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Hughes, L. (2013). Poetry for young people: Langston Hughes. D. Roessel & A. Rampersad, (Eds.). New York, NY: Sterling Children's Books. ISBN: 978-1-4549-0328-4
Genre: Poetry and Multicultural Literature
Reading Level: 4-7
Honors: Coretta Scott King Award Honor
Summary: This illustrated work is a collection of 26 Langston Hughes poems that contains several reflections of various African-American identities. The pictures throughout the book allow the reader to not only hear the poetry but to also visualize it. Most of the poems focus around Hughes’ experiences with the Harlem Renaissance, and features the integration of blues and jazz. Poems in the volume include “The Weary Blues” and “When Sue Wears Red”, which both incorporate the melodic forms with which Hughes wrote with.
Activity: Music was an important part of Langston Hughes’ growth as a poet and writer. He was shaped by the blues, jazz, and African-American spirituals. Often, Hughes attempted to capture the style of these types of music in his poetry. Harlem also had a significant effect on his development as a writer, and he experimented with how to incorporate the feelings of Harlem into poetry. Before reading some of the poems, expose students to the blues and jazz music. While reading, have students explain when and how they see the influence of this music on Hughes’ poetry.
Samples:
and read the poems “Hey!” and “Hey! Hey!” and discuss the repetition used within the blues.
and read the poems “Homesick Blues” “Still Here” and “The Weary Blues” and discuss how the message and music are reflected in these poems.
and read the poems “Drums” “Youth” and “I, Too” and discuss the optimism expressed in both the music and poems.
and read the poems “Drums” “Danse Africaine” and “Afro-American Fragment” and discuss the importance of drums to Hughes as well as to the jazz pieces themselves.
Original Activity by Ellen Bryce
Genre: Poetry and Multicultural Literature
Reading Level: 4-7
Honors: Coretta Scott King Award Honor
Summary: This illustrated work is a collection of 26 Langston Hughes poems that contains several reflections of various African-American identities. The pictures throughout the book allow the reader to not only hear the poetry but to also visualize it. Most of the poems focus around Hughes’ experiences with the Harlem Renaissance, and features the integration of blues and jazz. Poems in the volume include “The Weary Blues” and “When Sue Wears Red”, which both incorporate the melodic forms with which Hughes wrote with.
Activity: Music was an important part of Langston Hughes’ growth as a poet and writer. He was shaped by the blues, jazz, and African-American spirituals. Often, Hughes attempted to capture the style of these types of music in his poetry. Harlem also had a significant effect on his development as a writer, and he experimented with how to incorporate the feelings of Harlem into poetry. Before reading some of the poems, expose students to the blues and jazz music. While reading, have students explain when and how they see the influence of this music on Hughes’ poetry.
Samples:
- Listen to Billie Holiday’s “Stormy Blues”
and read the poems “Hey!” and “Hey! Hey!” and discuss the repetition used within the blues.
- Listen to Mississippi John Hurt’s “Lonesome Valley”
and read the poems “Homesick Blues” “Still Here” and “The Weary Blues” and discuss how the message and music are reflected in these poems.
- Listen to Ella Fitzgerald’s “Blue Skies”
and read the poems “Drums” “Youth” and “I, Too” and discuss the optimism expressed in both the music and poems.
- Listen to Dizzy Gillespie’s “Salt Peanuts”
and read the poems “Drums” “Danse Africaine” and “Afro-American Fragment” and discuss the importance of drums to Hughes as well as to the jazz pieces themselves.
Original Activity by Ellen Bryce
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