Langston Hughes Metaphors

Words: 578
Pages: 3

“Life is a system of half-truths and lies, Opportunistic, convenient evasion.” Langston Hughes said, “every poet has a different styles of writing and their different views on life and other topics.” Hughes usually talks about how life is short and how you should cherish every moment of it. Many poets write about death and evil things whereas Hughes writes about the great things in life and how we should cherish those memorable moments. Langston Hughes uses literary devices to convey the theme that life is short. “The Negro with the trumpet at his lips has dark moons of weariness beneath his eyes where the smoldering memory of slave ships blazed to the crack of whips about thigh…”(Trumpet Player) Hughes use of flashback in this stanza of the poem shows …show more content…
In the poem Hughes explains that life is not perfect and there could be painful and you are not able to go anywhere at times. Hughes uses metaphors in many of of his poems to express his feelings on life and what he compares life to. Another example of Hughes use of metaphors in his poem would be “Life is a barren field frozen with snow” from the poem (Dreams) this quote is another example of Hughes use of metaphor to convey that life is short and to cherish every moment that you have.
Langston Hughes uses hyperbole in “Trumpet Player” to emphasise the music the trumpet player is playing. “The music from the trumpet at his lips is honey mixed with liquid fire the rhythm from the trumpet at his lips is ecstasy distilled from old desire…” the quote shows how people appreciate the trumpet players music and how amazing and the great feeling of joy the player is spreading with beautiful music. This stanza from the poem is another great example of Hughes use of a literary device to show that life is short and everything should be admired and