poem, I find some detailed meanings from which is divided into 3 parts. First part is line 1 to 7 that shows the difficulties of mother’s life. Secondly, line 8 to 13 shows the struggle of mother in passing all the problem and difficulties in her life. And the last is line 14 to 20 which shows the advice from the mother to her son in order to motivate him to keep spirit for facing the problems in his life.
Moreover, the intention of poet is trying to shows the care of the mother to her son who does not have experience of hard life. To express it, she gives advices to the son for not give up easily when he gets obstacles which almost makes him give up. Because, there are so many ways to solve problems which will make his life better. As a result, the poet wants the reader, especially young generations, to keep strong and spirit to face the obstacles and difficulties in life.
I also find some connotations which are showed in this poem. The speaker in the poem, the mother, tells her son, “Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair”. She is expounding to her son and the readers of the poem that life is difficult and is not easy at to pass it. Then, the stanza “It’s had tacks in it, and splinters, and boards torn up….” shows that life presents you with obstacles and impediments can stand in your way, but you must get past them. The speaker uses the symbols of “landing” and “corners” to symbolize moments of success or goals that are trying to be met. The speaker meets these goals despite the obstacles she faces which leads back to the theme of the poem. “And sometimes going in the dark“ means the mother almost give up because of the problems. The next stanza is “So, boy, don’t you turn back”. The speaker here is conveying an important message to her son. She is explaining that if you turn back, or give up on what you are trying accomplishing, it is hard to succeed at that task.
Furthermore, this poem also seems so beautiful because of imagery which is made by the poet. According to me, there are two imagery with fourteen images. They are crystal stair, splinters, boards torn up, places with no carpet on the floor, bare, and no light which appeal visual imagery. Then, a climbing on, reaching landing, turning corners, going in the dark, turn back, set down on the steps, still going honey, and still climbing are the next images which appeal to Kinesthetic imagery.
The poetry of “Mother to Son” by Langston Hughes tells about the advice of a mother to her son that her loved and gives a illustrations that life for her is ain’t been no crystal stair. The mother tells that in life there must be a bitterness and sweetness it was illustrated like “It’s had tacks in it”. Not only tacks but also splinters, boards torn up and places with no carpet on the floor-bare its means that there are many challenges and obstacles that sharp in life. So, the mother wants her son to survive in life. The mother tells her struggle to survive in life by trying, reaching and seeking the bright. This is not easy thing to do but the mother has been through it all. After the mother tells about life her also tells the advises and warnings for her son to be careful in the future. Its seen in line 14 which the mother gives warnings that the son don’t you turn back, don’t you set down on the steps because you finds it’s kinder hard. In addition, don’t you fall now-for I’se still goin’, honey. Therefore, the intentions of this poetry is a mother’s love and attention so much to her child because she always gives lessons and life experiences that we did not get so that we become a better person and be more careful in the future. That is a general meaning, detailed meaning and intention of this poetry. The connotation in this poetry is crystal stair, it’s had tacks in it, splinters, , boards torn up, the dark and no light. On the other hand, the imagery in this poetry is visual imagery (crystal stair, it’s had tacks in it, splinters, and boards torn up) and kinesthetic imagery it includes sense of movement (I’se been a-climbin’ on, reachin’ landin’s, turnin’ corners, and sometimes goin’ in the dark). That’s all the analysis of this poetry from the general meaning, detailed meaning, intentions, connotation and imagery.
Mother to Son poet describe about affection and motivation of a mother to son that takes care of his son and gives advice so that the son will prepare himself to face the life.. It tells about a mother who had struggled and still struggling in life “ She gives advices her son not to give up in life. she told her son that in life we do not only see a good thing but also a bad thing so that the son have to be strong and brave to get a better life. “Well, son, I’ll tell you” it shows about a mother who ask the attention of her son and listen to her carefully. Crystal stair, tacks, splinter, boards torn up, place with no carpet show about the life which is hard. The mother gave a motivation to her son not to give up in life in line “don’t you fall now”. In conclusion, this poem is not only for the son, but also for the reader to overcome the hurdles of life. we must possess courage and determination to fight the world. with precious words of wisdom.this poem show the image of a mother lovingly, yet firmly, talking to her son about life.
This works is a poem which the reader should see, touch, smell, hear, and feel in order to understand the meaning. Every line in the poem contains some image: no carpet on the floor, dark, no light-all appeal to visual imagery and convey not only color but also motion. climbin’ on, reachin’ landin’s, turnin’ corners, goin’ in the dark, turn back, set down on the step, fall, I’se still goin appeal to kinesthetic imagery.
The connotative words that Langston used in Mother to Son are “crystal stair” stair represent about the way that we should go through and crystal represent about the good thing so that no crystal air means we not only go through a good thing in life. “Tacks”, “Splinter”, “boards torn up”, “places with no carpet”, “Bar” represent the sharpness and discomfort of life’s obstacle. “climbing” represent the spirit of the mother to get the better life
Mother to Son is A good advice that is given by a mother to her child, the advice that is given by the mother is to tell that the trip is not easy in life, the mother informed advice to their children to always never looked easily the meaning of a life will be run by his son, and never let fall into a very difficult life. After that, the mother gives advice for capable broader in understand by his son, his advice is: that life is beautiful as always beautiful crystal stair to live a normal life, in life is also full of pieces that make life more difficult, and in life not always be the light that illuminates our lives, that our life is never always a bright light of Regional like. And this poem is to inspire and also tells us that in the run life is not easy, challenging, risky, and tells us that in life we run does not always get the bright light, that our lives are not always as bright as the light , and not always as beautiful as crystal staircase.
Then there are several connotations in this poem: the first is the Tacks, its connotation is sharp, the second is the Splinters, its connotation is the part that does not blend again, the third is the dark, its connotation is a state in those days, the fourth is the fall connotation, connotation is painful events, all these connotations are reflected in the advice in the poem Mother to son and all the connotations that this is the advice to his son in running the lives of children who will not be easy to run by his son.
