Wednesday, February 23, 2011

What Was the Author Feeling?

Have you ever thought about what the writer was feeling?  In most instances, great writing is the result of situations or problems that spark strong feelings.  The writer is faced with an emotional situation and uses writing as an outlet.  

Sometimes feelings of joy need to be shared.  Other times relief in dealing with sadness or grief comes from sharing through writing.  In this poem, Mother to Son, by Langston Hughes, he describes facing the challenges in 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.
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.
So boy, don't you turn back.
Don't you set down on the steps
'Cause you finds it's kinder hard.
Don't you fall now --
For I'se still goin', honey,
I'se still climbin',
And life for me ain't been no crystal stair.

What was he feeling as he wrote this poem?  How does that relate to your feelings as a reader?  Do think there is usually a connection between the author's feelings and the reader's feelings?

Image from http://www.thewanderers.in/travel/recent/

42 comments:

Lindsey Hunter said...

I think the author was feeling when he wrote this poem, is like he is trying to keep true what his mother said to him as a little boy.

What I really think he was feeling when he wrote what his mother said is sad because his mother might be gone and he's trying to get the message out.

I can relate to this poem because my grandma always to me life is like walking up stairs, It gets easy then tough but no matter what don't let anything stop you, Just keep going no matter what.

What I felt when I was reading this poem it made me feel sad like the mother was dyeing and she was telling he to move on with his life no matter what. Don't let this cause you to stop keep going on.

Micah Hines said...

I think the authors feeling's while he wrote this were sad because I think he probably would have had bad memories while he wrote this.

My feelings while I read this poem were kind of sad I guess because I feel sorry for the guy that wrote this and his mother because they must have had a rough life. I can relate because sometimes in my life bad things happen to me and my family and I feel sorry for us.

I also feel inspired by this poem because the theme of this poem is just keep on going know matter how hard it is. I can relate to this because I have had some rough times but I just tried to get through it.

Yes I think that there is usually a connection between the reader and the writers feelings.

Nick U. said...

When the author was writing this poem he was taking about when he was a kid. He didn't have a lot and and went Down the wrong path instead of going down the right one.

As I read this poem it made me feel like he was talking to his kid and telling him to do the right things.

I think there are connection between the reader and the author sometimes because some people might have been though the same things.

Jessica W. said...

This poem Mother to Son, by Langston Hughes, is a good poem. It's describing life back in the earlier days.

When I read this part

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.
But all the time
I'se been a-climbin' on,
And reachin' landin's,
And turnin' corners


I was thinking that the theme was that
if you keep trying and don't stop, sometime or another, something good will pay off.

I think the author was thinking about the same thing, When the going gets hard, you don't stop you try harder. Because if you quiet you are not going to get anywhere.

If I go to bike a marathon, if I stop in the middle I'm just holding my self back. The bike isn't going to pedal for me. I am not going to get anywhere. So why stop. You are not going to get anywhere.

Seth V. said...

I know when I read the poem that we just read in Reading Workshop called Mother to Son. I know when I read it i was just like wow this is so true about life. Like if you want to make it some where in life you have to never give up. I am not sure what the author feels when he reads it but I do know it makes me feel that live is not hard if you just give it your best.

I would highly say that when the author wrote this he was really sad because it was told from his mom that was a former slave. The boys mom has told him that he should never give up in life like did because look what happened when she never gave up she escaped and was not a slave anymore.

Sara A. said...

I think that the author of this poem was remembering his mother and all of the things she said to him, did for him and helped him with throughout his life. I also think that he was saying no matter how hard you try you will always get knocked down, but you have to get back up and keep going.

I relate to the poem because, I have had some very hard times in my life when I just want to quit, and not get back up. I have had time when people tell me that I am no good but I ignore them and I keep going forward. I have fallen down and made so many mistakes that I can't take back but I keep moving forward.

I think that there is usually a connection between the authors feelings and the readers feelings, because if you are writing then you want your story to relate to people and give them advice. Why would you want to write something that people won't understand? You don't. That's why most writers write in a way that you can relate to the things that are happening.

Rhianna Lucas said...

I think the author, Langston Hughes,was feeling emotional. I think he had a lot of courage to be writing so strong like this poem. I think the author was depressed.

I think Langston Hughes felt brave to take her advice. It's hard to keep going on in life. Where it says: It's had tacks in it,
And splinters,
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor
it means that life is no smooth road. It's a rocky, torn up, unexpected road.

I feel like this poem is very touching. I feel sorry for this man's mother. She just keeps on living, no matter what life throws at her. She is not talking about an actual staircase, she is talking about life.

Austin P. said...

I think that the author feelings was that she is saying never give up in life. Here is one that I came up with my self. Do we give up when we lose the biggest game in the world no so my point is never give up in life.

