DEMOCRACY

BY Langston Hughes

Prepared by ;HANNAN

DINAFATNIN

ALEXANDRA

THE POEMDemocracy will not come 

Today, this year Nor ever 

Through compromise and fear. 

I have as much right As the other fellow has 

To stand On my two feet 

And own the land. 

I tire so of hearing people say, Let things take their course. 

Tomorrow is another day. I do not need my freedom when I'm dead. 

I cannot live on tomorrow's bread. 

Freedom Is a strong seed 

Planted In a great need. 

I live here, too. I want freedom 

Just as you.

JAMES LANGSTON HUGHES (February 1, 1902 – May 22, 1967

AUTHOR

Born in Joplin, Missouri His great-great-grandparent’s brother was the first Black American to be elected to public office. He is the member of abolitionist family, where he fight for his skin colour. Langston Hughes died of cancer on May 22, 1967. His father wants him to become a lawyer but he refused. He had works many part time job before discovered by poet Vachet Lindsay. His most famous poem is ‘The Negro Speaks of Rivers.

ANALYSIS OF THE POEM

• The first stanza – This stanza shows the poet true

feelings. He

tired of being compromise all the time yearning for

democracy to come. He assumes maybe his people

need

to change their strategy to be heard by the authority.

• The second stanza – He shows and asks for his right

as

American citizen to be the same as the white people.

He

also wants to walk around his own land without feeling

no

fear.

• The third stanza – This stanza shows his character

which is

so eager to fight for his right and he does not want to

wait and tired of hearing ‘Let things take their course,

Tomorrow is another day’.

• The fourth stanza –‘planted by great need’ means

that

everyone want freedom in their life and everyone

deserve it.

• The fifth stanza – Emphasizes what the poet want as

a

American citizen by saying it again

THEME

• Democracy

He asks for his right and freedom as an

American

regardless his colour. He wants equal treat in

his

own country.

• Racial

How the black is isolated by the dominant

white

people. The society assumes black as the

second class people.

TONE

Serious - Since democracy is a serious topic to

discuss, he uses serious tone to deliver it in his poem. He seriously emphasizes his point of wanting a democracy and wants the reader to get the message sharply and clearly.

RHYME

First stanza- ABBB Second stanza- ABCDC Third stanza- ABACC Fourth stanza- ABBB Fifth stanza- ABA

- Hence, the poem is free verse where the rhymes are not consistent.

LITERARY DEVICES Rhyming couplets:

Today, this yearNor Ever

Through comprise and fear

To standOn my two feet

And own the land

Metaphor: - I cannot live on tomorrow’s bread

he means he cannot live on unsure, tomorrow promises

- Freedom is a strong seed

The poet compare freedom with a seed

THANK YOU