In Mother to Son the use of imagery, metaphor, and repetition is being used to convey the point that the mother is telling her son which is that throughout life you will make mistakes and it will get hard, she’s letting him know it won’t be easy you just have to keep going. The use of these devices helps him along with us get a better meaning of what she was saying. The imagery she uses “ 3 It’s had tacks in it, 4 And splinters, 5 And boards torn up, 6 And places with no carpet on the floor— by describing a stair with splinters and one that’s perfect with no marks makes us picture a perfect pretty, and and beaten up staircase so that we get the point life not easy and we’ll always go through stuff but we have to get going, we can’t give up. The repetition of the word climbin and the metaphor that she uses when she compares a staircase to life is being used to make us really see what sees saying. When you climb you keep going which is what she wants her son to do when life gets hard and she uses that metaphor to give him a better understanding because stairs go through alot too, they get stepped on, bruised up, dirty, while other staircases can be clean and pretty. She continuously says to keep climbing and life ain’t no crystal stair for him to really get in in his head. She’s comparing life to a staircase to help get the meaning through.

The words splinter and crystal contribute to a sincere/benevolent tone. The author uses words like : splinters and crystal to describe the staircase that is being metaphorically used to describe how life is. Splinters are used to show the bad things we go through in life leading up to their success. The crystal is used to portray a pretty staircase that hasn’t gone through any obstacles leading up to their success. Splinters is being used as negative things while crystal is being used positively, but both are helping the mother explain to the son that life won’t be easy which is relating back to the tone because the mother means well.

The Poem I Decided to Respond To Was Maya Angelou Poem “Still I Rise” Because Once I Looked At a Picture of me First Getting my Hair Pressed And I Saw How Much Confidence Angelou Had in Herself And Once I Read All of The Poem. it Inspired Me to be More Confident in Myself Even When I Felt Like When People Were Judging me. I Decided to Stop Thinking About Negative Thoughts on Confidence And Start to be More Like How Maya Angelou Was When People Tried to Bring Her Down. She Still Rise. The One Thing I Love About Myself is My Personality Because Personality is Everything To Me Because I Love Surrounding Myself Around Fun People. And That What Made me Read This Poem And Read, Reflect About it Cause it Describes How Maya Angelou Came Over All of The Hate She Got in her past And She Did Not Have To Change Anything About Herself. That What I Did To Show My Personality And Confidence. So I Will Not Have To Feel Ashamed Anymore. The Tone of The Poem is Confidence And These Words Evoke This Type of Tone by How Maya Angelou Explained How Her Life Went. The Tone in The Poem is Confidence.

In “Mother to Son” Langston Hughes uses Imagery, Metaphor, and Repetition are used to convey his idea that life isn't an easy journey/experience. Hughes uses Imagery (lines 12 and 13) and the way he uses these examples of Imagery is to tell us that there are risks in life and the outcome is unknown. Hughes uses the words dark and light to give us a visual sense into what this person has walked into, but they have a deeper meaning representing the risks that must be taken in life. In the poem the Mother says, “12 And sometimes goin’ in the dark 13 Where there ain’t been no light.”, this refers that she has made decisions that were not clear her (light didn't shine upon them), but nevertheless she took them because life is full of unknown decisions/risks. Hughes uses the metaphor, “2 Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.”, at the beginning of the poem and at the end of the poem to get his statement that life isn't a clear path/easy. He says this in the beginning to introduce his idea to the reader and as the reader reads the rest of the poem they should begin to grasp at Hughes statement about life, life isn't easy. In between the Metaphors that Hughes uses in the beginning and at the end of his poem he uses Repetition inside of the poem by using the word ‘and’ to further affirm his point that life isn't an easy journey. He writes, “4 And splinters, 5 And boards torn up, 6 And places with no carpet on the floor—”, this tells us that along your journey of life you will encounter things that hurt you, slow you down, and things that are/seem very uncomfortable.

