Text 2: “I, Too, Sing America” by Langston Hughes

Question

1 I, too, sing America.
I am the darker brother.
They send me to eat in the kitchen
When company comes,
5 But I laugh,
And eat well,
And grow strong.
Tomorrow,
I’ll be at the table
10 When company comes.
Nobody’ll dare
Say to me,
“Eat in the kitchen,"
Then.
15 Besides,
They’ll see how beautiful I am
And be ashamed—
I, too, am America.


2. How do the authors use the structure of the poems to contribute to the meaning of Text 1 and Text 2?
(RL 8.5)
A. In both poems, the poets avoid traditional rhyme scheme to highlight the important role that freedom
has in American life.

B. Whitman gradually increases the length of his lines to emphasize the growing importance of the
American worker, while Hughes varies the line length to call attention to the experience in the kitchen.

C. Both poets use repeated words and phrases to describe American independence.

D. Hughes uses short lines to tell a simple story, while Whitman uses longer lines to celebrate the
complex role of the American worker

Answer 1

B. Whitman gradually increases the length of his lines to emphasize the growing importance of the American worker, while Hughes varies the line length to call attention to the experience in the kitchen.