Summary and composition

In this section of the study guide, we focus on the summary and composition of the poem “I, Too” by Langston Hughes.

Summary

The speaker argues that he sings America although he is the darker brother who is usually sent to the kitchen when visitors come. However, this does not stop him from laughing and becoming a strong man. The speaker knows that there will come a day when he will no longer be sent to the kitchen and people would be ashamed for treating him this way because, in the end, he is also part of America.

Composition

Poetry analysis involves dealing with both outer composition (form) and inner composition (content), as they are equally important for understanding the poet’s message and style of writing.

Outer composition

Composed of five asymmetrical stanzas, “I, Too” is a free verse poem in which there is no rhyme pattern to the lines. Stanzas 1 and 5 are comprised of a single line, stanza 2 of six lines, stanza 3 of seven lines, and stanza 4 of three lines.

The lines are very short and this gives the poet more control over r...