 Langston Hughes carefully chooses his words in order to bring up his critical but encouraging tone. Hughes uses the word ‘Bare’ and ‘Dark’ which have a negative connotation to them. The way Hughes uses the word ‘Bare’ is both a denotative and figurative meaning because the way its used in the poem (6 And places with no carpet on the floor— 7 Bare.) it makes us picture a floor with no carpet, ‘Bare’, but it also has a figurative meaning attached to it. It's figurative meaning, as it is used in the poem, is of not receiving help in part of your journey through life. The way that Hughes uses the word ‘Dark’ is in a more figurative way but it does use it's denotative way to make you picture a person going into darkness. They way he uses it figuratively is that the narrator going in the dark (12 And sometimes goin’ in the dark 13 Where there ain’t been no light.) signifies a person venturing into unknown places, and this unknown places represent risks/decisions which have an unknown outcome. The word ‘Bare’ gives us that critical tone because the narrator in the poem is speaking to a younger person, while the way the word ‘Dark’ is used gives us that encouraging tone because the narrator is telling that younger person about their risks but that they are part of life.

In “Mother to son,” a mother is trying to get her son to understand life. She uses figurative language to get her point through. Langston Hughes uses imagery and repetition to illustrate his point. Imagery: It’s a visual of stairs to tacks splinters etc. Repetition: The words climbin reachin, landin and turnin all have the in sound.Imagery contributes to the poem because the author wants us to visualize how life is “2 Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.3 It’s had tacks in it,4 And splinters” and the splinters represent the bad things we go through .Repetition of the word ”climbin” contributes to the poem because she is telling her son never give up keep trying to reach your goals. The effect of this is that it will help the son understand what the mother really is trying to say.The point of the poem is to tell her son that we have been through rough times through darkness. Using the figurative language it helped her get her point across.

Langston Hughes uses words like “splinters” and “crystal” contribute to a informational tone. The mother is informing her son on the aspects of life by using a staircase as a metaphor.. Splinters have a negative connotation. Splinters are used to show the bad things we go through in life.Splinters are a small thin piece of wood glass or similar material broken off from a larger piece. Crystal which is the positive connotation is used to portray a pretty staircase that hasn’t gone through any obstacles leading up to their success. A crystal or crystalline solid is a solid material whose constituents are arranged in a highly ordered microscopic structure , forming a crystal lattice that extends in all directions. These words help explain the tone because their being used to inform the son that things won’t always be easy and pretty, they will get hard and ugly.

In “Mother to Son,” Langston Hughes uses imagery and metaphor to illustrate his point: of how hard life can be. Hughes in the first line of Mother to son it says “Well, son, I’ll tell you” is to show the number of things going on. In line 2 Hughes uses a metaphor to show the struggle of life how its not a shinning bright stair and its been in the abyss of darkness. This is a negative comparison because its showing how dim her life been no bright light. In lines 6 and 12 dealing with our sense of sight and touch as its going dark or floors with no carpet. In Lines 6 and 12 In lines 6 and 12 Hughes uses imagery to appeal to the sense of sight and touch as it says “And places with no carpet on the floor—” to show us how hard and rough life have been while line 12 says “And sometimes goin’ in the dark” to show how despair has been taking over a few times. This vivid, unpleasant language helps us understand how time in life been rough

Langston Hughes uses words like “climbing” and “dark'' is a tone of grim and inspirational Each of the two deals with different connotation as one is positive and one is negative. The word “climbing” helps understand how the mother has been ascending up and not fall down. The word “dark” is to show how she’s been in the abyss time to time despair taking over. In line 12 is using imagery saying things have been dark this is to show time have been hard. Similarly, we are not meant to take line 9 literally. The word climbing deals with moving up or ascending she’s not actually doing any of that instead its meant to show that she’s continue to go on and telling her so to do as well.

