Langston Hughes Research Paper

Words: 1092
Pages: 5
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Alondra Batista
Ms.Giamo
English 11
19 April, 2018
Poet’s Background
James Mercer Langston Hughes was born in Joplin, Missouri on February 1, 1902. His parents, Caroline Mercer Langston and James Nathaniel Hughes, divorced when he was just 7 years of age. He was raised mainly by his grandmother, mother, and the Reeds. He then finally moved to Lincoln, Illinois, to live with his mother and her husband, after living with his grandmother for a few years. Eventually the family stayed in Cleveland, Ohio, which is when Hughes began writing some poems. After graduating from high school in 1920, he spent a year in Mexico, where his father lived. About a year later he went to Columbia University in NYC. In his time in NYC, Hughes discovered the …show more content…
In November 1924, Hughes’s first book of poetry was released, The Weary Blues, this was published by Alfred A. Knopf in 1926. He finished his college education at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania three years later. In 1930 his first novel, Not Without Laughter, won the Harmon gold medal for literature. Langston was one of the more widely published and he was also among one of the most connected, he worked hard to promote the careers of other young writers. Langston Hughes dies of cancer on May 22nd, 1967, his Harlem residence was given landmark status. Langston Hughes was the leading voice of the Harlem Renaissance, whose poetry showcased the dignity and beauty in ordinary black life. The hours he spent in Harlem clubs affected his work, making him one of the innovators of Jazz …show more content…
The speaker doesn’t let death take him since the freezing temperature of the water wakes him and stops him from dying. As we continue in the poem it is clear that the speaker's depression is due to his romantic relationship gone bad. In the second suicide attempt the speaker goes to the sixteenth floor of a building wanting to jump off but as he stood there he realized how high up he was, and like before uses this height as a reason to refrain from killing himself. He finally realizes that his suicide attempts failed, the speaker concludes that he might as well stay
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