Gwendolyn Brooks 'Speech To The Young'

As the old piece of advice goes, people should enjoy the little things in life, for one day you will look back and realize they were the big things. The context of this statement pertains to Gwendolyn Brooks' poem, “Speech to The Young: Speech to the Progress-Toward” in which she tries to instill the same values in the youth. Both the poem and Brooks explain that to achieve happiness, one must abide by their own goals and not let the persuasion of others change that. Gwendolyn Brooks was an African American poet who wrote during the 1950s, 60s, and 70s, which were times of great struggle, hardship, and change for blacks seeking equality. Her experiences and views clearly influenced her work and drove her messages. She won many awards for her

In the poem, Speech to the Young: Speech to the Progress-Toward, by Gwendolyn Brooks, The author uses metaphors and repetition to emphasize the theme of the importance of cherishing life’s experiences and pursuing passions despite the naysayers perspectives.
Brooks poem consists of various figurative language methods, which help draw out its overall directive, which is not to spend life only doing things people support but doing things that are right and driven by passion. By the use of metaphors and juxtaposition in the first stanza, the author speaks to the concept of following through with goals and beliefs and not letting the views of others get in the way. Brooks encourages the youth to dismiss, “The down-keepers, / the sun-slappers, / the self-soilers, / the harmony-hushers” (Lines 2-5). And that even if someone's views pertaining to specific issues are different, do not completely rule them out, but take the time to understand these views and appreciate this perspective. Times are changing and life will not be the

The use of different poetic devices in the poem such as metaphors and repetition enables the critic to focus directly on the main theme of the story. Metaphors allow for the reader to look at the poem in a different perspective rather than the writer just blatantly stating it. Repetition helps the reader to zero in on the main concepts that Brooks wants to be interpreted throughout her poem, by repeating it several times to help the reader get a better grasp on the concept. This poem’s message connects to the world because nowadays people can get caught up in what social media says, and what people are posting, which can potentially result in people changing their lives to fit the “social stamina.” But if they are to listen to her message, they could create their own values and own way of life rather than just going with what society says. Because if that were to happen no one would be different and have the confidence to pursue their own passions. Even though this poem is directed towards the youth, Brooks believes that the adults in society are the ones who have to take away from this and learn to be more