Question

My old man's a white old man

And my old mother's black.
If ever I cursed my white old man
I take my curses back.
If ever I cursed my black old mother
And wished she were in hell,
I'm sorry for that evil wish
And now I wish her well
My old man died in a fine big house.
My ma died in a shack.
I wonder where I'm going to die,
Being neither white nor black?"
- Langston Hughes
Apart from referring to the mixed heritage of the speaker, what does the title of Langston Hughes's poem "Cross" denote?
A. anger
B. crucifix
C. junction
D. movement

Answer 1

The title of Langston Hughes's poem "Cross" can denote a burdensome trial, a symbol of suffering, a junction or intersection of identities, or a pivotal decision point in life. It encapsulates the speaker's complex racial heritage and the societal challenges associated with it.

Step-by-step explanation:

The title of Langston Hughes's poem "Cross" refers to the intersection of racial identities of the speaker, who has a white father and a black mother. This intersection is marked by a complex legacy of pain, struggle, and tension, which the poem reflects through its exploration of the speaker's conflicted feelings about their parentage and their own identity. Moreover, the metaphor of the cross can also signify a burden or a trial that the speaker must bear, reflecting the societal challenges and internal conflicts that come with being of mixed racial heritage during the era in which Hughes wrote.

The term "cross" in the poem could be interpreted in multiple ways, including a reference to the crucifix as a symbol of suffering or redemption, and a junction that represents the coming together of two distinct racial lineages. It also might allude to the idea of being at a crossroads, indicative of a pivotal moment or decision in one's life, which could be both a point of anger and of potential movement forward or transformation. The complexities of the poem lie within the intertwining of these themes, symbolizing the internal and societal dynamics faced by individuals of mixed race.

Answer 2

The answer is B: Crucifix The title meant what it simply said. The persona that Langston Hughes took in this poem was that of a child who had a white father and a black mother. He was cross-breed between two races that hated one another for the color of their skins.