What symbolism is used in Mother to Son?
“Mother to Son” Symbols Throughout the poem, the speaker uses an extended metaphor to describe the challenges and obstacles she’s had to overcome as a black woman: her life has been like climbing a dark, dangerous, poorly maintained staircase. The “crystal stair” is just the opposite of the staircase she’s had to use.
What is the symbolism in the poem Mother to Son by Langston Hughes?
‘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.
What does the image of the stair in Mother to Son symbolize?
Using the analogy of a crystal stairway, this mother explains to her son that the journey of her life, and life overall, is like a stair that is deceased, and broken, containing small cracks, splinters, and torn up boards, rather a smooth, good looking “crystal stair.” The crystal stair is used as a metaphor for the …
What metaphor is used throughout Mother to Son What does it tell you about the mother’s life and how she has responded to it?
What metaphor is used throughout “Mother to Son”? The mother’s life is compare to climbing an uncomfortable and dangerous stairway. the metaphor suggets that her life has been hard but she has kept going.
What does splinters and tacks represent?
They both represent a mother’s pain and sufferings in her life being conveyed to her son. Explanation: In the poem, “Mother to Son”, the inference of the words splinters and tacks are trying to mean the hardships and rough spots in the life of the mother that she encountered always.
What is the meaning of no crystal stair?
The poem literally expands on the image of life as a staircase. She tells her son that “life for me ain’t me no crystal stair” literally meaning that life is not like a smooth , clear crystal.
What do tacks and splinters symbolize in the poem?
What do the Tacks, and Splinters Symbolize? pain and injury. Since these items are on every step along the way, her journey through life has ALWAYS been painful and challenging.
What do stairs symbolize?
Symbolically, staircases can suggest a journey; A staircase could be a passageway that unites any two things: places, ideas, or states of being; If one ascends the stairs that journey is probably positive. However, if one descends the stairs that journey might be negative, confusing, or depressing.
What does the crystal stair most clearly symbolize for the mother choose two options?
At both the beginning and the end of “Mother to Son,” the mother says, “Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.” What does the crystal stair most clearly symbolize for the mother? It is an easy life of wealth and luxury.
What is the overall message the mother is trying to convey to her son?
The poem explores the dignity and determination of a person when facing problems. The speaker compares her life to a ragged staircase and conjures up an idea that one should not give up. She says that life is full of tests, challenges, and confusion and a person should confront with courage and determination.
What is the meaning of boards torn up?
Boards torn up means broken, obstacles, unfinished.
Does Mother to Son have personification?
Hughes poem is not fully about personification but their are some lines in the poem that express personification clearly. “It’s had tacks in it, And splinters, And boards torn up,” expresses personification that relates to life.