Question

What is the extended metaphor in the poem “I, Too, Sing America”?

Eating in the kitchen is being compared to racial segregation in America.
Company is being compared to the enslavement of African Americans.
Beauty is being compared to laughing, eating well, and growing strong.
Eating in the kitchen is being compared to company that arrives unexpectedly.

Answer 1

In the poem “I, Too, Sing America” by Langston Hughes, the extended metaphor primarily compares eating in the kitchen to racial segregation and marginalization of African Americans in society. The speaker, who identifies as a Black man, reflects on being sent to eat in the kitchen when company arrives, symbolizing the exclusion and invisibility faced by Black individuals in a racially divided America.

This act of being relegated to the kitchen serves as a metaphor for the systemic racism and segregation that keep African Americans from fully participating in society. However, the speaker asserts that despite this treatment, he is still an integral part of America and will eventually rise to claim his rightful place alongside others, highlighting themes of resilience and hope for equality.

The other options you listed do not capture the central metaphor of the poem as accurately as this one.