The poems “Tableau” and “Incident,” written by Countee Cullen, have many similarities and differences such as them both appearing during a time where black and white people were not seen as equals. While “Tableau” indicates a flicker of a fairness in society and equality, “Incident” compares the expectation of happiness from equal rights; however, that idea becomes shattered. Discrimination is not something we are born knowing, it is a learned concept is one thought that can be drawn from “Tableau” whereas “Incident” gives a more depressing mood or feeling as actions are equally as important as words. The tone conveyed in “Tableau” gives an uplifting feeling of possible hope for equality; although, “Incident” provides a feeling of how…show more content… It was a foreign concept to the adults who have thrived in a world where black people are lesser than white. A beaming message of imagery is expressed with “Locked arm in arm they cross the way” (Line 1). The young white boy is perceived as the “golden splendor of the day” (Line 3), as opposed to the black boy who is the “sable pride of night” (Line 4). As the black and white boy walk down the streets, they have yet to learn the concept of inequality “Oblivious to look and word” (Line 9), they do not think anything of their friendship as they proudly present it. By the end of the poem, the tone has projected a strong feeling of hope and optimism. “That lightning brilliant as a sword/Should blaze the path of thunder,” this similie represents a spark of equality in a possibly more fair society (Lines 11 and…show more content… “And so I smiled, but he poked out/His tongue and called me, ‘Nigger’” (Lines 7 and 8). One might conclude that the poem depicts how the importance of actions are equally as important as words. “Once riding in old Baltimore,” is one example of imagery as well as “Now I was eight and very small/And he was no whit bigger” (Line 1) (Lines 5 and 6). By the end of the poem, the mood has been deprived of their happiness it was once filled with. “Of all the things that happened there/That’s all that I remember” (Lines 11 and 12). The boy’s trip was ruined because of the words said by the young white boy.
“Incident” provides a feeling of sadness, that even the smallest words hurt just as much as actions, whereas “Tableau” influences happy and uplifting feelings for possibilities for future equality. Both poems provided imagery and “Tableau gave an example of a simile as far as figurative language. “Tableau” and “Incident” both compare society to things that are considered acceptable and unacceptable. Children predict the future of our society, if humanity wants them to grow up believing some are more worthy than others, the hatred will only continue to build. Eventually, all will be
