Question

America by James Monroe Whitfield

http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/20358

Can someone help me with the meaning of this poem? I'm supposed to do a summary/analysis & I'm having a little bit of trouble. Thanks!!

Answer 1

Why don't you get us started by telling us your thoughts about the poem? What do you see in it? Which parts seem clear, which are throwing you?

Keep in mind that the person reading the poem always brings herself to that poem, participating in the construction of the meaning. The poet means something by it, for sure, and we each try to reconstruct that meaning, but we will not each of us come up with exactly the same responses.

Answer 2

Um, these are mighty long sentences in this poem. You'll have to read it very slowly, and when you lose the thread of a particular thought (as keeps happening to me), just back up to where you're certain you're on track and begin moving forward again. It's slow going, I know. If you're trying to read it like you'd read a regular paragraph, you'll end up all in a tangle.