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Will Massey

A Block

Mr.Smith

14 February 2023

A Critical Analysis of “I Look at the World” by Langston Hughes

In the poem, “I look at the world”, by Langston Hughes, he explains how he has been

oppressed because of his race and highlights the collective action needed to surpass the barrier.

Hughes early in the poem writes, “And this is what I see: This fenced-off narrow space,

Assigned to me” (Hughes 3-5). Hughes creates an image that black Americans are separated and

treated differently from everyone else. This relates to Hughes explaining how he uses a small

fence to symbolize how black Americans are separated. When he was young, he believed that he

could overcome the small barrier. This idea about the fenced-off narrow space continues to be

developed into a bigger wall. Hughes wrote, “I look then at the silly walls, through dark eyes in a

dark face” (Hughes 6-7). Hughes personifies the wall, describing it as silly. He knows that he

should be treated equally, and how he describes that it is silly that he gets treated unequally. The

wall, at this point, is getting bigger as he is becoming older. As he gets older, he realizes that it is

harder to get over the barriers that have been placed before him. The idea of the wall getting

bigger is put to a sudden stop. Towards the end of the poem, Hughes writes, “Then let us hurry,

comrades, The road to finding” (Hughes, 15-16). He explains how everyone should come

together and conquer the wall and acknowledges that he isn't the only one with a wall in front of

him. Many other black Americans are dealing with the same problems as Hughes. A common

theme in Hughes' writing is the collective thoughts of black people in America. They all share

dreams of being treated equally. Hughes is giving the reader inspiration while also explaining not
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only his perspective of inequality but all the black people in America. The message of this poem

connects to the Experiences of African Americans, as many of them were struggling to get over

the barriers that were being put in front of them.

Works Cited

Hughes, Langston. “I Look at the World by Langston Hughes.” Poetry Foundation, Poetry

Foundation, 2009, https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poems/52005/i-

look-at-the-world.

Poem Explication Rubric

Skill Not Foundational Proficient Advanced
Yet
Identifies the topic Identifies the topic Identifies a specific
of the poem of the poem and a theme/perspective
basic theme of the poem

Comments:

Thesis/
Theme
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Includes some Includes at least 3 Includes 3 or more

specific lines from specific references specific, meaningful,
the poem, but may to lines of the poem and well-chosen
not have much that have some lines from the poem
connection to the connection to the that relate to the
theme/may be theme theme
surface-level
Evidence
May have 2 or fewer
lines from the poem

Comments:

Explains how the Explains how the Explains the effect

facts or basic details figurative language, and impact of
of the poem connect imagery, or tone of specific figurative
to its main ideas the poem contribute language, imagery,
to its or tone of the poem
Connects to basic theme/meaning and how this
Analysis context of the supports the
Harlem Renaissance Connects the theme theme/author’s
of the poem to the purpose in writing
context of the the poem
Harlem Renaissance
Makes nuanced and
specific connections
to the context of the
Harlem Renaissance
and/or the poet’s
biography

Comments:

Some elements Heading is correctly No errors in MLA

missing or some formatted format
errors in MLA format
Pages are numbered

In-text citations are

correctly formatted
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Works Cited format:

hanging indent,
double-spaced,
MLA Format
alphabetized, starts
on a new page

Lines of poetry are

correctly
cited/formatted

Comments:

Shows evidence of Most quotes are All quotes are

basic proofreading correctly integrated correctly integrated

Follows organization: Fluid organization,

Conventions/ topic/thesis sentence, including smooth
Expectations integration of transitions between
evidence, analysis, evidence
and concluding
sentence Shows evidence of
careful proofreading
Shows evidence of
proofreading

Comments:

Strengths: Overall, a solid structure, and you did a nice job of making historical connections at
the end.

Improvements: Work a bit on your transitions. Right now, they work, but could be edited to
create a better flow.

Grade: B