My feeling is that if I felt that bad I would try any thing to make me happy.
I feel bad for these people because they must of had a tough life.

Megan B. said...

This poem made me feel sad because it sounds like the Mom had a hard life and was telling her son to never give up.
It makes me feel sad because you can tell back then life was hard for slaves and people weren't treated equally. It's sad that people were judged by their skin color so if they weren't white they were treated like dirt.

The poem helps remind me that if you don't give up then with hard work you can manage through even the toughest tasks. So even if I climb up the tallest tree if I concentrate and don't give up I can climb back down without falling.

When an author writes something like this poem for example the author tries to make a point. So I think the authors and the readers connections between the feelings should be about the same. I think this because the theme makes up what your feelings are while you're reading.

Ashlee J said...

He was probably feeling happy because his mom said this to him and now it is a poem. He probably was feeling sad too because he knows what his mom went through and probably knows how it feels.

This relates to my feelings as a reader because I get sad a lot in the book I am reading now because Sarah is not allowed to see her best friend anymore.

Yes I do think that there is usually a connection between the author's feelings and the reader's feelings because when the author is writing the book he/she must feel sad or happy or creeped out in someway as they're writing. When the reader is reading he/she could be feeling sad or happy or maybe even creeped out because of the authors way with all of the descriptive words he/she used.

Cade V. said...

I think that the author feelings were to not give up even when things get hard. It relates to me, when I read I felt the author was saying that not to give up, you might get hurt along the way but keep going.
I think that there is not a connection between the author and the reader, because the reader might think the author meant that someone couldn't climb stairs. Everybody thinks differently.

Brooklyn E. said...

I think the author was feeling bad for some people and decided to make a poem out of it.

The way that relates to my feelings is I felt sad cause her life was not been so good for her and because the way it starts out.
Life for me ain't been no crystal stair.
It's had tacks in it,
And splinters,
And boards torn up


I think the author and the reader do have a connection. For an example if you feel sad or happy when the author was writing this poem he could of felt that way to.

Blaize R. said...

This poem makes me feel as if the author is trying to make a point. The point that I think the author is trying to make is never give up and you'll succeed in life. No matter how much it pushes you back. No matter how strong it is or how hard it is keep going and never give up, and to always remember it.

I can relate to this poem because my mom, dad, brother ,sister ,grandma, grandpa, aunt,uncle or somebody is always telling me not to give up. I'm told to keep moving, and don't look back. If I do this will succeed in life.

I do think there is a connection between the author's feeling's and the reader's feeling's. I think this because an author can be writing about a loved one that they loved and the reader can predict that's what the author was writing about because they feel the same way.

In this poem I believe that the author was remembering something his mother had told him. Then she past away later after that because she was ill but she tried to be strong and hang on tight. No matter what.

Shala.S. said...

I think the author Langston Hughes was feeing emotional and depressed. I think he was brave to write his feelings that his mom told him into a poem because it is personal. I think he might have had a hard time writing this.

His feeling relates to mine because I think it would be depressing to write something that someone close to me told me. I also think this poem is very touching because his mother keeps going on with life no matter how hard it is, like when his mother says: 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
.

Yes I believe there has to be some kind of connection because life is just no cherry blossom. There is going to be good times and bad times. We all just have to deal with it.

Stephen D said...

When I read this I think the author felt bad for the mother. I felt bad for the mother seems like she had a sad child- hood. Keep working hard at what you want to be or achieve. Thats what was going through my mind when I read the short piece of writing. The author might of had a bad childhood too. I think the mother was trying to say succeed in life don't give up.

Tyler H. said...

I think Langston Hughes was making a statement to not give up. I think when he was making this poem his feelings was probably sad because he probably remembers when he had hard times. I was thinking that when I read this:

So boy, don't you turn back.
Don't you set down on the steps
'Cause you finds it's kinder hard.
Don't you fall now --
For I'se still goin', honey,
I'se still climbin',
And life for me ain't been no crystal stair.

When I read this poem my feelings was sad because his mother was telling him that life is not always fun. My dad told me that life is not all fun and games. I think my dad and Langston Hughes mother are both right because is hard sometimes and sometimes we might have good days.

Alan said...

I think Langston Hughes was very sad. He must have mustered up a lot of courage to write this poem in remembrance of his Mother. He must have been depressed.
He must have loved his mom a lot. I feel the poem is touching.

Chase W. said...

I think the authors mom was giving him advice to keep trying and don't give up. I also thought that he was having a bad day. I can relate to that because my mom and dad is always telling to don't give up. I also think that is so true about life that you should never give up.

