Standards Focus: Analyzing Poetry

One of the most prolific and famous writers during the Harlem Renaissance was Langston Hughes.
He was a poet, playwright, and novelist who is well-known for his realistic portrayal of the average
African-American man. Below is Hughes’s poem I, Too, which was written in 1925.
I, Too
I, too, sing America
I am the darker brother.
They send me to eat in the
kitchen When company comes,
But I
laugh, And
eat well,
And grow strong.
Tomorrow,
I'll be at the table
When company
comes. Nobody'll
dare
Say to me,
"Eat in the
kitchen," Then.
Besides,
They'll see how beautiful I
am And be ashamed -
I, too, am America.
Directions: Using the poem above, answer the following questions using complete sentences.
1. Who is the speaker in this poem?
Langton hughes is speaking from his viewpoint. This is evidently shown because he is talking how he used to
put into the kitchen and almost be hidden, but from now on he would be eating at the table with everyone else
because he is human and just like them, and will not longer be ashamed of that.

2. Who is the “they” to whom the speaker refers?

The they to whom the speaker Langston refers to is those who put him in the kitchen, which would be the
people who did not support the black efforts at gaining importance like everyone else had.
3. For what is “I’ll be at the table” and “eat in the kitchen” a metaphor?
He will no longer be suppressed or hidden from those who did not support black movement and from now on he
would be allowed to come into the openness of society to be included and to have a voice in the community

4. What do you think the speaker means when he says “I, too, am America”? What does this mean
metaphorically?

I think that when the speaker says that he is too America is that he is also part of the people, and that if some
people have more political or social rights, he feels he can finally be within the realm of society that everyone is
in
5. What do you think the speaker means when he states: “They’ll see how beautiful I am / And be
ashamed”?
I think the speaker means that he will finally be able to showcase his talents, or prove to everyone else that he is
just as good and just as important. Therefore, these people will feel ashamed at attempting to hide and look
down on someone of equal importance
6. What is the speaker’s attitude in the poem? Explain your conclusion.

To me, he is almost happy that he gets to show the world what he is good at and what he wants to be good at.
Although it seems he should be mad at being hidden at all times, he is somewhat optimistic that he gets to go
out and show everyone that he was no threat or burden on Earth. Langston was human like everyone else and
wants to create and contribute to society through the art of speaking.