What is
America?
Using "I Hear America Singing,"
"I, too," and a Student Mimic
to Define and Redefine America
What is America?
Name _____________________
Walt Whitman (1819–1892). Leaves of Grass. 1900.
I Hear America Singing
I HEAR America singing, the varied carols I hear;
Those of mechanics—each one singing his, as it should be, blithe and strong;
The carpenter singing his, as he measures his plank or beam,
The mason singing his, as he makes ready for work, or leaves off work;
The boatman singing what belongs to him in his boat—the deckhand singing on the
steamboat deck;
The shoemaker singing as he sits on his bench—the hatter singing as he stands;
The wood-cutter’s song—the ploughboy’s, on his way in the morning, or at the noon
intermission, or at sundown;
The delicious singing of the mother—or of the young wife at work—or of the girl sewing
or washing—Each singing what belongs to her, and to none else;
The day what belongs to the day—At night, the party of young fellows, robust, friendly,
Singing, with open mouths, their strong melodious songs.
Close Reading Questions
1. The entire poem (as so many poems are) is based on figurative language. What
personification is being used in the title (and throughout)?
2. This poem is positive in its tone? What words (diction choices) help develop that
tone?
3. How does the personification used in the poem contribute to the positive tone of the
poem?
4. List all of the occupations/types of people Whitman uses to describe America.
5. Whitman says he hears the “varied carols.” What does this mean?
6. What type of person is most represented?
7. What type of person is left out or is underrepresented in the poem?
What is America?
Name _____________________
Langston Hughes (1902-1967). I, Too, Sing America. Knopf, 1925
I, Too, Sing America
I, too, sing America.
I am the darker brother.
They send me to eat in the kitchen
When company comes.
But I laugh,
And eat well,
And grow strong.
Tomorrow,
I’ll be at the table
When company comes.
Nobody’ll dare
Say to me,
“Eat in the kitchen,”
Then
Besides,
They’ll see how beautiful I am
And be ashamedI, too, am America.
Close Reading Questions
8. Langston Hughes poem is a response to Walt Whitman’s poem. What group does
Hughes represent that Whitman ignored in his poem?
9. Hughes divides his poem into 5 stanzas. The beginning and end are repetition of his
main idea, but the middle three all represent different ideas. What are those ideas?
a.
b.
c.
10. Hughes uses a transition word to show the shift from one idea to the next. List them.
11. Hughes poem has a different tone than Whitman did. How would you describe
Hughes tone overall?
12. What words/phrases make help you identify this tone for the poem?
What is America?
Name _____________________
A Modern Adaptation
Walt Whitman wrote his poem about the working people he felt made up America and
the kind of place it is. But Whitman died over 100 years ago and we’ve changed as a
country since then. His America is not the America you live in. (Anyone here planning
on being a shoemaker?) Langston Hughes tried to address one of the problems he saw in
Whitman’s poem (which didn’t mention slavery or servants at all). But he wrote his poem
almost 100 years ago too.
So, it’s time to give Whitman a modern adaptation! Just think about the people who make
up America today and the work they do.
Now, mimic his poem by filling in the blanks with your modern working people and what
they do.
You will publish this by creating a poster with your poem on it and images that reflect the
America you describe.
I Hear America Singing
By ____________________ and Walt Whitman
I HEAR America singing, the _______________ _______________ I hear;
Those of _______________ —each one singing his, as it should be, _______________;
The _______________ singing his, as he _______________
The _______________ singing his, as he _______________, or _______________;
The _______________ singing what belongs to him _______________ —the
_______________ singing on _______________;
The _______________ singing as he _______________ —the _______________
singing as he _______________;
The _______________ song—the _______________, on his way _______________, or
_______________, or _______________;
The _______________ singing of the _______________ —or of the _______________
at work—or of _______________ _______________ or _______________ —
Each singing what belongs to her, and to none else;
The day what belongs to the day—At night, the _______________, _______________,
_______________,
Singing, with _______________ mouths, their _______________ _______________
songs