American literary Modernism is one of the most prominent eras in the development of literature. It emerged as a response to the drastic changes in the society and in the whole world in general. As a result, there emerged new writers who approached literature in the unexpected ways, experimented with it, and gave it interesting forms. The poets of the period between the two World Wars have given the readers an extremely valuable gift that is still relevant today. What is important to note is that even within this period the literature in general, and poetry specifically, differs a lot. Multiple themes, structures, and forms were explored by the poets. Two of the prominent authors of that time are Langston Hughes and Robert Frost. Comparing these two poets may not seem self-evident. At first glance these authors do not have much in common. However, despite some differences in backgrounds and literature, Frost and Hughes have a deep connection with their native country, and their poetry shows the true greatness of being an American.
In the poems of Robert Frost one can find many interesting points to discuss. A big part of his poems deals with the choices the humans are faced with. This theme is of paramount importance because it transcends the generations and stays relevant to the readers of different ages. Frost is considered to be an important figure in the literary world. His four Pulitzer Prizes are well-deserved as his literature really goes beyond one generation of the readers. The major themes of his poetry include the questions of human existence and choices that common people face everyday. One of the great poems of Frost is “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening.” The poem is rather short, only four stanzas, but analyzing it one can find many things to consider. On the surface of it, the narrator is talking about stopping alone in the woods some time in winter. This is quite strange, and even the horse is nervous in the dark. At the end, the person decides to move on before resting in these woods.
The imagery of the poem is remarkable. One can easily envision the woods – silent, serene, and secluded – despite of the lack of extensive descriptions. The narrative power of Frost’s poems has to be noted separately. The poet has an incredible ability to let the reader see the imaginary world quite vividly. Frost uses multiple methods to draw the readers in. These are the direct tone, first person narrative, use of dialogues, easy and understandable language. This is important because it explains why Robert Frost’s books have had so much influence on common people and future poets as well. He speaks directly to the reader, accepts the audience as his equal, as his partner in the conversation. This easy style creates an intimate connection between the writer and the reader. There is no wonder why the poems of this writer appeal to a wide audience.
Returning back to “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening,” the poem can be interpreted in many different ways. Some will only see the literal meaning while others will dig deeper and discover the hidden messages. One interpretation that is hard to avoid is the image of death and life. The woods represent eternal peace and unity with nature. The words like “frozen lake” and “easy wind and downy flake” demonstrate the quietness and a sort of absence of time. The narrator is longing to stay there and rest but he hears the bells of the horse and seems to be shaken back into reality. He acknowledges that this place is wonderful but he has other commitments so far. The last line, “And miles to go before I sleep”, is repeated twice and shows the decision to continue living and struggling with life rather than giving up. The poem is reassuring and motivational. While the narrator acknowledges the appealing nature of rest and eternal peace he is propagating life and movement despite the probable difficulties along the way. Taking into account the time that the poem was written, a couple of years after World War I, it sends a powerful message of perseverance and continuous fight for life.
A similar reassurance can be found in the poetry of Langston Hughes. This poet, however, is more direct in his statements and expressions. For instance, the poem “I, Too” is a powerful example of how Hughes dedicates himself to the fight for equal rights of African Americans. Examining the form of the poem, one can notice that it is quite different from Frost’s poem. This one conforms to the Modernist style more. The lines are broken and split up in seemingly random places. Stanzas are of different length. This structure, however, effectively conveys the meaning of the poem and lets the reader see the emphases in a clearer way. The poem has a sort of sandwich structure, where the main body of the work is put between two very similar lines – “I, too, sing America” at the beginning and “I, too, am America” at the end of the poem. Even these two short lines show the audience how emotional the narrator is about the given issue.
Moving from structure to content it is plain that the poem is future oriented, like the one written by Robert Frost. Langston Hughes is looking forward, and it is perfectly evident in every line. He starts from the present day, describing the inequalities Negroes face. But all this mistreatment seems to go unnoticed by the narrator. “But I laugh, / And eat well, / And grow strong”. He looks forward to a brighter future when the situation will change and those people who are cruel will be proud to keep his company. One of the stanzas starts with the on-word line “Tomorrow”. This is hardly random; instead, the author has most likely deliberately separated this word into the whole line to emphasize that the main events are still to come.
This poem can be applied to many situations in one’s life. Moreover, the poem in general can be a major source of inspiration for many people. Life is known to be changeable and capricious; and it is always good to remember that things may always change for the best. Hughes reminds the readers about this with every line he writes. Despite the repressions, the insecurities of that time, and the lack of prospects for happy future the poet still remains hopeful.
Taking into account the life and work of Langston Hughes, one cannot but mention his great role