And in the poem Mother to Son there are quite a lot Imagenary, it is crystal stair imagenary (visual), Tacks (Visual), fall boards torn up (Visual), carpet on the floor (Visual), a-climbin ‘(kinesthetic), ), reachin ‘landin’s, (kinesthetic), the dark (Visual), light (Visual), fall (gustatory).
In my opinion, the poem about mother to son by Langston Hughes’.
General meaning of the “Mother to Son” by Langston Hughes poem is very
interesting and very appropriate reading for young people because reminded about mother’s love for his children. Experience of a mother who was very hard and difficult life. So she tried to tell his troubles to the children so that children understand about life. How many obstacles and challenges in life. So a mother does not want him as hard as he used to be.
Detailed Meaning, I’ve read, I have seen and also means that this poem tells of the suffering experienced by a mother. I also see, a mother who looks tired with life, but full of love, tenderness and very brave. Who was giving advice to her son. This poem Tells the story of a mother and advice from mothers to children about the lives their That will be challenging and very difficult. This poem begins with the term crystal staircase. We know that a handy ladder to Ascend to the next stage (next floor). The mother son that tells her life for me is not no crystal staircase. The crystal staircase here is like a life that went up (Increased). While Crystal’s own words describing a thing of luxury, the glamorous and affluent life. In the poem also tells about the life of a mother’s pain. And she never had the luxury or glamour as described by the crystal. “but a life that contained tacks in it, and fractions, and also ripped the board, which is placed with no carpet on the floor – Bare. “This represents a suffering, bitter story that she experienced during halftime. But She is strong and keep spirit with that. From this poem, the poet also wants to tell the reader that life is not always smooth. Always shrouded in with challenges and obstacles that are very difficult. From the poem of a mother to son, the poet also gives a positive meaning for readers. The spirit, strength, responsibility for a mother to her child and she always loved her with all her heart. And this mother does not want him hard as he had experienced.
In this poem I found 14 images. Seven are the visual imagery. They are crystal stair, had tacks in it, splinters, boards torn up, no carpet on the floor, goin’ in the dark, and no light. And the other are the kinesthetic imagery. They are climbin’ on, reachin’ landin’s, turnin’ corners, turn back, set down on the steps, and still climbin.
The poetry “mother to son by Langston Hughes” has the meaning of how a mother facing a life that is not easy, having a lot of obstacles, and difficulties in life. The poetry illustrates that a mother has had a life long journey. Therefore mother conveys a message to her son when living life someone must have the courage and determination.
This poetry is about a meaningful motivation between a mom and her son. It contains tons of metaphors to represent the certain feelings that the mother is trying to express. But the main plot of the poem is A mother giving a pep talk to her son. “The mother’s” way of explaining to the son how severe pain and struggling is, or how dark it sometimes may get, or those moments when you feel like you’ve been kicked in the shins. But most of these metaphors are used to describe the mother’s struggle. Her past, her pain, and her reason for making sure that her son doesn’t give up just because he finds something hard. Above all, this poem is written from the point of view of a mother who is trying to convince her son to never give up on life because it’s not only him that had or has a hard time finding himself. She had the same experience and she knows how it feels, but she believes in him and confides in him. She does not want him to give up, on anything or anyone.
Hughes manages to assemble up the image of a mother lovingly, yet firmly, talking to her son about life. This poetry is an advice from a mother to son about life that will be challenging and do not think about giving it up. The theme that this poet conveyed in the poem is determination to live without ever thinking giving up although the obstacles are harsh. Besides, it also emphasize regarding the struggle for life that the one will experience but still have the strength to face it day by day. It also shows about affection and as motivation of a mother to son that takes care of his son and gives advice so that the son will somehow be prepared to face the life.
The metaphor of the crystal stair may represent several things. It may symbolize dreams that the mother once held but which she has learned no longer to expect. The crystal stair may also represent the mother’s spiritual quest toward heaven, Christian grace, and redemption. Or, in material terms, it may invoke the large, gleaming staircases that starlets glide down in movies. In each possible interpretation, the crystal stair connotes smoothness and ease, delicacy, wealth, and a clear, well-lit path toward a rich (material or spiritual) destination. These connotations contrast with images in the poem that show how rough and discouraging the mother’s actual life has been.
“In the beginning the reader can imagine a beautiful, marvelous “crystal” staircase, one that does not have any flaws and stairs that are completely perfect. Hughes also wants the audience to use imagery to feel and understand what the mother is saying throughout the poem.
In this poetry there are elements such as visual imagery =the word dark in life there is darkness, tactile images=a hard life, and kinesthetic imagery=depicting the feelings of a mother to a problem that occurred in his life like no tacks, no debris, no torn board, no carpet on the floor, it illustrates that suffering – the suffering experienced by a mother.
This poem describes how great the love of a mother to her son, so that mothers want her son to be able to keep going to face the future that awaits. Short poems seem simple but many pour passion and inspiration to readers. As the temple’s first poem shows clearly that mothers want her son to know that life is not easy for what his mother has passed, as in “Life for me Is not been no crystal stair.”, “Splinters”, “Tacks in it. “,” boards torn up. ” and “places with no carpet on the floor” (line 2,3,4,5,6). that is describes a situation that has been experienced by mother is not easy. Many of the pitfalls of successive and sometimes dashed hopes.
The selection of words are simple and rich in sense visual imageries that resulted connotations meaning. Easy for the reader to dissolve in mother’s feelings.
The sentence on line 8 until 13 describes that each time a mother had was a constant struggle. “But all the time” “I’se been a-climbin ‘on’ (lines 8 & 9).
The struggle that can result an achievement or success of what had been expected “And reachin ‘landin’s” (line 10). But not infrequently the result is despair “goin ‘in the dark” “Where there Is not been no light.” (Lines 12 & 13). This sentence can create a sense of failure, where no light and dark is imaginary visual that has a sense of a hopeless situation or not as you wish.There is always a bad thing for a good day ahead.
