LT+Task+3

I, Too By Langston Hughes

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

1. **Imagery**- words or phrases that form mental images by use of the five senses Words in I, Too showing imagery: Sing- Gives an image of a proud person, one who is patriotic Darker- the sense of sight is used by "darker" to see a person of an ebony complexion Laugh, Eat well, Grow Strong- the sense of sight can be used to see happy and hopeful people who are being empowered, though they are discriminated against Dare- gives an image of no ability or thought to be discriminatory Beautiful- the sense of sight is invoked by "beautiful" and what is seen is a radiant dark-skinned man, who is as extraordinary as everyone else

2. **Metaphor**- A comparison of two seemingly dissimilar objects without the use of "like" or "as" The major metaphor of //I, Too// is "I, too, am America" This metaphor best displays the poem's overall meaning of equality because it emphasizes that they "too" are American. By saying "I... am America," the conveyed message is that they are American. The author and the people of his race are a part of the population of those in America. "Too" is the most important part of the metaphor to show off equality. This one word holds much impact because it as though they are proving to the audience that they are Americans and affirming that status, even though they are usually not treated as Americans. Thus, showing that the equality in America is unequal and unfair, but that there is hope for more equality because the people being treated unjustly are willing to tell how they are treated and to let others know that they are part of society.

3. **Symbol**- A word, phrase, object, or image that represents something more, has a deeper meaning associated with it, and alone, it might otherwise hold much less significance The major symbol of //I, Too// is the table. Langston Hughes uses the symbol of the table to display American society. The table demonstrates this because the "darker brother" represents the population of black people and they can not sit at the "table," but wish to. Then they assert that they "too" are American. Therefore, one can assume the "table" is American society because it is what they have to confirm that they are a part of and in the poem they are shown to not be a member at the table.