Synecdoche In Poetry

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Walt Whitman and Langston Hughes captivate the attention of Americans through their poems “I Hear America Singing” and “I, Too”. I chose these two pieces of literature because of their similar meanings in which everyone is American no matter what and even if there are hard times one can persevere through anything. These pieces are still relevant and important in our times due to conflicts among races, who fits where? And who would be included in the colorful term “American”. Through the use of a synecdoche both Walt Whitman in “I Hear America Singing” and Langston Hughes in “I, Too” answer the diverse question of what and who are Americans.
Walt Whitman who is the author of “I Hear America Singing” was born May 31st, 1819 in West Hills, Long …show more content…

One aspect that is present in both “I Hear America Singing” and “I, Too” is the use of a synecdoche. “Synecdoche is a literary device in which a part of something represents the whole or it may use a whole to represent a part” (Synecdoche - Examples and Definition of Synecdoche). There are many different examples of a synecdoche in these poems along with everyday speech and literature. Literarydevices.net gives the following examples of a synecdoche: “The word “bread” refers to food or money as in “Writing is my bread and butter” or “sole breadwinner”. The phrase “gray beard” refers to an old man. The word “sails” refers to a whole ship. The word “suits” refers to businessmen. The word “boots” usually refers to soldiers. The term “coke” is a common synecdoche for all carbonated drinks” (Literarydevices.net). As one may be able to tell people as a whole use a synecdoche in everyday speech. The main purpose for using a synecdoche is to eventually employ symbolism in works of literature. The reader’s attention is capture through the deeper meanings that are given to otherwise ordinary thoughts or ideas. Using a synecdoche in literature essentially brings to life the images authors and poets try to portray …show more content…

These two poems are some of the greatest works of literature ever written. While Walt Whitman was just speaking the truth as it was known to him about who and what Americans were Langston Hughes on the other hand responded to Whitman’s poem. Hughes basically said that oh this is what you think America is, everyone matters including my people. With the success of using a small part to represent a whole both Walt Whitman and Langston Hughes captivate the attention of America, the melting pot of the

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