Mother to Son

Mother to Son

Well, son, I'll tell you: Life for me ain't been no crystal stair. It's had tacks in it, And splinters, And boards torn up, And places with no carpet on the floor— Bare. But all the time I'se been a-climbin' on, And reachin' landin's, And turnin' corners, And sometimes goin' in the dark Where there ain't been no light. So, boy, don't you turn back. Don't you set down on the steps. 'Cause you finds it's kinder hard. Don't you fall now— For I'se still goin', honey, I'se still climbin', And life for me ain't been no crystal stair.

Langston Hughes

1. Examine the diction (word choice) in this poem. Why is it important? What does it tell you?

2. An extended metaphor is used in this poem, comparing life to a staircase. What details tell us about the speaker's life? What do they reveal?

3. Describe the mood and tone of the poem.

PLEASE ANSWER IN A BLOG POST - DUE OCTOBER 9th

NOTES

Diction: word choice

Colloquialism: An informal expression that is more often used in casual conversation than in formal speech or writing. "I wasn't born yesterday."

Colloquial Language

Archaic language: language no longer in use

Slang: casual and playful speech (dude, sweet…)

Jargon: associated with a particular profession or group (medical – code blue)

Dialect: regional (girls – birds)