“So, boy, do not you turn back.”, “Do not you set down on the steps.” (Lines 14 & 15) This sentence describes the kinesthetic imageries that has the understanding that mother encourages her son to still fight as hard as any situation, any heavy load on his shoulders still survive, keep the spirit and do not think to give up.
As for the other kinesthetic imageries are “climbin ‘on.” “Reachin ‘landin’s.”, “Turnin’ corners” and “still climbin ‘(lines (9,10,11,19).
“Do not you fall now.” “For I’se still goin ‘, honey.” “I’se still climbin ‘.” “And life for me Is not been no crystal stair.” (Lines 17,19,19,20). Mother gives warning to her son to keep trying to achieve his desires. As an example is his mother who is still and will continue to strive to reach her expectations even though life does not always provide a smooth road.
In my opinion the author have been managed to convey any implied meaning of every word he authored and are able to attract the attention of the reader to better appreciate the per-verse stanza of this poem. The author tried to convey that life is not always deliver the straight and smooth, but it does not mean that we can not go through. We just need the confidence and enthusiasm to still survive or even stepped forward to what we expect.
Listen to the advice of parents, especially mothers are very good. In general, this poem describes a mother’s advice about the child. That every parent, especially mothers give their children the love and sincere. While this particular poem illustrates that we must fight for life. Many words are said in the poem is that there are temptation in life that must go through, such as tearing boards, splinters, and nails that are inside. This means that so much suffering, a problem that one has done, comes again another problem. It is experienced by the mother in this life, no one can fix the problem and give the best advice on it. Outside there is a luxury, beauty, wealth, but the mother did not get it. While this is desirable as a mother of luxury and beauty is not reached, the mother still alive and struggling against hope that what he wants can be achieved. Advice given to each child’s mother can be a boost for every child to not give up in life, should not give up, complain and never retreat. Therefore, the intention of this poem is saying that we as children do during our life will have problems and difficulties throughout life, despite the problems and difficulties it has always approached life, it does have to keep going and we should not give up on life, because while living there must be a problem and we live to face the problem, whereas if we have died, we will not have problems anymore.
In this poem there are elements such as visual imagery, tactile images and kinesthetic imagery. In each of the elements such as visual imagery because it contains the word dark in life there is darkness, tactile image contains a hard life and kinesthetic imagery depicting the feelings of a mother to a problem that occurred in his life like no tacks, no debris, no torn board, no carpet on the floor, it illustrates that suffering – the suffering experienced by a mother. Also in this poem there is a real meaningful things such as luxury, beauty, suffering, good-hearted nature and the hard and meaningful word ladder metaphor like crystals, the presence of spikes, no splinters, no torn board, there is carpet on the floor. All this is interconnected between each other. Therefore, conclusion is that any advice given by a mother should we hear and do in our daily life.
“Mother to Son” by Langston Hughes. huges uses the device of an older female speakers to give advice to a son from the next generation. The general meaning of the poem describes the background of a mother to her child in a life of love and affection to a child despite having to pass a tough challenge. in addition, in some sense the poem is to create a detailed story about a loving mother for the delivery of advice and wisdom of much younger children who may come into some struggles in the near future. because, Life has challenges, and temptations, life is difficult and not easy. On the other hand, the intention of this poem is the writer wanted to tell you about life and inspire readers to try harder in life even though life has challenges. Perseverance is a very important factor in life and optimism. Furthermore, from mother to child poem we can find connotations. “Well, son, I’ll tell you life is never there
crystal staircase.” (Lines 1-2). The mother, who spoke with her son, saying life is not just something you can walk through easily. It was a long and hard. This poem is based on the metaphor of the whole. “It had tacks in it, / And splinters, / And boards torn, / And places with no carpet on the floor-” (lines 3-6). Hughes puts the emphasis on how difficult life was for the mother. Tacks, splinters, the board is a mess, all the difficulties of life are used to connect the mother to the difficulties of climbing the ladder and blue. The mother did not want his son to avoid this ladder, this life. She wants him to forge onward and upward. “So kids, do not you come back / Do not be put on the stairs /` Because you find it’s kinder hard .. / Do not you fall now-“(lines 14-17). After that, the poem mother to son, repetition adds to the image of the poem and help support the theme. “Say”, “no”, “crystal staircase”, “tacks”, “flake”, “torn”, “place”, “time”, “peace”, “up”, “angle”, “step”: the constant repetition of p, t, and s that makes the reader really gasped complete mimic climbing stairs. Even the repeated use of certain words add to the effects of repetition. Using the word “and” repeatedly create a feeling of never-ending onslaught of continuity, thus reinforcing the theme of courage and determination, these two important factors necessary to continue to “climb the ladder.” In this poem I found two of imaging, namely the visual and kinesthetic imagery. visual image of a crystal staircase, tacks, splinters, torn board, a place with no carpet on the floor – Bare, a cliff, landing, go in the dark and no light. Then the image of the kinesthetic-cliff, landing reached,, change the angle, turn, use the stairs, and still climbing.
Vocabulary
Crystal (l.2): quartz that is transparent
Tacks (l.3): attach
splinter (l.4): a thin piece split
Torn up: (l.5):to damage, rip
Bare (l.7): lacking any tool, a natural,usual or appropiate covering
Mother to son simply describes and brings some moral message for us. That life is worth to struggle, there is no desperation in life. Life is kind of journey that we have to face it, eventhough it brings you down,you have to face wisely. To keep going and stay alive. Throughout the poem I may say that this poem tells about how she had gone through her life, that life is not easy and simple and also tells how a mother try to gives some message to her son that life is struggle. “Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair” it refers to life for mother is not only good things but also bad things which mother has been struggle for. “I’se been a-climbin ‘ on” this statement also strengthen my argue that life is about moving forward, keep goin on to stay alive whatever it will be happen.”And sometimes goin in the dark, where there ain’t been no light” It refers to If you get fail you have to raise and try again.don’t give up in this life because life is a grace which worth to struggle for. Moreover,langston wanna tell us some moral message that is life is kinda of struggle. There is no goin back but goin forward wherever it will be happen. He also stressing in a number of words which purpose to make the readers inspire to some message within the poem.
