Why are some words and phrases---such as "Everybody for hisself" (4) and "Since you black" (6) deliberately ungrammatical?
In "Harlem Hopscotch," Angelou utilizes grammatically incorrect phrases in order to enhance the authenticity of the time period of the poem, as well as emphasize the dialect of the speaker and what type of person they are.
Angelou includes seemingly simple words/phrases that actually have a significant impact in revealing the time period and dialect of the speaker. For example, instead of saying "himself," Angelou utilizes the term "hisself." She uses a grammatically incorrect, casual term that was often spoken by African Americans during that time period. This demonstrates the significance of the fact that the speaker(s) are African American and their dialect/poor grammar represent their low status in society. Angelou also utilizes the phrase "since you black" as if to say "since you are black," which therefore indicates again the lack of proper grammar. She tries to add a sense of genuineness to the poem by really using terms and phrases that would be used by the speaker(s) during that time.
Monday, October 8, 2012
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Heart of Darkness Five
Europe's attitude towards Africa parallels Marlow's feelings for the helmsman because Marlow believes he has a responsibility to look after him and worry about his well-being.
Marlow refers to the helmsman as "a savage who was no more account than a grain of sand in a black Sahara" (124). Marlow believes that, by himself, the helmsman is not particularly someone who has the ability to impact the situation as a whole. This coincides with the Europeans' belief that the Africans were uncivilized people who, individually, played a very insignificant role in the big picture. Marlow also refers to his relationship with the helmsman as a partnership but also calls him "a help---an instrument" (124). Marlow contradicting himself in saying they share a partnership, a relationship between two parties seen as equals, but also referring to him as an instrument. This contradiction of motive parallels that of the Europeans when they entered Africa; they claimed they were trying to help the people and work with the Africans to help them advance for their own benefit. However, they took advantage of the Africans and used them as "instruments" with which they could do whatever they pleased. Later, Marlow claims that he believes it is his responsibility "to look after him" (124) and that he "worried about [the helmsman's] deficiencies" (124). His paternal and somewhat condescending tone while he explains his feelings towards the helmsman reveals that Marlow feels as though the helmsman is his "junior brother". This term was often used by the Europeans when they described what they believed their relationship with the Africans to be. The term "junior brother" is meant to give the idea that the Europeans saw the Africans as equals (hence, "brothers") but lesser equals (hence, "junior"), as Marlow now sees the helmsman. The role of the Europeans/Marlow parallels that of an older brother to his younger brother; it is their responsibility to look after, worry for, and guide their younger brother towards the path
Marlow refers to the helmsman as "a savage who was no more account than a grain of sand in a black Sahara" (124). Marlow believes that, by himself, the helmsman is not particularly someone who has the ability to impact the situation as a whole. This coincides with the Europeans' belief that the Africans were uncivilized people who, individually, played a very insignificant role in the big picture. Marlow also refers to his relationship with the helmsman as a partnership but also calls him "a help---an instrument" (124). Marlow contradicting himself in saying they share a partnership, a relationship between two parties seen as equals, but also referring to him as an instrument. This contradiction of motive parallels that of the Europeans when they entered Africa; they claimed they were trying to help the people and work with the Africans to help them advance for their own benefit. However, they took advantage of the Africans and used them as "instruments" with which they could do whatever they pleased. Later, Marlow claims that he believes it is his responsibility "to look after him" (124) and that he "worried about [the helmsman's] deficiencies" (124). His paternal and somewhat condescending tone while he explains his feelings towards the helmsman reveals that Marlow feels as though the helmsman is his "junior brother". This term was often used by the Europeans when they described what they believed their relationship with the Africans to be. The term "junior brother" is meant to give the idea that the Europeans saw the Africans as equals (hence, "brothers") but lesser equals (hence, "junior"), as Marlow now sees the helmsman. The role of the Europeans/Marlow parallels that of an older brother to his younger brother; it is their responsibility to look after, worry for, and guide their younger brother towards the path
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