Question

1. Explain the poem “World War II,”by langston hughes especially why it was a “grand time” and the “echo” stanza.

2. What is the meaning of the poem “Dead in There,” by langston hughes  especially the last stanza?

Answer 1

1. In the poem “World War II" the poet defines the war as the time of revelry in the first part. He talks about the grand time they had during the war and how fun it was. The united states was on record high economically during the ar so every body was optimistic and happy.In the second part the echo refers to the death toll of war, which can never honestly be called fun. The echo is checking on the deaths and misery the war got along with it.The statement serves as a foil to the rest of the poem as an underlying memory that many have forgotten the destruction and pain the war has caused.
2. The last stanza if he poem talks about the fact that death is a social event and if someone is rich this becomes more grand as he leaves lot or property to be inherited by his children. But once someone is dead, it does make difference. All the material things remain behind and the dead soul does not care about it.The irony is that throughout one's life, he dies hard and works day long to achieve these things.