Day 5

Langston Hughes: Poems Lesson Plan

Discussion of Thought Questions

  1. 1

    What does the Reverend's treatment of Sargeant illustrate?

    The Reverend is harsh and cruel to Sargeant. Even though it is freezing, he refuses to provide Sargeant with shelter. This is ironic, since the man is a minister and therefore has technically committed his life to caring for the poor and oppressed. His treatment of Sargeant illustrates the hypocrisy of his Christian faith. Though he is nominally committed to charity and compassion, he acts in ways that are inconsistent with those beliefs. This also illustrates the far-reaching racism of the 1930s. The minister refuses to help Sargeant because of the color of his skin, which was the reality for many black people...

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