Analysis

The analysis of the poem “Merry-Go-Round” by Langston Hughes shows that the outer composition is irregular. The poem is short and has an irregular rhyme scheme. The inner composition shows that the poem takes the form of a series of questions and confessions from a young black speaker who wants to know whether there is a special section for black children on the merry-go-round.

The speaker of the poem is most likely a young black child, who wants to ride a horse on a merry-go-round. The speaker comes from the South of the United States, where black people are segregated from the whites, and is curious as to how segregation applies on a merry-go-round.

The setting of the poem is most likely the Northern US, as the speaker mentions coming from the South. The focus of the poem is the merry-go-round, which is also an important symbol in the poem. The language is informal, as the poem’s speaker is a child who is not concerned with formality.

There are several poetic devices that Langston Hughes introduces in the poem. The rhetorical questions, repetition, and direct address highlight the idea of injustice and racial segregation. 

You can read a more detailed analysis on the following pages.