In “Still I Rise,” Maya Angelou uses simile, metaphor, and repetition to illustrate her point, which is no matter how much injustice you may face, you can overcome it. Don’t let anyone knock you down or lower your confidence. Angelou uses simile in (lines 4, 7, 9-12, 15, 19, 24, and 27) to connect to the point of the poem. Angelou compares herself to strong & valuable items, which tells us she knows her worth & how highly she thinks of herself. Angelou proceeds to use metaphors in line 33 to furthermore explain her worth to the reader. She compares herself to a black ocean, which means she is powerful and willful like a ocean. Angelou uses repetition in (lines 4, 12, 24, 30, 32, 36, 38, and 41-43). She repeats the phrases “Still, I’ll rise” & “I rise”. These phrases contribute to the overall meaning of the poem because she is telling the reader no matter what happens, she will always overcome it.

 Maya Angelou uses words like “sassiness” and “diamonds” to evoke a confident tone. Both words have a positive connotation: ‘sassiness’ helps create an bold image of how strong she is and ‘diamond’ helps create a pleasant idea of how valuable she is. Angelou uses these words in a figurative way. In line 27 she says (“That I dance like I've got diamonds—”) to tell us how freely she dances. In line 5 she says (“Does my sassiness upset you?—”), she is referring to how people may be offended by her personality & sassiness. The word ‘sassiness’ is associated with confidence and how she knows her own worth.

The poem “Still I rise” Maya Angelou uses repetition, simile and metaphor to make her point: she is the way she is and she is not changing because she is in love with who she is. She uses the simile ‘Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines Diggin’ in my own backyard.” where she compares her laugh to gold mines to prove the point that she accepts herself for who she is and she does care what people thinks. She goes on using the repetition “Still I rise”. She uses the metaphor “I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide” to compare herself to a black ocean without using the terms “like or “as”. She uses the terms metaphor and simile to compare herself to things such as things as luxury and positive things to boost her self confidence. These are all positive comparisons which shows the all of the characteristics she is and how confident she is.

Maya Angelou uses words in the poem “Still I rise” like “bitter” and “trod” these words contributes to the tone because they are being used in a powerful way. Both have positive connotation. ​ The word ‘bitter’ contributes to the tone of the because it is being used in a powerful way which can inspire a reader to be strong. The word ‘Trod’ contributes to the tone because it is being used to say that someone can drag you in the dirt but you still can rise. These words make the tone of the poem inspirational. The poem shows power of strength and resilience. In the poem lines 1 and 2 she says; (“You may write me down in history with your bitter, twisted lies”) to tell you that you can make up lies about her and continues to use the line (“Still I rise”) to inform you that she will rise regardless of any lie you make of her she will rise from it with the power of strength. In lines 3 and 4 she uses the simile (“You may trod me in the very dirt But still, like dust, I'll rise.”) to compare herself to dust. When dirt dries and gets old it turns into dust and can be blown into the air. She is using this simile to explain to readers that you can drag her in the dirt but soon or later she will rise. This connects back to the tone of the poem that it shows the power of strength and resilience because all of the negative things you can do to her she will make it a positive outcome and that is how she rises and become a better version of herself.

In ¨mother to son¨, Langston hughes uses imagery, metaphors to illustrate his point: never give up . Hughes use imagery lines 2-6 to refer to are 5 sense but he refers to two of them which are sight and touch, aslo hughes is is expressing feelings through imagery to places with no carpet on the floor mean like the author is struggling . Hughes also uses metaphor to refer to A crystal stair is smooth, beautiful, no cracks. Therefore, the comparison between crystal stairs and torn up stairs is that crystal stairs are smooth and beautiful then on the other hand torn up stairs are ugly and messed up.

Langston hughes uses words like dark and torn up to let off a sad tone in the poem . the author uses the dark to let us know she wasn´t literal about being in a dark place she meant her mind was in a dark place meaning she was going through something . the author also uses the words torn up because the author is trying to let the readers know the figurative mean of torn up used in this poem is she was upset at the stuff she was going through . These to word fit perfect with the tone because sometimes where you are sad you are in a dark place mean you dont what to do and sometimes you are torn up meaning you don´t know what to do are you cant do any thing because whatever you sad about has are ready went in to affect and there is nothing you can do about it.

