StudySync: Mother to Son by Langston Hughes

Last updated almost 3 years ago

20 questions

Note from the author:

Lecture alongside these activities - the 4th question needs teacher guidance. Students were taught connotation, colloquialism, and metaphor ahead of this lesson.

Instructions

African-American poet Langston Hughes is one of the best-known poets of the Harlem Renaissance, a cultural and intellectual movement that began in the 1920s and resulted in the production of African-American literature, art, and music that challenged racism and promoted progressive politics, such as racial and social integration. In Hughes’ poem “Mother to Son,” the speaker is a mother who draws on her own experiences to teach her son about perseverance.

Preview and Introduction

Required

First Read of "Mother to Son"

Required

Focused Read of "Mother to Son"

Written Response

Required

StudySync: Mother to Son by Langston Hughes

Last updated almost 3 years ago

20 questions

Note from the author:

Lecture alongside these activities - the 4th question needs teacher guidance. Students were taught connotation, colloquialism, and metaphor ahead of this lesson.

Instructions

African-American poet Langston Hughes is one of the best-known poets of the Harlem Renaissance, a cultural and intellectual movement that began in the 1920s and resulted in the production of African-American literature, art, and music that challenged racism and promoted progressive politics, such as racial and social integration. In Hughes’ poem “Mother to Son,” the speaker is a mother who draws on her own experiences to teach her son about perseverance.

Preview and Introduction

Questions 4-3 | 08:05

00:00/00:00

Questions 4-3

08:05

Required

Drag and drop the definitions of the term in the definition column. Then, drag and drop the picture that represents the word in the term column.

Other Answer Choices:

having qualities like glassware that is very clear and that suggests elegance

a small, thin, sharp bit of wood that has broken off from a larger board

a wide, flat place between sections of stairs in a staircase

First Read of "Mother to Son"

Mother to Son
BY LANGSTON HUGHES


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.

Required

Select the words that show how Langston Hughes uses colloquial language in his poetry.

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.

Required

How does Hughes' use of colloquial language affect the poem? Select all the apply.

Focused Read of "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.

Required

Written Response

Question 19 | 00:00

00:00/00:00

Question 19

00:00

Required

StudySync: Mother to Son by Langston Hughes

StudySync: Mother to Son by Langston Hughes

Mother to Son

Select the words that show how Langston Hughes uses colloquial language in his poetry.

How does Hughes' use of colloquial language affect the poem? Select all the apply.

What is a metaphor you would create to describe life? Explain your metaphor.

Mother to Son

Describe your first impression of the poem.

Let's take a poll. If you had to describe the tone of this poem in one word right now, what would you say. (Just choose one, please).

Explain your rationale for your choice. Think about the kinds of words in the poem. What connotation do they seem to mostly have?

Who is the narrator of this poem?

How do you know?

Select the words that show how Langston Hughes uses colloquial language in his poetry.

How does Hughes' use of colloquial language affect the poem? Select all the apply.

Extended Metaphors are metaphors that are developed through an entire piece of writing. They are very common in poetry and used as a means of creating connections from the author to the audience. What is the extended metaphor in "Mother to Son"?

In which line is the metaphor more clear?

Describe the mother's life according to the metaphor.

The mother shows perseverance. Which line best shows this character trait?

What theme is mostly expressed in the poem?

Which quote from the poem most strongly supports the theme of the poem?

What is a metaphor you would create to describe life? Explain your metaphor.

How did Langston Hughes communicate with this audience? What kind of language did he use?

Describe the Harlem Renaissance to someone who's never heard of it before.

Describe what Langston Hughes communicated in his writings.

Langston Hughes was a writer. What kind of texts did he write?

Describe your first impression of the poem.

Let's take a poll. If you had to describe the tone of this poem in one word right now, what would you say. (Just choose one, please).

Explain your rationale for your choice. Think about the kinds of words in the poem. What connotation do they seem to mostly have?

Who is the narrator of this poem?

How do you know?

Extended Metaphors are metaphors that are developed through an entire piece of writing. They are very common in poetry and used as a means of creating connections from the author to the audience. What is the extended metaphor in "Mother to Son"?

In which line is the metaphor more clear?

Describe the mother's life according to the metaphor.

The mother shows perseverance. Which line best shows this character trait?

What theme is mostly expressed in the poem?

Which quote from the poem most strongly supports the theme of the poem?