I think he might also be having a bad time with something. I think it sounds like his mom had a very bad life but she did not give up. I thought that it was nice poem because it sounded like no matter how hard it got for his mom she kept going and did not give up. I think that his mom was trying to teach him no matter how hard life gets to just keep going and don't give up.

Katie R. said...

After I read this I think the author felt bad or sad for somebody, so he just wrote it down and made it into a poem. This makes me think the author had something bad happen to him in his past. This poem also makes me think he is trying to say "don't give up".

tiffanyc22 said...

I think the author is saying that you got to keep on going and don't stop. If you fall back down keep on going you might have another chance.

If you have a bad day or if you mess up just try harder and harder because you just might have another chance. Even though you have tried so many times and you can't get don't stop because no matter what you will always have a chance.

It always good to keep trying because if you keep on going you might just get it right. As you get older you will look back and say I did it.

Belle H. said...

When I read this poem I thought about a little boy and his mom talking about life, and the choices he should make. When I read this part

So boy, don't you turn back.
Don't you set down on the steps
'Cause you finds it's kinder hard.
Don't you fall now --
For I'se still goin', honey,
I'se still climbin',
And life for me ain't been no crystal stair.


I felt like she was telling him that life isn't easy, so don't expect it to be.

Austin D said...

I think the author of Mother To Son was trying to show that life is not easy. Life is really hard sometimes, so don't expect for everything to come easy because it is not going to. The authors point is like when famous people become famous they have to work for years and years on it. The boy in the poem is talking about what his mom has done.

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.
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.
So boy, don't you turn back.
Don't you set down on the steps
'Cause you finds it's kinder hard.
Don't you fall now --
For I'se still goin', honey,
I'se still climbin',
And life for me ain't been no crystal stair.

Heidi Vining said...

I think the emotion that the author was feeling when he was writing the poem was depressing or sad. I think what his mother was trying to tell him is that life is not all fun and games, that their are going to be bumps in the road. My parents are aways trying to teach me and my sister life lessons like to not spend all our money on stupid stuff and that life will have its hard spots.

Danny H. said...

I think Langston Hughes was feeling sad when he wrote this poem.The reason I think that is because the poem sounded sad and when a poem sounds sad then the poet is usually sad.

The poem relates to my feelings as life because climbing stairs.If I ever have a bad day then I can't climb the stairs.
If I have a good day then I can climb the stairs.

I think that there is a connection because if the author is sad then he or she will make the poem sad.

Lisa B. said...

I think the author, Langston Hughes was sad when he was writing this poem.

When I read the poem, Mother to Son, I felt sad because I thought that he felt sad about his mother having to go though all the stuff that she had to go though.

Yes, I do think that there is usually a connection between the author's feelings and the reader's feelings.

tylerw222 said...

when he was writing that poem he was thinking about his mom and thinking about what she told him. I bet he was thinking about what his mom went through in her life if she was A slave.

Ridgey Y said...

I think the author felt sad and mad while he was writing this poem.

I think that the author felt sad because memories of his past. Like having to like about his mom being a slave would probably make him sad. Also since he had some rough times he is probably sad and upset about his life. I think all this would also make him mad because when he was writing about his life it probably made him mad because how unfair his life was.

I think that in poems like this their is usually no connection because most people have not had a life as bad as his. But in most poems and peaces of writing I think you could usually have some type of connection.

Emily said...

This poem Mother to Son, by Langston Hughes, is a good poem. It's describing life back in the earlier days.

When I read this part

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.
But all the time
I'se been a-climbin' on,
And reachin' landin's,
And turnin' corners,

Its like in my mind its telling me life is not easy its hard really hard.

When I read this next part this is what it tells me. That the mom is telling the son that she does not what her son to fall down and then start all over.

And sometimes goin' in the dark
Where there ain't been no light.
So boy, don't you turn back.
Don't you set down on the steps
'Cause you finds it's kinder hard.
Don't you fall now --
For I'se still goin', honey,
I'se still climbin',
And life for me ain't been no crystal stair.

Hayley said...

What I think that he felt that he was feeling when he wrote this poem was is that he was sad because he was a slave or that he wanted his mom to be free.
Like when he says And sometimes goin' in the dark
Where there ain't been no light.
So boy, don't you turn back.
Don't you set down on the steps
'Cause you finds it's kinder hard.
Don't you fall now --
For I'se still goin', honey,
I'se still climbin',Life for me ain't been no crystal stair.


I think that it means that he respected his mom. I think that there was usually connections between that reader.

Cassie D. said...

When I read this poem, Mother to Son I think that the author, Langston Hughes feel proud of his mother and himself because his mother and himself have gone through a lot and neither of them have given up.
I think I can relate to this because every time I finish a book or start a new one I feel proud of myself. I can also relate to it because I try and never give up at anything. I think that there usually a connection between the author and the reader have a connection, but it depends on how good the reader is and how good the article/passage.