This works is a poem which the reader should see, touch, and feel in order to understand the meaning.
Every line in the poem contains some images: no crystal stair, places with no carpet on the floor, in the dark, no light, I’se still climbin —all appeal to our sense of sight and convey not only shape but also color and motion. been a-climbin’ on, turnin’ corners, turn back, set down on, kinder hard appeals to the Kinesthetic imagery were potrayed kind of sense of movement and sense of feeling. Throughout the explanation above I might say that those words portrays how Langston wants to share the idea of this poem to the readers connotatively that life is not easy. “Climbin on”, “Don’t turn back” and “set down” for instance, that represent how we deal with in this life. Keep moving forward whatever will be and don’t ever give up. Finally, the last words represent how something can brings you down but never give up because it may seems so hard for you trough it it stress how we are feeling if we get fail in this life.
Moreover, There are so many connotative and denotative words within the poem, Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair (l.2) It’s had tacks in it (l.3), boards torn up (l.5), And places with no carpet on the floor (l.6) those words interpret denotatively that life is not easy, life is struggling for. Langston chose those words and arrange beautifuly. Life for me ain’t been no crystal air means that life is not always beautifull like crystal but life so hard and complicated. And places with no carpet on the floor portrays how we through this life with so much convenience but in reality it never happen if we don’t work hard until we reach the goal. I’se been a-climbin’ on, (l.8), turnin’ corners (l.10),
reachin’ landin’s (l.11), sometimes goin’ in the dark (l.12), don’t you turn back (l.15), Those words explain connotatively how a mother achieved something, Those words portrays like a stage of how to achieve something. At first we have to try,and try even there are many obstacles but don’t ever give up is the key of success.
mother told her son that to get through this life is not easy. She descripted that in life, her son must also conquer obstacles. It contains many poems that contain many connotative meanings such as “crystal stairs,” tacks “, and others. In the vocabulary of “tacks”, “flake”, “boards torn”, chosen by the creator of the poem that the reader understand their feelings as the connotation of inhibitors in their daily lives. Hughes said the wording describing the persistence of the mother to live a life with no turning back. Through this poem the poet wants to tell his readers that in this life there are many obstacles that preclude. This poem describes the imaging. Image displayed by the poet in this poem is to express a message that uses free verse. His diction gives the impression he was not educated, but intelligent and thoughtful manner. Rhythm of the poem has a rhyme, but lost, but the flow in the delivery of tired but determined and made like stairs, one step at a time. Then the image of the kinesthetic-cliff, landing reached,, change the angle, turn, use the stairs, and still climbing.
Mother to son by Langston Hughes means that we all have problems and hardships through out life and a mother tries to express to her son the hardship of life and wisely advised that life is not like crystal stair in order he aware that life is a struggle. There are no words to live desperate to overcome, although many obstacles and challenges but giving up is not the way we have to keep going on, furthermore a mother also teaches her son don’t give up even though life is not easy and pleasant. life is not always straight and flat many obstacles, challenges which must be passed and must be faced because life must keep going on just like crystal stair, splinters, and tacks are using as a metaphor for life being an uphill battle and she hopes her son are able through this life by well and never give up, however keep going on and spirit. In the other hand, the poem wants convey all the readers/listeners that life is never flat and life is not the most beautiful thing in the world. Many obstacles, challenges which must be passed it means that this poet is sort inspiration which tell that we live through life’s struggle. Moreover, in this poem we can find some connotations is “Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair” means life is hard and not easy, life has many obstacles. “ It’s had tacks in it, splinters, and boards torn up” means life has many obstacles and impediments can stand in the way, but we must pass them. Next, “I’se been a-climbin’ on, And reachin’ landin’s” means life must go on and try to achieve the goals. And “sometimes goin’ in the dark” means life sometimes hard and difficult, there is no solution which we find. Another, “ Don’t you set down on the steps” means never give up.” I’se still climbin” means she always keep going on and spirit. Then in this poem there are two imagery. First is visual imagery: [dark, bare, no light, goin’ in the dark, no carpet on the floor, boards torn up, crystal stair, had tacks in it, had tacks in it, splinters]. The second is kinestethic imagery: [climbin’ on, reachin’ landin’s, turnin’ corners, turn back, set down on the steps, still climbin, kinder hard, fall].
General meaning: the poem tells of a kind mother willing to sacrifice his life for his own son but his son did not know that her mother to sacrifice his life for the child. Mother was never desperate to do anything. In the verse “Life for me ain’t been not crystal stair” the mother told her son that his mother lives only for her son. Detailed Meaning: in this life we have a lot sacrifice and love for our children because the child is very precious to us. If we have our child care to care and we are full of affection. Lest us throw our own children. As parents we have to work hard for their daily needs and the needs of children. The intention poetry if we are experiencing difficulties and problems we must deal gracefully and should resolve the problem properly. To deal with this life we have to work hard and do not give up in order, the problems we have done well. Connotations: “Tacks” connotation: a sharp object, “Light” rays connotation, “Nice” the connotation of something feeling. Image analysis: Dark: visual imagery, Tacks: visual image, Kind: image kinesthetic, carpet: tactile pictures.
The poetry Mother to Son by Langston Hughes is how she wants to teach her son a life lesson about not giving up. She wants to assure he has a better life then she had so she tells him about how hard life that would be faced. On the other hand, the detailed meaning in this poetry is the mother teaches her son that life is never flat. Life has challenges, and temptation, life is difficult and is not easy. Emphasize regarding the struggle for life that the one will experience but still have the strength to face it day by day. Affection and as motivation of a mother to son that takes care of his son and gives advice so that the son will somehow be prepared to face the life. She teaches her son how to get up when he fall. Life presents the detention and impediments that would be faced. The speaker tries to convey this message to her son because she wants him to prepare and ready for the challenge may face in life.
