W26 Paired Selections

How does Langston Hughes personalize the poem, ''Let America Be America Again?''

• By repeating the phrase ''I am,'' when speaking about different types of people.

• By excluding certain categories of people like the poor and the destitute.

• By talking only about immigrants and their plight in the American dream.

• By mentioning different men and women by name.

Whose voices are expressed in this poem?

• voices of people who are in power

• voices of people who are oppressed

• voices of white people

• voices of black people

How does the poet’s use of phrases in parentheses in the first six stanzas of “Let America Be America Again” impact the tone at the beginning of the poem?

• The phrases echo what is expressed about America in the stanzas, creating condescending tone.

• The phrases express hopefulness for America, reinforcing an optimistic tone.

• The phrases represent the voice of ideal America, developing a poignant tone.

• The phrases assert a contrast of experiences in America, crafting a resentful tone.

Read these lines from “Let America Be America Again.”

The free?

Who said the free? Not me? Surely not me? The millions on relief today? The millions shot down when we strike? The millions who have nothing for our pay? For all the dreams we’ve dreamed And all the songs we’ve sung And all the hopes we’ve held And all the flags we’ve hung, The millions who have nothing for our pay— Except the dream that’s almost dead today.

In which way do these lines show a somewhat sarcastic tone?

• The repetition of “millions” emphasizes the alienation of people who do not take part in the American Dream.

• The rhyming couplets reinforce the ideals of the past while underscoring Hughes’s message.

• The heavy use of question marks conveys the irony of “homeland of the free” in the face of reality.

• The parallel structure mocks the traditional views of “the dream” and encourages those on the outside to reject the idea.

What is Hughes' purpose for writing this poem?

• To remind the general population of America's values

• to bring to light the injustices of minorities in the US and to encourage the American dream to become a reality for all

• to entertain the people during a protest

• to persuade the people to free the slaves

What is the author saying about the American Dream?

• the dream is available for everyone

• the dream is not available for minorities

• its a nightmare

• America and "the dream" is a lie

What might be considered part of the American Dream? (more than one answer.)

• The chance at a better life

• The promise of freedom

• The guarantee of success

• The opportunity to live the life you would like

• The guarantee of money

Who wrote the poem, "Let America Be America Again?"

• Walt Whitman

• Emily Dickinson

• Langston Hughes

• Edgar Allen Poe

This is a line, and one of the main ideas, from the poem, "Let America Be America Again."

• America was never America to me

• America was always America to me

• America might be America to me

• America should be America to me

"Let America Be America Again" was about (choose two)...

• The hope of what America could be

• The celebration of what America is

• How the American dream/promise wasn't the same for everyone

• The fear of what America might become