Title- the title of the poem, "The Negro Speaks of Rivers", is very literal in my opinion. The poem is indeed talking about rivers from the perspective of an African American.
Paraphrase- In this poem, the speaker is talking about how he has been with the rivers since the dawn of man. He mentions the Euphrates river, because that is where civilization began, without any issues that we have today. When talking about New Orleans and the Mississippi River, Hughes says that the river turns from muddy-brown to golden, symbolizing a change in the attitude of the poem.
Connotation/Literary Devices- Hughes uses a metaphor when he says "my soul has grown deep like the rivers" Hughes includes a couple connotations in this poem. For example, Hughes uses the Euphrates River to symbolize the dawn of civilization. He also talks about building the Pyramids in Egypt to symbolize the struggles he has gone through in his life.
Attitude- The attitude of this poem is sorrowfully reflecting.
Shift- the tense changes in the poem when the author says that he has known rivers. Then, he says that his soul has grown deep like the rivers, indicating present tense.
Title (Again)- As stated before, the title of this poem is literal.
Theme- The theme of this poem is that everyone needs an escape from all of the horrors in the modern world.
Paraphrase- In this poem, the speaker is talking about how he has been with the rivers since the dawn of man. He mentions the Euphrates river, because that is where civilization began, without any issues that we have today. When talking about New Orleans and the Mississippi River, Hughes says that the river turns from muddy-brown to golden, symbolizing a change in the attitude of the poem.
Connotation/Literary Devices- Hughes uses a metaphor when he says "my soul has grown deep like the rivers" Hughes includes a couple connotations in this poem. For example, Hughes uses the Euphrates River to symbolize the dawn of civilization. He also talks about building the Pyramids in Egypt to symbolize the struggles he has gone through in his life.
Attitude- The attitude of this poem is sorrowfully reflecting.
Shift- the tense changes in the poem when the author says that he has known rivers. Then, he says that his soul has grown deep like the rivers, indicating present tense.
Title (Again)- As stated before, the title of this poem is literal.
Theme- The theme of this poem is that everyone needs an escape from all of the horrors in the modern world.