Proud to be an American It is easy to believe that Langston Hughes’s “I, Too” is written in response to Walt Whitman’s “I Hear America Singing,” although the content of both poems are similar. It would appear that the poets wrote them together though they were written at different times. An analysis of these poems reveals a common theme, similar language and different narration aspects. The theme of both poems is patriotism, as evidenced by both poets using the words “I sing.” In “I Hear America Singing,” Whitman portrays a list of different occupations and people who are happy with their jobs in America while Hughes portrays one person that is happy. Hughes’s version states “I, too, sing America. I am the darker brother” (line 1-2). It appears to be written by a slave that is happy about being in America. Whereas Whitman’s poem portrays a group when it states “Each singing what belongs to him or her and to none else,” (line 9) it suggests that it is about non-blacks, especially after reading Hughes’s poem. The main idea of both is to say that though those that make up the melting pot of America are different in race, color and background, everyone has a role to play in making this country great. The context of the poems are almost identical. Both are written in free verse and do not have a pattern or rhyme. They are also both written in an upbeat, happy tone. Whitman uses words like “carols,” “blithe,” “robust” and “melodious” in his version to describe how content the group of people in his version are with their status in America. Hughes uses the words “well,” “strong,” and “beautiful” to portray the feelings of joy that his narrator feels.
One difference in the two is narration. While Whitman’s poem is written in the third-person point of view about a group of people, Hughes’s reply poem is written in first-person about how the narrator feels as