“Mother to Son” is a poem written by Langston Hughes that uses the metaphor of a staircase to describe the hardships of life. The speaker is a mother who is giving advice to her son about how to overcome the obstacles he will face in life. She tells her son that her own life has not been easy, comparing it to a staircase that is not made of crystal, but instead has tacks, splinters, and missing boards.
The mother tells her son that even though her staircase has been difficult, she has continued to climb it, reaching landings and turning corners. She has even gone through the darkness where there is no light. The mother urges her son not to give up and not to sit down on the stairs just because he finds it hard. She encourages him to keep climbing, to keep pushing forward, and not to fall because she is still climbing and will not give up.
The poem is filled with metaphors, as the mother compares life to a staircase and uses the imagery of tacks, splinters, and missing boards to illustrate the challenges and struggles she has faced. The poem also uses repetition, as the mother repeats the phrase “I’se still climbin’” to emphasize her determination and resilience. The poem has a strong, motivational tone, urging the reader to keep climbing the staircase of life, even when it is difficult.
In summary, “Mother to Son” is a poem that uses metaphor and repetition to convey a message of determination and perseverance in the face of adversity. The mother's advice to her son is to keep climbing, no matter how difficult the journey may be, and to never give up on his dreams. The poem serves as an inspiration to anyone who is facing obstacles in life, reminding us that with hard work and determination, we can overcome any challenge.
Mother to Son - New Oxford Modern English - Class 6 - English
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Extra Questions - Mother to Son | New Oxford Modern English | Class 6 Literature | English
Well, son, I’ll tell you:
Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.
It’s had tacks in it,
And splinters,
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor—
Bare.
Why do you think the mother compares her life to a stair that’s not made of crystal?
What do you think the “splinters” and “tacks” in the stairs might represent in the mother’s life?
How do you think the mother might have felt when she found places with no carpet on the floor?
What does the word “Bare” mean in this content? Why do you think the mother used this word?
How does the condition of the stairs reflect on the mother’s journey through life?
Well, son, I’ll tell you:
Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.
It’s had tacks in it,
And splinters,
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor—
Bare.
Why do you think the mother compares her life to a stair that’s not made of crystal?
What do you think the “splinters” and “tacks” in the stairs might represent in the mother’s life?
How do you think the mother might have felt when she found places with no carpet on the floor?
What does the word “Bare” mean in this content? Why do you think the mother used this word?
How does the condition of the stairs reflect on the mother’s journey through life?
The mother compares her life to a stair that’s not made of crystal to show it’s been tough and not easy or shiny like a shiny, smooth crystal stair would be.
The “splinters” and “tacks” in the stairs might represent struggles or obstacles the mother has faced in her life. They made her journey tough and painful at times.
When the mother found places with no carpet on the floor, she felt discomfort or hardship. These could be the hard times she faced in her life.
The word “Bare” probably means empty or without any protection. It shows the mother’s life has been rough and harsh, without any comforts.
The condition of the stairs reflects the mother’s hard and challenging journey through life. She had experienced a lot of hardships along the way.
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But all the time
I’se been a-climbin’ on,
And reachin’ landin’s,
And turnin’ corners,
And sometimes goin’ in the dark
Where there ain’t been no light.
What does the speaker mean when they say, “I’se been a-climbin’ on”? What could ‘climbing’ symbolize in this poem?
Why do you think the speaker talks about “reachin’ landin’s” and “turnin’ corners”? What can these phrases tell us about the speaker’s journey through life?
The speaker mentions “sometimes goin’ in the dark / Where there ain’t been no light.” Why might the darkness and absence of light be important elements in this poem? What could they represent?
With thought of the messages of the poem, how might you handle tough times differently?
What all the mother feels about climbing the stairs?
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Unlock now 🔓Back Questions - Mother to Son | New Oxford Modern English | Class 6 Literature | English
Who is speaking in the poem and to whom are the words addressed?
The speaker in the poem is a mother and the words are addressed to her son.
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What does the speaker compare her life with?
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Unlock now 🔓What does the speaker encounter on the stairs?
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Unlock now 🔓Even though there have been obstacles in the way, what has the speaker done to continue her journey?
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Unlock now 🔓Which three pieces of advice does the speaker give the boy?
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Unlock now 🔓Which sentences are repeated in the poem?
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Unlock now 🔓Which line is the shortest? Why do you think the poet made this line so short?
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Unlock now 🔓What is the mother’s experience of life? What does she compare her life with?
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Unlock now 🔓Why do you think she is telling her son about her life in this way?
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Unlock now 🔓Thinking about the words and phrases used in the poem (the imagery), what points in the woman’s real life would these represent? For example, tacks and splinters might represent hardships of a particular kind. Which hardships? Go through the poem find other images and write what these may represent in real life.
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Unlock now 🔓Quiz - Mother to Son | New Oxford Modern English | Class 6 Literature | English
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Unlock now 🔓About the Poet - Mother to Son | New Oxford Modern English | Class 6 Literature | English
Langston Hughes was an American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist. Born in 1902 in Missouri, Hughes was one of the leading figures of the Harlem Renaissance in the 1920s and 1930s. He wrote about the experiences of African Americans and sought to portray the realities of their lives in his works. Hughes was also deeply involved in the civil rights movement and used his writing to advocate for racial equality. He is considered one of the most significant and influential writers in American literature, and his works continue to be studied and celebrated today. Hughes passed away in 1967.
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Unlock now 🔓Summary - Mother to Son | New Oxford Modern English | Class 6 Literature | English
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Themes - Mother to Son | New Oxford Modern English | Class 6 Literature | English
- Perseverance: The poem's central theme is perseverance. The mother advises her son not to give up in the face of adversity. Life has been tough for her, with "tacks," "splinters," and "boards torn up," but she keeps on climbing. She encourages her son not to give up either, no matter how tough life gets.
- Struggle and Hardship: The poem is filled with images of struggle and......................
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Unlock now 🔓Symbols - Mother to Son | New Oxford Modern English | Class 6 Literature | English
The poem "Mother to Son" by Langston Hughes doesn't contain any specific symbols. However, the mother's metaphorical use of...............................
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Unlock now 🔓Vocabulary - Mother to Son | New Oxford Modern English | Class 6 Literature | English
- Tacks (line 4) - small nails with flat heads used for attaching things to surfaces.
- Splinters (line 4) - small, sharp, thin pieces of wood that can break off....................
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Unlock now 🔓Poetic Devices - Mother to Son | New Oxford Modern English | Class 6 Literature | English
The poem "Mother to Son" by Langston Hughes employs several poetic devices to create its powerful and memorable message. Here are some of the most notable poetic devices used in the poem:
- Extended metaphor: The mother's comparison of life to a "crystal stair" is an extended ......................
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