USA HISTORY

THE ROARING 20S 1920 1929

ART AND CULTURE OF THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
The author’s use of a stairway to represent life is an example of
A
an allusion.
B
a hyperbole.
C
a metaphor.
D
personification.
Explanation: 

Detailed explanation-1: -In this case, it is an extended metaphor that compares the mother’s life to a staircase. Each step symbolizes a part of her life that she had to endure. This metaphor is used throughout the poem to show the meaning of the poem.

Detailed explanation-2: -The poet has also used metaphor. He uses symbols like tacks, splinters, no carpet on the floor and darkness to describe the difficulties that one faces in life. The staircase is also a metaphor for the struggles people face in their upward journey of life.

Detailed explanation-3: -#1-In “Mother to Son, ” Hughes uses the metaphor of the crystal stair to symbolize how difficult the mother’s life has been. Crystal is a clear and usually smooth surface. His life has not been lived climbing up crystal stairs. It has not been easy by any means.

Detailed explanation-4: -’Mother to Son’ by Langston Hughes uses the metaphor of a staircase to depict the difficulties and dangers one will face in life. The poem contains a mother’s warning to her son about the stairs one is forced to climb throughout life. He must watch out for broken boards, splinters, and tacks.

Detailed explanation-5: -Racism and Perseverance While white people can climb up a “crystal stair”-meaning they enjoy a smooth and easy ascent-Black people are forced to take a dangerous and dark staircase. In this way, the speaker argues that racism makes it much more difficult for Black people to succeed in society.

There is 1 question to complete.