10. Prepare a note of appreciation of the poem ‘Mother to Son’ considering the theme, imagery and poetic devices used. (5)
Answer
The well-known poem ‘Mother to Son’ was written by African-American writer Langston Hughes. The poem comprises the thoughts of a mother whose life is surrounded by misery. It shows the significance of a mother in a family and how she can give love, attention and guidance to her children. The poem is in the form of a dramatic monologue. A mother advises her son that he will have to face many adversities in life and yet he must overcome them and keep going. The mother compares the journey through life to ascending a staircase. She says that for her, life has not been a staircase made of crystals. Rather it has been quite rough with nails and pieces of wood jutting out, the board was torn up and in places where the carpet was missing. However , she has kept climbing, through landings, corners, and darkness in spite of such discomforts. She then asks the boy to walk in her footsteps and keep moving forward without turning back because she finds the journey difficult. She wants him to take inspiration from the fact that she is still going steady despite life’s hardships.
As the poem opens with ‘Well son, I’ll tell you,’ it is possible that the son has asked something before, to which she is responding. The use of the word ‘ain’t’ indicates that the mother is not a learned person and ‘crystal stair’ is a symbol of smoothness and beauty. ‘Tacks’, ‘splinters’, ‘boards torn up’ etc. suggest hurdles of life. ‘Boards torn up’ may symbolise unsteady grounds leading to uncertainties in the person’s mind. ‘Bare’ suggests scant furnishings. ‘Climbing’, ‘reaching’, ‘landing’ ‘turning corners’ suggest movements and therefore signifies an ascent that is inspiring.
Hardships, hope, and courage are some of the major themes of the poem. The poem is rich in visual and auditory images. The use of the metaphor ‘crystal staircase’ is very effective. The sufferings and the pathetic conditions of the blacks are well portrayed throughout the poem. But it has a universal appeal and it can truly inspire those who meet with hardships and failures in their life.
▲ Unit I - Glimpses of Green
Chapter-1: Adventures in a Banyan Tree
Chapter-2:The Snake and the Mirror (Short story)
Chapter-3: Lines Written in Early Spring
▲ Unit II - The Frames
Chapter-1: Project Tiger (Memoir)
Chapter-3: Blowin' In The Wind (song)
▲ Unit III - Lore of Values
Chapter-1:The Best Investment I Ever Made
Chapter-2: The Ballad of Father Gilligan
Chapter-3: The Danger of a Single Story
Chapter-3:The Never - Never Nest
Chapter-3:The Castaway
Helpful for students and teachers.. worthy work..
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