POEM

Question

POEM 
“Refugee in America”
 by Langston Hughes

There are words like Freedom
Sweet and wonderful to say
On my heart-strings, freedom sings
All day every day.

There are words like Liberty
That almost make me cry.
If you had known what I knew
You would know why.
Read the poem, “Refugee in America” by Langston Hughes.
 
Use the graphic organizer on the second page to complete a TWIST Analysis. “TWIST” is an acronym for the literary devices Tone, Word Choice, Imagery, Style, and Theme.

The first box of the graphic organizer contains the literary devices and their definitions. Research and place a picture in the second box that represents the literary device of the poem. Finally, provide text evidence in the third box to support the picture you selected.

Complete a reflection and self-assessment for each of the TWIST skills of analyzing a literary text. During your analysis, use examples from the poem. During the self-assessment, rate your skills from 1-5, with 1 being the lowest, and five being the highest.

Using the information in the graphic organizer, write a five paragraph analysis of the poem. Please choose three of the five TWIST categories to write your analysis. 
(EXAMPLE)
TITLE
A single line of text that introduces and summarizes a piece of writing. 
TONE

The way the author expresses their attitude through their writing.

WORD CHOICE

The author’s use of specific words to “show” the reader rather than tell them. Adjectives are descriptive.

IMAGERY

The use of the 5 senses and figurative language. 
STYLE

Refers to the author’s purpose for writing and the way they use words. Literary Styles: 
Descriptive, Expository, Narrative, & Persuasive.
THEME

One or two words that express the moral lesson of the story.

Text Evidence

The title of the poem, “Mother to Son” by Langston Hughes implies that this text is about the relationship between a mother and her son. 
Text Evidence

In the poem, “Mother to Son,” by Langston Huges, the following stanzas represents hope and optimism:

“But all the time
I’se been a-climbin’ on,
And reachin’ landin’s,
And turnin’ corners…” “So boy, don’t you turn back.”

Text Evidence

In the poem, “Mother to Son,” by Langston Hughes, the word choice includes adjectives such as bare, somber, 
hopeful, and encouraging:

“Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair. It’s had tacks in it…”

“So boy, don’t you turn back.”

“Don’t you set down on the steps.”

Text Evidence

SKILL 
REFLECTION 
SELF-ASSESSMENT 
(EXAMPLE) TITLE: Read the title of a text and make an inference about its subject, characters, and theme. 
I am able to read the title of a text and make inferences about it. For example, I can infer that the poem, “Mother to Son” by Langston Hughes is about the love and bond shared between a mother and her son. 
1  2  3  4  5  
TONE: Read a text and analyze the author’s attitude based on their writing. 
I am able to read a text and analyze the author’s attitude based on their writing. For example, in the text the author states, “So boy, don’t you turn back.” which is hopeful and optimistic.

1  2  3  4  5  
WORD CHOICE: Read a text and analyze how the author uses specific words to “show” the reader rather than tell them.

1  2  3  4  5  
IMAGERY: Read a text and analyze the 5 senses and figurative language.

1  2  3  4  5  
STYLE: Read a text and analyze the author’s purpose and words.

1  2  3  4  5  
THEME: Read a text and analyze the moral lesson of the story by using one or two words.

1  2  3  4  5

5-PARAGRAPH TWIST ANALYSIS

DIRECTIONS: Using the information in the graphic organizer, write a five paragraph analysis of the poem. Please choose three of the five TWIST categories to write your analysis.

GPT-4o mini · Answer

### TWIST Graphic Organizer for "Refugee in America" by Langston Hughes **TONE** - **Definition**: The way the author expresses their attitude through their writing. - **Picture**: A balancing scale to represent conflicting emotions (hope vs. sorrow). **Text Evidence**: Hughes conveys a tone of bittersweet hope through lines such as “There are words like Freedom / Sweet and wonderful to say,” while contrasting that with underlying pain reflected in “If you had known what I knew / You would know why.” --- **WORD CHOICE** - **Definition**: The author’s use of specific words to “show” the reader rather than tell them. Adjectives are descriptive. - **Picture**: A colorful palette to symbolize the richness of language. **Text Evidence**: The use of words like “freedom” and “liberty” carries deep emotional weight, inviting readers to feel the beauty and tragedy of these concepts. Phrases like "sweet and wonderful" juxtaposed with “almost make me cry” emphasize this emotional pull. --- **THEME** - **Definition**: One or two words that express the moral lesson of the story. - **Picture**: A heart and a globe to represent love and the human experience of displacement. **Text Evidence**: The central theme of the poem can be summed up as “Struggle for dignity.” Hughes encapsulates this struggle in the poignant line “If you had known what I knew,” suggesting that personal experience profoundly shapes one’s understanding of freedom and liberty. --- ### Skill Reflection and Self-Assessment **TONE**: I am able to read a text and analyze the author’s attitude based on their writing. For example, in the poem, Hughes conveys a tone that is at once hopeful and sorrowful, especially when he juxtaposes the beauty of words like "freedom" with the weight of personal experience. 1 2 3 4 **5** **WORD CHOICE**: I can analyze how the author uses specific words to convey emotion and meaning. In “Refugee in America,” words such as “sweet,” “wonderful,” and “cry” show the emotional depth associated with freedom in a refugee's experience. 1 2 3 **4** 5 **THEME**: I can identify and analyze the moral lesson in a text. The poem presents the theme of “Struggle for dignity,” highlighting the contrasting realities of hope for freedom and the pain of loss. 1 2 3 4 **5** --- ### Five-Paragraph Analysis of "Refugee in America" Langston Hughes's poem “Refugee in America” delicately explores the complex emotions associated with freedom and personal identity. Through the use of tone, word choice, and theme, Hughes reveals the bittersweet essence of what it means to be a refugee yearning for liberty. The tone of the poem oscillates between hope and sorrow. Hughes expresses joy in the beauty of words such as “freedom” and “liberty,” suggesting that these ideals are precious and profoundly impactful on the human spirit. The line “There are words like Freedom / Sweet and wonderful to say” resonates with a sense of joy that is quickly tempered by the weight of experience in the lines that follow. The contrast creates a poignant emotional landscape that invites the reader to reflect on the author’s personal narrative as a refugee. Hughes's careful selection of words amplifies the emotional depth of the poem. Through evocative phrases like “almost make me cry,” he captures the struggle of expressing complex feelings about freedom. The adjectives he deploys not only illustrate the beauty of these concepts but also serve as reminders of their fragility when juxtaposed with the pain of a troubled past. This word choice enhances the reader's understanding of the refugee experience, transforming abstract ideas into visceral emotions. The theme of the poem can be distilled into the “Struggle for dignity,” a testament to the pathos of the refugee experience. Hughes's invitation, “If you had known what I knew,” serves as a powerful reminder of the weight of history and personal experience that shapes one's understanding of freedom. This theme resonates beyond the page, urging readers to empathize with those who bear the burden of displacement and loss. In conclusion, Langston Hughes’s “Refugee in America” is a rich exploration of the interplay between hope and heartache in the pursuit of freedom. Through the effective use of tone, poignant word choice, and a profound theme, he connects the struggles of an individual to the universal quest for dignity, creating a piece that remains relevant and deeply moving in today's world.