Please write 150 words about BOTH of the following discussion topics:

1. First, in the work of Robert Frost, you will notice much figurative language — language and images that are meant to convey multiple meanings, sometimes symbolic, metaphoric, etc. A symbol is an image that contains multiple meanings, while a metaphor is a comparison between two things without relying on words such as “like” or “as” (similes make a similar comparison but DO use “like or “as”). So, the difference is — you are like a rose (simile), versus you are a rose to me (metaphor). A symbol is like the American flag, which uses both stars to convey the 50 united states as well as stripes to convey the original 13 colonies. Still, it means much more than that, including an emphasis on liberty, democracy, freedom, independence, and justice, among many other ideas. So, why do you think Frost uses an image of forked roads (a road split into two directions) and discusses the grassy undergrowth, as well as the color of leaves (yellow)? What do these elements signify in terms of: decision making, the solitary nature of doing things less common, and changes in time? Also, in “Stopping by the Woods,” why do you think the horse thinks the rider’s act — to stare into the snow-covered woods  — is so “queer” (in this context, odd and unusual)? Why are moments like this perhaps essential to understanding the difference between humans and domesticated animals?

2. In Langston Hughes’ poem, you will discover much repetition/patterns, which are known as parallelism (yes, like the parallel nature of train tracks), as well as many allusions, which is to make a historical or literary reference. Why do you think he uses such patterns (such as “I built…I bathed…”) and mentions so many places, people, and moments in history (Abe Lincoln, the Euphrates)? What might he be symbolizing regarding the dignity, worth, intelligence, and talents of African Americans many decades before Civil Rights, when they were treated as second-class citizens? Extra Note. Some, like Black Lives Matter, argue that this injustice continues.