I Too Sing America: Main Theme of the Poem

Part A: Which excerpt from Text 1, "I Hear America Singing," best conveys its overall theme?

• "The carpenter singing his as he measures his plank or beam."

• "The mason singing his as he makes ready for work, or leaves off work."

• "Each singing what belongs to him or her and to no one else,"

• "The day what belongs to the day -- at night the party of young fellows, robust, friendly"

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Part B: How does the idea of carols help develop the theme of Text 1?

• The beauty of America grows as each worker contributes his or her own carol.

• As each American worker sings a new carol, he or she becomes more effective at his or her job.

• As each carol is introduced, more opportunities open up for Americans.

• The American worker grows more powerful as he shares his or her own carol.

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How does the structure of the poem contribute to its overall meaning?

• The gradual increase in line length accentuates the important role that women play in creating America's strength.

• The inconsistent line length emphasizes the novelty of each worker's contribution to America.

• The repeated references to songs develop the idea that each worker performs a similar function in American society.

• The list of a wide variety of workers highlights the unique contribution each worker makes to America.

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How does the description of the songs as "strong" in Line 3 of Text 1 impact the meaning of the poem?

• It emphasizes the greatness of America, created through individual workers.

• It highlights the joy that American laborers feel as they complete their daily tasks.

• It reveals the belief that America is only powerful as long as each worker contributes.

• It demonstrates a hope for a brighter future, felt by American laborers when they finish their work.

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Which theme is conveyed in Text 2, Hughes's poem?

• America must celebrate all of its members, not just a select group.

• All people in America share similar experiences and lead similar lives.

• Americans must make the effort to spend more time with their loved ones.

• To Americans, health and happiness should be of greatest importance.

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Which excerpt from Text 2 best demonstrates this theme?

• I am the darker brother

• But I laugh,/And eat well,

• Tomorrow,/I'll be at the table

• I, too, am America.

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In Text 2, how does the shift in setting from the kitchen to the table in Stanza 1 to Stanza 3 mainly impact the poem?

• It reveals the speaker's decision to develop deeper friendships.

• It reflects the speaker's determination and desire for progress.

• It proves that the ideals and values of the nation have already changed.

• It warns that humans must strive to make fewer demands of one another.

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Part A: In Stanza 2 and in Stanza 4 of Hughes's poem, the speaker uses the word "they." Who is the "they" that the speaker refers to?

• his family and friends

• his enemies and rivals

• people who are different from him

• people who are from other countries

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Part B: Why is it important that the speaker does not define exactly who "they" are?

• It protects the speaker's relationships by not offending one specific group.

• It keeps readers interested in the poem by maintaining their curiosity.

• It holds the focus of the poem on its subject, which is the speaker himself.

• It invites people everywhere to be part of the speaker's concept of America.

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Choose two statements that explain how the point of view of the speaker of Text 1 compares or contrasts with that of Text 2.

• Whitman's speaker speaks from a point of view of one who feels valued as an American, while Hughes' speaker does not.

• Whitman's speaker mainly discusses the challenges of being an American, while Hughes' speaker mainly discusses the benefits of being an American.

• Whitman's speaker and Hughes' speaker describe the lives of both American men and women.

• Whitman's speaker does not voice concerns about American life, Hughes' speaker does.

• Whitman's speaker describes the steps Americans have taken to achieve success, while Hughes' speaker does not.

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