Furthermore, the intention from this poetry is the writer wants to tell about life and inspire the reader to try harder in life even if life becomes difficult. Perseverance is a crucial factor in life and has optimism. Moreover, from poem Mother to son we can find the connotations. Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair means life is difficult and not easy. It’s had tacks in it, and splinters, and boards torn up, means Life presents the obstacles and impediments can stand in the way, but we must get past them. Next, I’se been a-climbin’ on, And reachin’ landin’s, means life must go on and try to achieve the goals. And sometimes goin’ in the dark means life sometimes difficult and dark. Don’t you set down on the steps means don’t give up. I’se still climbin’, means she always keep going on. Imagery from this poem is crystal stair ( visual), had tacks in it (visual), Splinters (visual), boards torn up, (visual), no carpet on the floor (visual), climbin’ on, (kinesthetic), reachin’ landin’s, (kinesthetic), turnin’ corners, (kinesthetic), goin’ in the dark (visual), no light. (Visual), turn back. (Kinesthetic), set down on the steps. (kinesthetic), still climbin (kinesthetic), bare (visual), kinder hard (kinesthetic), dark (visual)¸ and fall (kinesthetic).
The poem “Mother to Son” by Langston Hughes is very interesting and touching. Poems from a mother to her son. Poem that tells of struggle during his lifetime. This poem tells about the hardships a mother faced and all the hard times she went through in her life. Langston Hughes is known for creating poetry derived from an oral tradition, in which poems are recited and passed down orally, not necessarily published. He strives to use language that portrays the lives of a downtrodden people. In this poem, especially, the language is meant to create a sense of informality. Mothers speaking to their children do not always use “proper” English. This author was a gifted man. In this poem tells about that a mother telling her son that even though it was a lot but she is still standing and she got through it and she is telling her son to be strong and he will get through it, just like she did. It is a pretty powerful piece. The mother is the narrator of the poem, and she was directing this piece to her son, the reader. Now that her son is coming along in life, he now sees that life is not a crystal stair and there will be bumps and other curves in life but you have to stay straight because it not necessarily easier to get ahead but it is a lot harder to turn back and then turn in the right direction. Also, she is trying to keep her son from making that same mistake because although life obstacles may or may not be a crystal stair it takes hard work to claim it.
The connotation of this poem is worried and critical, for example “So, boy, don’t you turn back, don’t you set down on the steps.” She was being critical telling him don’t sit down on them steps and to not look back but to keep moving forward. When she says “so boy, don’t you set down on the steps ’cause you finds it kinder hard” it shows that she doesn’t want people to give up when they are trying to reach their dreams. Sometimes many people think that their goal is too difficult to achieve and give up because they don’t believe in themselves. If you just believe in yourself and keep on moving you’re most likely to achieve what you want to achieve. She’s trying to tell people that no matter what kind of obstacle are in your way, simple or difficult, that you must keep on moving towards your goal because in the end it will all be worth while.
The poem it will be meaningful with the imagery poem. Sound made the poem more realistic and interesting, making it close to real life scenario. All of the poem made it more substantial and a real life experience. Poets intention to maintain the essence of the poem made a revelation to us and make us realize the inadequate condition of the mother. I found there are thirteen imagery of this poem that is, crystal stair (visual), had tacks in it (visual), splinters (visual), boards torn up (visual), no carpet on the floor (visual), climbin’ on (kinesthetic), reachin’ landin’s (kinesthetic), turnin’ corners (kinesthetic), goin’ in the dark (visual), no light (visual), turn back (kinesthetic), set down on the steps (kinesthetic), still climbin (kinesthetic).
General meaning of the “Mother to Son “ by Langston Hughes poem is the experience of a mother in her life. A difficult life, suffering and many obstacles in her life. She told to herson. And in this poem the mother giving advice and motivation to their children. In order for children to live a life of his spirit, and also did not give up on life’s challenges. Because life is not easy, should have the determination and spirit to be able to achieve a better life.
Detailed meaning of Langston Hughes poem “Mother to Son”, I have read. I saw clearly that the poem is about the suffering of a mother, her life’s journey is not easy that he experienced, she shared to her son. A mother who looks tired with life, but full of love, tenderness and very brave. Who was giving advice to her son. This poem tells the story of a mother and advice from mothers to their children about the lives that will be challenging and very difficult. This poem begins with the term crystal staircase. We know that a handy ladder to ascend to the next stage (next floor). The mother tells her son that life for me is not no crystal staircase. The crystal staircase here is like a life that went up (increased). While Crystal’s own words describing a thing of luxury, the glamorous and affluent life. The mother told her son that there is no luxury in his life. There is no crystal staircase, there is no glamor and luxurious living. But a life that contained tacks in it, and fractions, and also ripped the board, which is placed with no carpet on the floor – Bare. “This represents a suffering, bitter story that she experienced during his lifetime. There are many obstacles, challenges and problems in his life. All that happened to be encountered, although it was very bitter and painful. In this poem I see the strength and fortitude of the mother, who was always the spirit and never give up. This poem also shows about the love of a mother and a mother to her son’s advice to always be strong and the spirit to live a life full of challenges. Because the mother has been through periods of darkness, where there is no light. Where she fell, but he kept the spirit to climb, to get through these dark times, when in reality, his life could not arrive at the crystal staircase. In this poem, the mother tells her son that his son should have a dream and also a strong effort. Because of all this is a life process, which must be passed.
From this poem, the poet want to tell the reader that in life, life does not always work well and smoothly, certainly a lot of problems and obstacles encountered. Like the story of the mother, but the poet also gives a positive meaning of the bitter circumstances. That is the story of a mother who is brave in the face of problems and still provide the passion and motivation to their children. Of these poems are felt more loving care and attention a mother to her child. She want his son keep the spirit, she also wants his children do not despair, though their lives are so bitter and tough
This poem describes some of the imagery. Imagery displayed by the poet in this poem is to express a message that uses free verse. Hughes does this by using stylistic devices such as figurative language, diction, and rhythm. Advice given in the poem is a graphic and stirring: difficult life, full of stumbling blocks, but we must continue to climb, can not go back or sitting, and should keep going. To deliver voice, ‘Hughes uses dramatic monologue, spoken by the mother as a child listening. He combines words like: no, I’se, and ‘climbin a common language in black culture. His diction gives the impression she was not educated, but intelligent and thoughtful way. Rhythm of the poem has no rhyme, but defeated, but the flow in the delivery of tired but determined and built like stairs, one step at a time. in this poem I found two of imaging, namely the visual and kinesthetic imagery. visual imagery as a crystal staircase, tacks, splinters, torn board, places with no carpet on the floor – Bare, a cliff, landing, go in the dark and no light. Then the image of such kinesthetic-climbing, reaching, landing, turning the corner, turned, put on the stairs, and still climbing.
