https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/47559/mother-to-son
In the poem, “Mother to Son,” by the esteemed Langston Hughes, Hughes uses rich imagery and symbolism to portray a mother’s message to her son as well as to the readers.
Instructions:
Read the poem carefully, paying particular attention to the effectiveness of the symbolism and the mother’s message. Then in a well-organized essay, analyze how Hughes/ the mother uses the symbols in the poem to convey a message to her son.
Your analysis should include the following sections
Introduction: introduce the poem, its title, its poet, its publication date. Include a brief idea of the plot of the poem and then move directly into the analysis of the poem
Main analysis: Using the poetic elements of symbolism and imagery, discuss how Hughes used these devices to convey his message. In other words:
What is the mother’s message to her son? How does the reader know this? Use text examples from the poem to support your ideas.
What are the symbols in the poem? How does Hughes use these symbols to help convey the mother’s message? Use text examples to support your ideas
Conclusion: recap your main points and leave the reader with a thought-provoking ending.