Langston Hughes explores the subjects of life and resiliency in “Mother To Son''. Langston Hughes uses Poetic Devices like Imagery and repetition to illustrate a mother to her son, telling him to keep going no matter how hard life gets.Hughes uses imagery in line 2-7, in line 2 he is trying to compare a nice clean pretty set of stairs as a life when there are no issues or problems, he also uses words like “splinters, boards torn up,places with no carpet on the floor, Bare” to show us what the mother is comparing her life to staircase . Langston Hughes also uses Repetition “me ain’t been no crystal stairs”, in line 2 and 20. By him repeating this statement he's showing this is an important statement and how this is partly the meaning of the poem. By Langston Hughes using these literary devices he is showing the mothers life to the son the to the readers.

Langston Hughes word choice makes us think the tone of “Mother to son” is didactic. He uses words like splinters and crystal to show us the meaning of the tone. Didactic means to teach people a moral lesson. The words Langston Hughes uses words like “splinters'' and “crystal stair” gives us an idea what the poem means. The word “crystal stair” means in the poem life is easy. The word gives a positive connotative meaning because in the poem the mother is trying to say that a crystal stair is a perfect life with no problems. Langston Hughes also gives us the word “splinters'' so we can understand the poem. The word “splinters'' means a thin piece split or broken off lengthwise, it gives us a negative connotative meaning because she saying her life has bumps in the road and that her life isn’t always perfect. By Langston Hughes using these words we can understand his word chose and how it sets the tone of the poem and how the meaning of the poem is the mother is trying to teach us not give up even when life gets hard.

In the poem Mother To Son Hughes uses imagery and metaphor devices to illustrate the point to teach her son not to give up no matter how hard life gone be once he grow up and to experience it. Hughes uses imagery in line(s) 2 to describe the stair case to her life, he also uses metaphor in line(s) 3-4 to compare stair case and the mothers life on how it was hard and not just hard but the struggle she been through .This poem inspire us to not give up no matter what happens and no matter how hard life can be the poem was made for all the mothers how been through alot growing up as a kid , It encourages us to strive hard and be the best that they can be. In the poem about the stairs when she said “Bare” she was talking about her house the difference between the stair case and the crystal stair means in the poem and about the stair case represents her life how everything wasnt how she expected to be or how she wanted it.

Two structural devices used in “Mother to son” is imagery and metaphor. Metaphor is comparing and not using “like” or “as” and their was a lot of comparing in this poem. Let me break it down for you, he used metaphor to compare the crystal stair to the mother’s life. Imagery is visually descriptive or figurative language. He used imagery when the mother said “It’s had tacks in it and splinters and boards were torn up.” Imagery has to do with the five senses and sight is one of them. She saw splinters and boards and how rough it looked.

Two words I choose to analyze is dark and bare. These words evoke a plain and gloomy tone of the story. Plain and gloomy as in no excitement in the story just teaching a lesson in a boring way. I chose these words because it gave this kinda vibe when I read this poem. I say dark because her life was not easy. Dark was one of the words to sum up as a hard life she had growing up. I chose bare because she described the floor with that word. As she said in the poem “And places with no carpet on the floor - bare.” I also chose bare because that is another way to say her was empty and she came from nothing.

Hughes uses imagery and metaphor to illustrate his point that his mother was telling him how down you can get, just keep going even though it might be hard. Hughes uses imagery in lines 5-7 to describe a bad staircase.

He uses metaphor in lines 2 to compare a bad life and a good life. Hughes also repeats the phrase ”life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.” in lines 2 and 20. I think the metaphor and Imagery of this poem contributes to this because when the poem starts, they started with the line ”life for me ain’t been no crystal stair”, and she means that life isn't easy for anyone, and imagery tells you that she is trying to compare herself to a really beat up rug, and the rug is not the crystal stair. It’s the complete opposite in this poem.