I have heard many people say that this poem the general meaning is of some sort of inspiration. It’s message is clear, life is not the most beautiful thing in the world. I have heard many people say that this poem should make the reader feel that they will live through life’s struggle. They say that this poem is inspiring. I am not a “them” however. I am me, and I have never been the most normal of children. Rather, this poem serves on two fronts. It makes me think of my mother, who lived through many bleak times, and it also serves as a painful reminder to me of many things.
Detail meaning this poem (Mother to Son) a message from a mother to her son. Life for me aim’s been no crystal stair- Life has not been beautiful, transparent, or easy for the mother. It hasn’t been an easy climb. It’s had tacks in it, / And splinters,- Tacks and splinters are hazards that can cause pain, just like hazards in life. And boards torn up, – The torn up boards represent damage, obstacles, and hardships in life. And places with no carpet on the floor – / Bare.- This creates the image of being cold, naked and isolated. It creates a mood of loneliness. But all the time / I’ve been a-climbin’ on- These two lines push the idea of consistency and endurance in life. And reachin’ landin’s- This represents achieving goals in life. The landing is a point of triumph. And turnin’ corners, -Turning corners means trying new things. And sometimes goin’ in the dark -Going in the dark can represent courage and faith. Where there ain’t been no light.-No light represents unexplored and foreign territory. So, boy, don’t you turn back.-Don’t run away from life. Don’t you set down on the steps.-Don’t give up. ‘Cause you finds it’s kinder hard.- Because it is hard. Don’t you fall now – Don’t get weak. For I’se still goin’, honey, / I’se still climbin’- She is showing her son it can be done and she is the example. And life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.- It wasn’t easy for the mother either. Imagery chosen by Hughes allow the interpretation of the mother persistence to succeed through life by not giving up. “Don’t you set down on the steps. Cause you find it’s kinder hard” (15-16). The speaker of “Mother to Son” by Langston Hughes is teaching her son a life lesson about not giving up. She wants to ensure he has a better life then she had so she tells him about how hard life can be at certain times. It is easier to give up then to persevere and succeed with a task. The theme of persevering despite adversity is significant because it is harder to succeed after you have given up. In this poem, the speaker tells her son about her life and tries to inspire him to try harder in his life even if life becomes difficult.
The speaker in the poem, the mother, tells her son, “Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair” (2). She is expounding to her son and the audience of the poem that life is difficult and is not easy at certain points. “It’s had tacks in it, and splinters, and boards torn up…” (3-5). Life presents you with obstacles and impediments can stand in your way, but you must get past them. Anaphora is used in this section of the poem to emphasize the amount of hardships life can present you with. The speaker tries to convey this message to her son because she wants him to prepared and ready for the challenges he may soon face in his life. The speaker might be worried or afraid of the choices her son might make, so she is informing him on how to deal with the adversity of living your life. She may have experienced similar incidents so she is warning her son about what could happen. Her lack of education leads to wanting her son to have a successful education. It is evident that the speaker is uneducated due to the frequent use of colloquial speech in the poem.
The speaker uses the symbols of “landin’s” and “corners” to symbolize moments of success or goals that are trying to be met. The speaker met these goals despite the obstacles she faced which leads back to the theme of the poem. They represent the speaker’s effort and determination leading to a culmination of a goal. Landings on a staircase are flat places, or even the top of the staircase, which represent an achievement. Corners represent turning points that can make a positive impact on life. The achievements and positive turning points are described after the examples of obstacles in the poem because you must overcome the obstacles in order to attain the goal or achievement. This supports the theme of persevering through adversity is important to succeeding in life.
“So, boy, don’t you turn back” (14). The speaker here is conveying an important message to her son. She is explaining that if you turn back, or give up on what you are trying to accomplish, it is hard to succeed at that task. This is important because in the time this poem was written, the civil rights movement was in action and black people were being castigated and were receiving copious amounts of discrimination from the whites. The whites were extremely jaundiced towards the blacks and treated them like anathemas. The speaker’s family could have experienced some of this discrimination and she wanted to motivate her son to stay strong and to increase his will power. Since the whites ostracized the blacks, the speaker’s son may have lost some hope for freedom and equality in his future. The speaker wanted to insure her son would stand out and have the courage to fight what he believes in instead of letting the world tell him how things were supposed to work, as was done by some people during the civil rights movement.
The author has experienced some of the feelings he describes in this poem, which gives the poem some historical importance to him. He experienced events in the Civil Rights Movement and personally and was exposed to the discrimination. The theme of persevering despite adversity is evident in the author’s life, and it is an important message that many people can learn from. To be successful, perseverance is a crucial factor in how your life unfolds.
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“Mother to Son,” depicts a black mother advising her son to remain hopeful despite all the hardships one encounters in life. This poem is an advice from a mother to son about life that will be challenging and do not think about giving it up.The mother in the poem compares her life to a stair and states that it “ain’t been no crystal stair.” In other words, she is telling her son that life has not always been easy and pleasant. Life is not the ideal fantasy that many conceive it to be. The mother continues to say that “[It has] had tacks in it, and splinters, and boards torn up, and places with no carpet on the floor.” These splinters and tacks are metaphors for the obstacles one encounters throughout life. These splinters and tacks represent the harsh reality of life, as opposed to the ideal fantasy life. In spite of these hindrances, the mother has managed to overcome them. She has “been a climbin’ on, and reachin’ landin’s, and turnin’ corners.” She still struggles onward, despite what may have been the bleakest moments of her life, where there seemed to be no hope; “sometimes goin’ in the dark where there ain’t been no light.” This contrasting color imagery of dark and light emphasizes the idea that it’s always dark before the dawn and bad days precede better ones and just when it seems as if there is no relief in sight, something occurs to alleviate your burdens. The mother then advises her son not to give up and let life get him down just because there are a few struggles in life. She tells him not to “turn back” and “set down on the steps ‘cause you finds it’s kinder hard.” She encourages her son to continue on striving to overcome these obstacles. She provides him with hope by stating that “she’s still going’, honey, she’s still climbin’.” If she can manage to make it this far in life regardless of all the difficulties, then it is possible for her son to make it through also.
Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair- Life has not been beautiful, transparent, or easy for the mother. It hasn’t been an easy climb. It’s had tacks in it, / And splinters,- Tacks and splinters are hazards that can cause pain, just like hazards in life. And boards torn up, – The torn up boards represent damage, obstacles, and hardships in life. And places with no carpet on the floor – / Bare.- This creates the image of being cold, naked and isolated. It creates a mood of loneliness. But all the time / I’se been a-climbin’ on- These two lines push the idea of consistency and endurance in life. And reachin’ landin’s- This represents achieving goals in life. The landing is a point of triumph. And turnin’ corners, -Turning corners means trying new things. And sometimes goin’ in the dark -Going in the dark can represent courage and faith. Where there ain’t been no light.-No light represents unexplored and foreign territory. So, boy, don’t you turn back.-Don’t run away from life. Don’t you set down on the steps.-Don’t give up. ‘Cause you finds it’s kinder hard.- Because it is hard. Don’t you fall now – Don’t get weak. For I’se still goin’, honey, / I’se still climbin’- She is showing her son it can be done and she is the example. And life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.- It wasn’t easy for the mother either.
In this poem I found 14 images. 7 are the visual imagery (crystal stair, had tacks in it, splinters, boards torn up, no carpet on the floor, goin’ in the dark, and no light). And the other are the kinesthetic imagery (climbin’ on, reachin’ landin’s, turnin’ corners, turn back, set down on the steps, and still climbin.)
“Mother to Son” by Langston Hughes is a short poem that packs significant meaning in the short poem. Hughes uses the device of an older female speaker to give advice to a son from the next generation. The general meaning of this poetry is the poet wants to tell the reader a mother who gives image of life. How it shows the hardship of many Women ago but over all it shows us that we can never give up because there are always people all over the world that suffer more than we do and that they have gone through harder times than us, giving us no reason to surrender in our struggle or fight. This poetry is a mother described to her how life is actually. She says that life is not as beautiful as crystal stair, but life is like tacks in it, and splinters, and boards torn up, and places with no carpet on the floor— bare. It means that life is full of many challenges and sharp stumbling blocks that can pierce of our feet to move. But the mother said she has been a climbing on, reaching landings, and turning corners, it means the mother kept trying in facing and achieving life itself and turn every corner of life even though sometimes going in the dark which sometimes do not shed some light or enlightenment when facing a life. The mother also told to his son that don’t you turn back, don’t you set down on the steps. ‘cause you finds it’s kinder hard. Don’t you fall now for I’se still going, honey, I’se still climbing, the mother wants to tell his son do not ever just be satisfied with what is already owned keep trying and never give up because life is not as crystal stair that we can pass easily. Then the poet wants to share to the reader how our mother really love his son she advises his son how he was facing a real life how bitter life is and how the child can face the challenges and a stumbling block that will be encountered that could impose step his son therefore in this poem Langston Hughes want to share to the readers that mother’s love of all time and never give up in face of life’s. Cause you finds it’s kinder hard. Because it is hard. Don’t you fall now don’t get weak. For I’se still going, honey, I’se still climbing she is showing her son it can be done and she is the example.And life for me ain’t been no crystal stair. It wasn’t easy for the mother either.
Furthermore the speaker in the poem, the mother, tells her son, “Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair”. She is expounding to her son and the audience of the poem that life has not been beautiful like crystal stair for the mother and is not easy at certain points. “It’s had tacks in it, and splinters, and boards torn up. Tacks and splinters are hazards that can cause pain, just like hazards in life. Places with no carpet on the floor – Bare. This creates a mood of loneliness. But all the time, I’se been a-climbing’ on- These two lines push the idea of consistency and endurance in life. And reaching’ landing’s the speaker uses the symbols of “landing’s” and “corners” to symbolize moments of success or goals that are trying to be met. The speaker met these goals despite the obstacles she faced which leads back to the theme of the poem. They represent the speaker’s effort and determination leading to a culmination of a goal. Landings on a staircase are flat places, or even the top of the staircase, which represent an achievement. Corners represent turning points that can make a positive impact on life. And sometimes going’ in the dark, going in the dark can represent courage and faith. Where there ain’t been no light. No light represents unexplored and foreign territory. So, boy, don’t you turn back.-Don’t run away from life. Don’t you set down on the steps the mother wants to tell to her son so that her son never gives up.
The poem will not be meaningful without imagery of the poet is to reveal the message of the free verse poem and stating the life of the mother’s inadequate condition. Imagery made it more effective to disclose the essence of the poem. There are fourteen images that I found in the poem. They are visual imagery such as crystal stair, splinters, boards torn up, places with no carpet on the floor — Bare, going in the dark and no light. Then kinesthetic imagery such as a-climbing on, reaching landing, turning corners, turn back, set down on the steps, and still climbing.
Mother to Son
(By: Langston Hughes)
General meaning in this poem about words of advice from a mother to her son about her struggles live a life full of challenges. This poem also talking about journey from mother who always fell if life must be fought don’t give up. This poem from the beginning to the end of the story the author explains that a woman in despair contained in paragraph “life is never any crystal staircase. It had tacks in it, and fractions, and boards torn, and places with no carpet on the floor – bare” in this sentences the author make the reader reach imagine her world dealing with problems and trials.
