Langston Hughesand the

The Harlem Renaissance By Ian Ogden

The Harlem Renaissance • The Harlem

Renaissance was a movement in music, art, literature, and politics from the early 1900’s to the 1940’s, emphasizing the importance of political, economic, social, and, artistic freedom for African Americans.

The Harlem Renaissance• Harlem in the 1920’s and 1930’s nurtured

the African American artistic heritage and fostered an appreciation of the contributions African Americans made to American society.

• Artists associated with the Harlem Renaissance reinforced the theme of slavery versus freedom, highlighting the progress still to be made before African Americans would receive total emancipation in terms of equal rights.

Literature of the Harlem Renaissance

• Literature of the Harlem Renaissance period centers around the debates regarding social, political, and economic advancement for African Americans and the desire for America to uphold its dream of equality for all.

• Writers responded to the call for literature articulating the concerns of African Americans in the early part of the 20th century.

Music & Art of the Harlem Renaissance

• Visual arts flourished during the Harlem Renaissance, promoting an awareness and appreciation of the life and culture of African Americans as a viable source of art.

• The Harlem Renaissance reflected the oral tradition in African American literature through its interdisciplinary nature and the valorization of music, particularly jazz and blues.

Langston Hughes (I902-1967)

• Born in Joplin, Missouri, Hughes moved to New York City in 1925 where he graduated from Lincoln University.

• Settling in Harlem, NY, Hughes became one of the most influential poets and writers of the Harlem Renaissance.

• By incorporating the rhythms of African American music and black vernacular expression into literature, Hughes sought to connect written and oral traditions of African American artistic expression.

Thank You, M’amby Langston Hughes

Literary Focus• As we read the short story

Thank You, M’am we will be focusing on the use of dialogue as a means of characterization, and how the dialogue allows the reader to make inferences about the characters in the story.

• As we read the short story focus on not only what is said, but what is not said, as well.

Thank You, M’amQuick Write

• Discuss the following quick write prompt with someone near you:

“Think of a time when you were faced with adverse circumstances, did you overcome them, or did they defeat you? What made you successful? What might you have done differently? What did you learn from your experience that might help you when faced with a similar circumstance?

• Now, take your time and write a thoughtful response to the question above.

Thank You, M’amLiterary Analysis

• How do writers reveal the personality of their characters?

• How do writers develop the setting of a story?

• When referring to a piece of literature, what is a theme?

• What does it mean to make an inference about a something you have read?

Thank You, M’amStudy Questions

• Please answer the Literary Analysis study questions in complete and thoughtful sentences.

• Don’t forget to use the text to support your answers.

Thank You, M’amLiterary Analysis Questions

1. Why do you think Langston Hughes chose the title “Thank You, M’am” for this short story? Who is saying thank you? Why?

• In at least three or four sentences describe Luella? What does the reader learn about her through her dialogue with Roger?

• In at least three or four sentences describe Roger? What does the reader learn about him through his dialogue with Luella?

• Langston Hughes writes the character’s speech exactly how they say it, which is called vernacular. Find at least one example from each character speaking in his or her vernacular. What effect does the use of vernacular have upon your understanding of that character? What inferences can be made based on the characters’ speech.

• Why do you think Roger “went to the sink” and not to the door?

Thank You, M’amLiterary Analysis Questions

6. When Luella says, “you thought I was going to say but…” on page 112, what do you think she is trying to get Roger to understand in that passage? Why?

7. Why might Roger have wanted to go to the store?8. What is odd about the ending of the story? What

inferences can be made about the characters based on the ending of the story?

9. Why do you think Langston Hughes wrote this story? What was he trying to express through these two characters? In other words, what is theme of this story?

10. Read the passage on page 112 at the top of column two when the Rodger asks Luella if she needs someone to go to the store. What can the reader infer from this dialogue? What are the characters really saying? Does Rodger really want some milk or is something else going on here?