• Seven-Step Poetry Analysis

“Mother to Son”

Langston Hughes

• Title of Poem�

Review the title of the poem.

• Are there words in the title that are new or unclear?
• What are some of the possible meanings of the title?
• What clues does the title provide about the content of the poem?
• What other questions do you have about the title of the poem?

• Title of Poem

• The title of the poem is “Mother to Son.”
• This title suggests that this poem is about family and probably the mother/son relationship.
• This poem might be about the similarities or differences of mothers and sons?
• It might also be about a mother talking to her son.

• Read the poem�

• Number the lines of the poem. Read the poem once silently and once orally.
• What do you notice about the structure of the poem?
• How many stanzas?
• Is there a rhyming pattern?
• Are there other sound elements that you notice when you read?

“Mother to Son”�Langston Hughes�

• Well, son, I'll tell you:
• Life for me ain't been no crystal stair.
• It's had tacks in it,
• And splinters,
• And boards torn up,
• And places with no carpet on the floor—
• Bare.
• But all the time
• I'se been a-climbin' on,
• And reachin' landin's,
• And turnin' corners,
• And sometimes goin' in the dark
• Where there ain't been no light.
• So, boy, don't you turn back.
• Don't you set down on the steps.
• 'Cause you finds it's kinder hard.
• Don't you fall now—
• For I'se still goin', honey,
• I'se still climbin’,
• And life for me ain't been no crystal stair.

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• Read the poem

• The structure is free verse and the words are conversational and informal.
• There is only one stanza.
• There is not a rhyming pattern.
• There is alliteration with the initial b sound in lines 7, 8, and 9. Also, the d sound in lines 14 and 15. The f sound in lines 16, 17, and 18. The c and the s sound in the last three lines.
• The word “And” is repeated in lines 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, and 20.
• The word “Don’t” is repeated in lines 14, 15, and 17.
• The word “I’se” is repeated in lines 9, 18, and 19.
• The line “life for me ain’t been no crystal stair” is repeated in lines 2 and 20.
• The speaker is a mother who has had a difficult life.

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• Vocabulary�

Circle unfamiliar vocabulary.

• The words might be new or they might be familiar words used in an unfamiliar or unusual manner.
• Write brief definitions of the circled words.
• What is the tone of the poem? Circle words and phrases that convey the tone.

• Vocabulary

• The speaker’s tone is instructive and encouraging.
• Circle “I’ll tell you” (line 1), “Life for me” (line 2), “I’se been a-climbin’ on” (line 9), and “don’t you turn back” (line 14)
• What other words convey the tone?

• Paraphrase

Read the poem again, and write a paraphrase of the poem. A paraphrase is not a summary, but rather a “translation” of the poem into your own words. This will focus primarily on the literal meaning of the poem. Include who the speaker is.

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• Paraphrase

• In this poem, the speaker who is a mother, is telling her son that life hasn’t been like a crystal staircase. Instead, the stairs that she has walked on have been rough and beat up. However, she has never stopped climbing those steps, even if the stairway was dark. In addition, she tells her son that he shouldn’t turn around or sit down on the steps because the steps are hard. Finally, she says that she is still climbing the steps and reiterates that her life hasn’t been like a crystal stair.

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• Literary Analysis

Read the poem again and underline the figurative language (metaphors, similes, personification, etc.). Jot down notes of possible meanings of these figurative language examples.

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• Literary Analysis

• Lines 2-13 have an extended metaphor comparing the speaker’s life to a staircase that has “tacks,” “splinters,” “boards torn up,” and “bare” floor with “no carpet.” She furthers the metaphor of her life to a staircase by saying that she has been “a-climbin’ on,” “reachin’ landin’s,” and “turnin’ corners” meaning that her life has had difficult twists and turns. In lines 14-17, the metaphor extends to her advice for her son’s life. She tells him to not sit down, meaning that he should keep trying even if life is difficult, because she hasn’t stopped trying.

• Theme�

Write a sentence that states the theme of the poem. Use the following formula to help get you started:

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topic + author’s message = theme.

• Theme

• The theme of “Mother to Son” is that life may be challenging, but it is important to keep trying.

• Connections

Write several sentences connecting the theme of the poem to your personal experience or to the contemporary world. This clarifies the universal message of the poem and establishes the relevance.

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• Connections

• Sometimes teaching is challenging. My students have various knowledge and abilities and bring various baggage from their home and social lives. I have been called names, pushed by a student, and challenged in various ways. Also, students have struggled to learn the material, and there is always the short supply of time. Despite these challenges, as the poem says, I think that it is important for me to keep teaching and trying my best.