Poetry: Songs for the People Flashcards
Author
songs for the people
Frances Ellen Watkins Harper
message
songs for the people
freedom from oppression
tone/atmosphere
songs for the people
structure
songs for the people
themes
songs for the people
Quote 1
songs for the people
“let me…let me… let me”
anaphora > being suppressed, not being allowed/being hindered
» if not allowed to speak/sing abiut freedom, how can one expect to be free?
aimed at different groups of people
Quote 2
songs for the people
“to stir like a battle-cry”
VS
“not for the clashing of sabres, for carnage nor strife”
juxtaposition > meant to create a metaphorical war on oppression where people can break free from it
» must be done with courage instead of swords/violence
» gaining freedom from violence breeds more aggression – cycle of it
Quote 3
songs for the people
“anthems of love and duty//
to float o’er life’s highway”
metaphor > fulfilling life
colonial lens: it is better to live in love than in hatred and violence if those are the means of your oppressor// to have a fulfilling life you must live differently from oppressor to gain peace
Quote 4
songs for the people
“I would sing”
tense shift to conditional > wants to but cannot
metaphor/symbolism of songs > singing is liberating so singing is being free
Quote 5
songs for the people
“when shadows dim their sight”
“shadows” > loss of hope
» becoming ignorant
» death
reminding people of heaven to get them through the suffering
