The two poems use similar figurative language to comment on problems in society, but address these problems differently.
"Poem Resisting Arrest" & "Mother to Son" both use extended metaphors to comment on problems in society, but address these problems through different points of view.
The poems use different points of view to comment on different relationships, but in the end, both poems illustrate issues in society.
Both poems use extended metaphors to highlight issues in society, but they tackle these issues differently through varied points of view.
The poems use different points of view to comment on different relationships.
- the use of first person highlights the mother's narrative voice and care for her son
- brings the reader into their relationship
"Mother to Son" is told in the first person. The mother cites her own journey through life as she explains that she's "still climbin'" (Hughes 19).
- the point-of-view highlights the idea that even if racism/violence/hardships aren't happening to you, they are still happening and shouldn't be ignored
- society's relationship to racism
"Poem Resisting Arrest" is told in the third person. The poet describes the violence the poem experiences and the response from society, "No one will remember the nothing of which / this poem was accused-just that it was another / poem that bled" (Dargan 24-26).
- the metaphor illustrates obstacles in life through the use of "tacks," "splinters," and "boards torn up"
- institutional racism makes it more difficult for communities of color to succeed, making life harder every step of the way
In "Mother to Son," a mother desribes life as a staircase when explaining to her son that he has to keep climbing even when life's difficult. She says, "Life for me ain't been no crystal stair. / It's had tacks in it / And splinters / And boards torn up" (Hughes 2-5).
- the metaphor illustrates police brutality with "becoming numb" and "cuffed phrasing"
- puts the issue of police brutality in another context to bring attention to the problem
In "Poem Resisting Arrest," the poem represents a Black person resisting arrest and, as a result, becomes a victim of police brutality. The poet writes, "This poem is becoming / numb, already losing feeling in its cuffed phrasing" (Dargan 22-23).
Write a well-organized essay comparing the two poems: "Poem Resisting Arrest" & "Mother to Son." Consider structure, language, mood, & theme.
Both poems use extended metaphors to communicate issues in society.
