Who learned the bigger lesson, the speaker in writing the theme or the instructor in reading it? Use evidence from the text as well as an historical frame of reference in composing your response.
I believe the speaker learned a lesson. Although he was unsure of quite a bit, the fact that he was asking questions and making the comments he made was actually a process for learning. I can't speculate that the professor learned anything, it would depend on the lens in which he read the paper.
My response to this question changed. After I initially read the poem, my reaction was to believe the writer of the poem learned more. It initially appeared as though there was an evolution of thought. I felt this was because Hughes went from referring to himself as a "colored" individual and then eluding to the idea that he did not really identify with any specific race and then to connect with the reader. However, I no longer feel as though this is the case. After hearing the audio version of the poem, I felt that the reader will probably benefit more from reading the poem, though I still don't believe he will learn much. I feel as though Hughes approached this project from the perspective of trivializing the assignment. A sort of ...This is who I am and you will believe what it is you want to believe. I believe that the writer does not feel that a "truth" will be observed through this assignment. I think the author is hoping the instructor will at least recognize the limitations of his assignment. In that, I believe the instructor may learn a lesson.
I agree. I don't know the context in which this poem was written. I wonder if it was really written for a professor at all...maybe the one who is suppose to learn is us, the reader. I guess it goes back to, what is the intended audience?
I believe the speaker learned a lesson. Although he was unsure of quite a bit, the fact that he was asking questions and making the comments he made was actually a process for learning. I can't speculate that the professor learned anything, it would depend on the lens in which he read the paper.
ReplyDeleteMy response to this question changed. After I initially read the poem, my reaction was to believe the writer of the poem learned more. It initially appeared as though there was an evolution of thought. I felt this was because Hughes went from referring to himself as a "colored" individual and then eluding to the idea that he did not really identify with any specific race and then to connect with the reader. However, I no longer feel as though this is the case. After hearing the audio version of the poem, I felt that the reader will probably benefit more from reading the poem, though I still don't believe he will learn much. I feel as though Hughes approached this project from the perspective of trivializing the assignment. A sort of ...This is who I am and you will believe what it is you want to believe. I believe that the writer does not feel that a "truth" will be observed through this assignment. I think the author is hoping the instructor will at least recognize the limitations of his assignment. In that, I believe the instructor may learn a lesson.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I don't know the context in which this poem was written. I wonder if it was really written for a professor at all...maybe the one who is suppose to learn is us, the reader. I guess it goes back to, what is the intended audience?
Delete