Crystal was repeated in this poem. The denotative meaning of crystal means a piece of a homogeneous solid substance having a natural geometrically regular form with symmetrically arranged plane faces. It was a positive word that meant “a good life was like a crystal” in the poem. Also splinters was repeated in the poem. The denotative meaning of splinters is a sharp piece of wood. It was a negative word that meant “her life wasn’t always on track” in the poem.

In “Still I Rise,” Maya Angelou uses metaphor and repetition to emphasize her resilience to get back up after situations she goes through. In line 33 and 34, Angelou uses metaphor to compare herself to a black ocean, and she states “I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide, welling and swelling I bear in the tide.” The metaphor she used shows her readers how strong and bold she is, and how difficult it is to knock her down. Angelou also uses the repetition of the phrase “ I rise” throughout her poem. Her repeating this phrase shows how much of a vigorous and tough attitude she has. Also in lines 5, 6, 13, 14, 16 17, 25, and 28 Angelou asks questions about why she is questioned on her ability to be strong. The metaphors and repetition she used makes her comes off as a powerful woman.

 Maya Angelou uses words like “trod” and “hatefulness”, which gives the poem an serious tone. These two words have a negative connotation: ‘trod’ gives the image of her getting walked over, and ‘hatefulness’ is how people feel about her. In line 3, Angelou uses the word ‘trod’ in a figurative way to describe how she is walked over. She continues to line 4, which states “but still like dust, I’ll rise”, she uses this metaphor to describe how nothing to can keep her down. The word hatefulness was used in line 23, and she states “you may kill me with your hatefulness, but still, like air, I’ll rise.” Throughout the poem Angelou is giving examples as to how strong and resilient she is to things that try to bring her down or hold her back.

In the poem “Still I Rise” the literary devices I used are simile, metaphor, repetition and imagery. I choose Simile cause in line 11 it shows how the author is comparing high hopes to how strong minded she is. Also it uses the word like. I also used metaphor because in line 40 it shows how she compares herself to how slaves dreamed to be. The literary device repetition was used because the author repeats “I rise” in almost to every line. Lastly the author uses imagery because in lines 14-15 the author gives a visual description of her head dropping shoulders dropping and eyes lowering.

The two words I used for my Word choice are “dream” and “rise”. I choose these two words because when I read the poem these two words specifically were powerful and cause my attention. The word Rise was used many times in this poem. I chose to used the figurative meaning because in the poem it shows how black people were treated as nothing back then. The tone she uses when she says rise gives like a determined feeling. Also the word dream was found towards the end of the poem. I chose the connotative meaning because this word gave feeling. When people dream it’s usually positive things. The tone she used with this word wasn’t really positive though because they were slaves wanting to be free.

"Still I Rise" by Maya Angelou:

I feel like her point was that she will always rise when people try to bring her down.I say this because she’ll asks questions about herself like “did you want to see me broken? Bowed head and lowered eyes? Shoulders falling down like teardrops,Weakened by my soulful cries? (13-16).” I felt like that was her example of saying that she is very strong women and that she’ll rise no matter what people say to her.Then later on and the poem she use some Poetic Devices like Simile, Metaphor, Repetition so these are in line 9, 33, 41-43.I know this because and simile she use like or as for like moons and like suns. Then she uses metaphor cause she’s comparing herself as a black ocean. She also uses repetition because she repeat “I rise” as she’ll rise up even when someone or thing brings her down.In all this add up to her the point because Just like moons and suns she saying she always rise cause that's what the moon and the sun do rise up. I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide for this she saying shes a black woman who keeps it moving throughout out all the pain.

"Mother to Son" by Langston Hughes:

Langston Hughes words contribute to a positive tone.The word she used was climbing .climbing is making it to the top of the mountain keep it going into you make it. I feel like this is positive mindset. She keeps going though life in keeps pushing on. So climbing is that she been hanging on in make her way to the top. Langston Hughes second word contribute to a positive tone also that word is crystal. A crystal or crystalline solid is a solid material which is positive also a smooth life without the challenge to keep going. But for her a crystal is to have a smooth life even though her not smooth she still keeps going because want her son to do better in life the she do.