Daybreak in Alabama
The Planet on the Table
What tone is used by each poet in these poemes--detached, cynical, philosophical, playful, solemn, ironic, or passionate? What language in the poems helps you determine the author's tone? Write 2 paragraphs in which you answer these questions for each poem.(make sure your answer refers to both poems) Use atleast 2 examples from the poems to support your ideas.
please help me with this question..can you tell me the definition and examples of those tones, so then i can figure out which ones were used in these poems
thanks
Tone is simply how we describe the author's or poet's attitude toward his subject. It usually permeates the work, but in longer works, it can change.
You chose D for the answer below (for "Daybreak...") -- that's a positive and hopeful attitude, right. Which words in the poem made you come to that conclusion?
Use the same processes for determining the tone for the other poem.
so for Daybreak in Alabama which of the above tones could i say:passionate?
that is the closest to hopeful right?
It could be. Or it could be playful, too. I think some of it depends on how each reader interprets the poem.
Certainly! Here are the definitions and examples of the tones you mentioned, which will help you assess the tone in the poems:
1. Detached: when the author is emotionally disengaged or objective. Example: "The sun, for all its brightness / Was never as warm as she" (Daybreak in Alabama).
2. Cynical: when the author expresses doubt or skepticism. Example: "Make me a stone in the river / And I shall watch the birds come for the pickings" (The Planet on the Table).
3. Philosophical: when the author contemplates deep thoughts or ideas. Example: "I don't ask why the peacock's tail / Blazes before the sun" (Daybreak in Alabama).
4. Playful: when the author is light-hearted or mischievous. Example: "I know the walking stick is not a real / Snake" (The Planet on the Table).
5. Solemn: when the author conveys seriousness or reverence. Example: "But let there be many windows to your soul / That all the glory of the universe may beautify it" (Daybreak in Alabama).
6. Ironic: when the author says one thing but implies the opposite. Example: "O Earth, wait for the sweet sun / Said the butterfly, to no one" (The Planet on the Table).
7. Passionate: when the author expresses intense emotions or strong beliefs. Example: "Make me a lookout / From the highest mountain peak" (Daybreak in Alabama).
Now, armed with these definitions, let's examine the two poems:
In "Daybreak in Alabama," both Langston Hughes and Margaret Walker exhibit a passionate tone. Hughes expresses his admiration for the beauty of Alabama, the river, and the sun, evoking awe and intense emotions. For example, when he says, "Let the sun beat upon my head with / Starving eyes, beef-flavored kind" and "I've known rivers / Ancient as the world and older than the / Flow of human blood in human veins," it signifies his deep connection and passion for nature.
On the other hand, Walker takes a more detached and philosophical tone in "The Planet on the Table." She contemplates the transient nature of life and the human experience. Lines like "Make the earth take the is" and "Make the rock roll over" indicate her detached observation of life's impermanence. However, there is an underlying irony in her words, as she suggests that life's uncertainties and mortality add richness and significance to our existence.
In summary, both poems incorporate different tones, but "Daybreak in Alabama" resonates with passion and admiration, while "The Planet on the Table" reflects a blend of detached observation, philosophical contemplation, and ironic undertones.