Alex H. said...

I think that when the author
Langston Hughes was writing this about his mom he was thing about what then was like. When his mom was saying:

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.

I think she is trying to
tell him that life is not perfect it is go to be smooth sailing all the time. There are going to be times were you do not like where you are.

When I read this I had a picture in my head of what this would have looked like.Also I felt like it was my mom telling me that poem.

When a person does read this I think there will be a lot of connections made. People will relate to stuff that has happened in there

DawnB said...

I think the author of this poem was thinking about his mom at the time because when it says

So boy,don't you turn your back
Don't set down on the steps
Cause you finds its kinda harder
Don't you fall now
For I'se still goin; honey,
I'se still climbin;
And life for me ain't been no crystal clear.
I thought he was sad thinking about his mom.

It connects with me because when I am sad sometimes I just write about it or talk to one of my friends.

Yes, I think there is a connection between the author because when the author writes the poem or a story he gets a feeling.Then when the reader reads the poem or the story the reader gets a feeling.

Alison G said...

I think that when Langston Hughes wrote this poem he was feeling sad, because of the way his mother got treated.
when I read the poem, mother to son, I felt like what she was saying is part of life it is what people are going to go though every day in life.
I think that there is usually a connection between the author's feelings and the reader's feelings. Like they both might feel the same way about a poem or they might feel completely different about it

Andrew M. said...

As Langston Hughes was writing this I think he felt sympathy and respect toward his mother. I think this because no matter how bad stuff got in her life she kept going. She kept working and trying.

I have evidence from the parts that say " Life for me ain't been no crystal stair. It had tacks in it, and splinters, and boards torn up. I even have evidence of this from the idea of life being like a long set of stairs.

Yes I do think that there is usually a connection between the author's feelings and the reader's feelings.

Jakob S. said...

I think that the author's mom is trying to say to the author is that life is not easy. If you read the part of the poem you can get the feeling of the author's mom.


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.


See I can get a good connection of how the author's mom feels. I think she's trying to tell the author that life is harder than you think. I know that because I've herd people say that.

Vanessa Vining said...

I think the author was feeling like his mom doesn't want him to give up. She was trying to tell him to face the challenges in his life. This relates to my feeling as a reader because it makes me consider the challenges in my life. I think there is usually a connection between the author's feeling and the reader's feelings.
When I read a book I get this feeling like I'm part of the story and experience the same things they do like nervousness or excitement. That is part of what makes reading so fun to me.

Dustin F. said...

The poem Mother to Son, Wrote By Langston Hughes.

I think when Langston was writing this poem he was saying to never back down. When times are hard just fight your way through it, never give up, Be a fighter not a quieter. Believe in yourself.

When I relate this to my feelings I would say he's right. I don’t like to quit I just keep trying.I have tried to quit but my friends said to me just keep trying don’t back down.

I have the same feelings as him all the time, Sometimes there hard to get through but I make it through with the harts of my family and friends.

Caitlin W. said...

I think that author's feeling is sad because people are giving up on every thing. People need to try again and again and never stop trying until you pass.


Author's feeling relate to my feeling as a reader because people do need to try again and again and never stop trying until you pass. Like the part in the poem said

So boy, don't you turn back.
Don't you set down on the steps
'Cause you finds it's kinder hard.
Don't you fall now --
For I'se still goin', honey,
I'se still climbin',
And life for me ain't been no crystal stair.
The poem is trying to say never give up. If you give up every thing won't go right.


I think the author's feeling and the reader's feeling can have connection between them, because you and the author could think the poem is sad or happy. Like what I think the author's feeling was and relate to my feeling.

Lisa B. said...

I think the author, Langston Hughes was sad when he was writing this poem.

When I read the poem, Mother to Son, I felt sad because I thought that he felt sad about his mother having to go though all the stuff that she had to go though.

Yes, I do think that there is usually a connection between the author's feelings and the reader's feelings.

Dylan H said...

I think Langston Hughes was thinking about or remembering his mom. If he was remembering his mom, then he was probably sad when he wrote this poem.

When I read this poem think its a way that his mom told him that life isn't always fair or fun, but it doesn't mean that you should just give up, because there are always going to be good things and bad.

Sometimes I think that the writer and the reader could feel the same way, but other times the writer and the reader could have very different opinions, but thats OK in the U.S..

Jared B. said...

I think the author is sad and is teaching his son about feeling. When it says,

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.

It sounds like the author is trying to tell his son feeling. The author is trying to tell his son his feeling that he gets when reading a book.
Yes, I think there's a connection between the author's and the reader's feeling.

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