Intention in this poem is thought we have problems and hardships keep going on and don’t give up on life.
Connotation are “crystal stair” means represent a perfect world or a conflict in the mother’s life and “splinters and tacks” means mother’s suffering in this life through. By using the imagery of a crystal staircase as the opposite of her staircase, the reader immediately knows before learning any of the details of her staircase that she has not had easy life or in other word means life isn’t that easy.
Mother to Son Analysis
Langston Hughes’ moving poem “Mother to Son” empowers not only the son, but also the reader with precious words of wisdom. Through the skillful use of literary devices such as informal language, symbolism, metaphors, repetition, as well as clever use of format, Hughes manages to assemble up the image of a mother lovingly, yet firmly, talking to her son about life. This poem is an advice from a mother to son about life that will be challenging and do not think about giving it up.
The theme that this poet conveyed in the poem is determination to live without ever thinking giving up although the obstacles are harsh. Besides, it also emphasize regarding the struggle for life that the one will experience but still have the strength to face it day by day. It also shows about affection and as motivation of a mother to son that takes care of his son and gives advice so that the son will somehow be prepared to face the life.
Langston Hughes’ poem, “Mother to Son” resemble to the well-known expression “let’s have a father to son chat”. However, in this case, the saying is altered to “mother to son”. Poetic devices such as informal language, metaphors and repetition were used in this poem. This poem is written from the mother’s point of view in the advice form so the audience could feels the warmth and approachability of southern dialect. Readers will immediately have an impression of a middle-aged women battered by life’s struggles, with no formal education but plenty of life experiences to share with the son.
Informal language is cleverly used to visually portray a truthful motherly figure that has valuable advice to offer. The persona of the poem is an African-American showed by the dialect used with the missing ‘g’ such as in “climbin’, turning’ ” etceteras. It also use the word “ain’t” which is often used by the African-American.
In addition, symbols like “tacks” is used to illustrate the sharpness and discomfort of life’s obstacle. Splinters represent the inflammatory pain and the difficulties in removing and overcoming this pain in life. Even the metaphor of life being compared to stairs symbolizes the exhaustive uphill climb in life. In contrast, the crystal stair represents clarity and perfection, a life that the mother makes obvious was not given to her. In this poem, Hughes develops a sort of negative extended metaphor by having the speaker compare her life to a staircase that “ain’t been no crystal clear”. In other words, she develops the metaphor b describing what it isn’t rather than what it is.
Moreover, repetition adds to the imagery of the poem and helps support the theme. “Tell”, “ain’t”, “crystal stair”, “tacks”, “splinters”, “torn”, “places”, “carpet”, “time”, “peace”, “climb”, “corners”, “steps”: the constant repetition of p’s, t’s,and s’s render the reader completely breathless imitating the exhaustive uphill climb of stairs. Even the repeated use of specific words adds to the effect of repetition. Using the word “and” repeatedly creates a constant feeling of never-ending continuation, consequently reinforcing the theme of courage and determination, both vital factors necessary to continue the “stair climbing.”
In conclusion, Langston Hughes’ moving poem “Mother to Son” empowers not only the son, but also the reader with precious words of wisdom. Through the skillful use of literary devices such as informal language, symbolism, metaphors, and repetition, Hughes manages to create the image of a mother lovingly, yet firmly, talking to her son about life. The advice is simple but pertinent to the poetic theme: in order to overcome the hurdles of life, a person must possess courage and determination.
Mother to Son portrays what a mother said to her son about what she had been gone through life and that it had not been an easy one. Using descriptive tone, she said that he too would have to face and conquer obstacles in his life (line 14). This poem is rich with imageries that connect with the use of connotations. The use of “crystal stair”, “tacks”, “splinters”, “boards torn up”, “places with no carpet on the floor” (line 2,3,4,5,6,20) and also “goin’ in the dark”, “ain’t been no light” (line 12,13) are all visual imageries that bear connotative meanings. “Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair” means that the life of the mother had not been an easy or simply beautiful one like a crystal stair. The dictions of “tacks”, “splinters”, “boards torn up”, “places with no carpet on the floor” were chosen carefully so that the reader grasp the sense of them as a connotation of obstacles for all of those words represent errors or something broken or wrong. As for “goin’ in the dark”, Hughes connotatively plays with our sense that darkness may be seen as a hopeless situation, lost and even a scary one. This connects with “ain’t been no light” where we may see it as a situation where there was no way out or solution. Those two imageries emphasize on how depressing the situation/s that she had encountered.
In addition, “goin’ in the dark” may also portray kinesthetic imagery. Other kinesthetic imageries are “a-climbin’ on”, “reachin’ landin’s”, “turnin’ corners”, “turn back”, “sets down on the steps”, “fall”, and “climbin’” (line 9,10,11,14,15,17,19). “I’se been a-climbin’ on” (line 9) connotatively depicts the struggles of the mother while “And reachin’ landin’s” (line 10) suggests that when a climber had finally reach a landing meaning she/he had reach his/her goal, so it may means that the mother finally come to achieve satisfying thing in her life. We can imagine that when we walk and turn on a corner means we change our direction, thus in “And turnin’ corners” (line 11) may connotatively means that at some point she also encountered some focal points that would change her life. “So, boy, don’t you turn back” (line 14), “Don’t you set down on the steps” (line 15) and “Don’t you fall now” (line 17), are all warnings that her son must not give up (turn back, set down) or give in (fall) to the hardships. Denotatively speaking, these three lines are all bold statements of warning.
All and all, these imageries chosen by Hughes allow the interpretation of the mother persistence to succeed through life by not giving up. In my humble opinion, these imageries also made us vividly understand and we can create visual circumstances to what the mother may have endured over her lifetime (since there’s no reference of a spouse/family I deliberately assume that the mother endured this alone). However, the thing that caught my attention is the use of broken English. It tells that the mother is not well educated and it also shows to which social class she belonged and I personally think that it adds a very personal flavor to this poem. In sum, what Hughes tried to tell us is that we all have problems and hardships through out life and yet we need to keep going on and don’t give up on life.