“Merry-Go-Round” by Langston Hughes – Analysis & Summary
Merry-Go-Round
Where is the Jim Crow section
On this merry-go-round,
Mister, cause I want to ride?
Down South where I come from
White and colored
Can’t sit side by side.
Down South on the train
There’s a Jim Crow car.
On the bus we’re put in the back—
But there ain’t no back
To a merry-go-round!
Where’s the horse
For a kid that’s black?
Guiding questions
i. What is the type of this poem?
This poem belongs to sonnet category of poem as it contains fourteen free verses.
ii. Who speaks in this poem?
The persona who speaks in this poem is the one who might be directly affected by the existing situation of racial discrimination and segregation which was practiced in American society and South Africa in the previous days.
iii. What is the topic of discussion in this poem?
The main idea/topic of discussion in this poem is about racial discrimination and segregation in the former American and South African society where black people were considered as the inferior class all over the world.
iv. What is the tone of the persona?
The tone of the persona is almost bitter due to the existing situation. Also it is as sadness that’s why he/she wants to ride back where he/she comes from.
v. Comment on the poetic features used in this poem.
Various poetic features have been employed in this poem and they include the following;
- Repetition of sounds such as;
- Alliteration such as the use of “c” in the first verse of the first stanza where a persona asserts;
“Coloured child at Carnival, Where is the Jim Crow section,
On this Merry-go-round, Mister, cause I want to ride?
And “b” in the third verse of the fourth/last stanza as a persona says; But there ain’t no back,
To a Merry-go-round! Where is the horse For a kid that’s black!
- Assonance g. “I” in the second verse of the first stanza where the persona says;
“Coloured child at Carnival, Where is the Jim Crow section, On this Merry-go-round,
Mister, cause I want to ride?
- Consonance g. “d” and “k”
vi. Comment on the language used in this poem.
ü The language/diction employed in this poem is almost ordinary Standard English language due to the use of grammatical rules, however there is a little use of contractions. Additionally, there is a little use of figurative Language as there is;
Symbolism such as’
- “Merry-go-round” to symbolize an action of doing away with racial segregation.
- Jim-crow to symbolize the neglected class of blacks.
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