Essay Questions

In “Karintha,” Toomer frequently begins his stanzas/paragraphs with the statement, “Karintha is a woman.” What effect does this statement have on the atmosphere of the text?

This literary repetition helps to point out the irony of Karintha’s young age. Throughout the entirety of the poem, Toomer reminds the reader that many of the men who now pursue Karintha were adults when she was just a child—young enough to sit on their lap. It is therefore highly ironic and repulsive that these same men, who fawned over her when she was (supposed to be) living the most innocent and naïve time of her life, are now viewing her in a sexual manner. This phrase reinforces the idea that Karintha is now a woman in the eyes of the men who pursue her, but not in age. Karintha’s childhood was stolen due to the hyper-sexualization of her body by men whose interests were purely sexual. As a result, this phrase is used to juxtapose the fact that Karintha is now in relationships with men, but is yet still young enough to be considered a child. It points out the horrible irony of Karintha’s situation and age.

In “Cotton Song,” the slaves comment on the “shackles” of “Judgement Day” that will come. The salves also say that they should “not wait for it.” What is this Judgement Day and why do the slaves not feel a need to wait for it?

The Judgement Day that the slaves describe likely refers to the day that we all go to the gates of Heaven to meet our maker and answer for our sins. In this way, the slaves are suggesting that, when the time comes for their white plantation owners to go to the gates of heaven, they will be judged for the atrocities they committed against slaves. As a result, this Judgement Day refers to do the day that white plantation owners must answer for the decisions to enslave, abuse, and murder slaves. Interestingly enough, however, the slaves suggest that they will not wait for this day. This likely speaks to the spiritual beliefs held by many slaves that God was looking out for them and would eventually deliver them to salvation and dispense punishment to those who deserved it. In this way, the slaves are portrayed as being remarkably hopeful, resilient, and faithful. The slaves are so confident in God’s ability to punish their captors that they do not feel a need to wait around to see this judgement be dispensed.

One could argue that “November Cotton Flower” is an entirely metaphorical poem. In what way could this be argued, and where is the metaphor in the poem?

It is easy to see how “November Cotton Flower” could be entirely metaphorical. The beginning of the poem describes a particularly harsh winter, one that completely destroys the cotton crop. This destruction meant that slaves were likely punished due to the lack of cotton available for picking. Therefore, the winter that is described at the beginning of the poem is likely metaphorical for the proverbial everlasting winter that slaves found themselves trapped in. Just as the winter snow ruined the cotton crop, so too has the winter of life bound African American individuals to a cruel life of slavery. The winter season that kills the cotton crop could therefore be construed as a metaphor for the very long “winter season” in America’s history where American plantation owners enslaved and kidnapped African Americans.

In the second half of the poem, however, the slaves discover something incredible in the midst of the ruined cotton: a flower that has just started to bloom. This flower is likely a metaphorical representation for the hope that bloomed for slaves everywhere during the time of the Civil War and the Emancipation Proclamation. It was during this period—in the midst of one of the darkest (read: winter) seasons of American history—that slaves finally had the possibility of freedom within their grasp. It was because of this possibility that many slaves found hope, even in the midst of terrible abuse and turmoil. Therefore, this blooming flower is likely metaphorical for the hope that bloomed in many slaves’ hearts during the Civil War at the prospect of freedom.