| Author |
Lindsay, Vachel, 1879-1931 |
| Author of introduction, etc. |
Monroe, Harriet, 1860-1936 |
| Title |
The Congo, and Other Poems
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| Note |
Reading ease score: 79.8 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read.
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| Credits |
Produced by Alan R. Light, and David Widger
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| Summary |
"The Congo and Other Poems" by Vachel Lindsay is a collection of poems likely written in the early 20th century. The volume explores themes of culture, race, and human experience through a musical and rhythmic style that emphasizes spoken word and performance elements. One of the notable works in this collection is the titular poem "The Congo," which delves into the complexities of the African American experience, drawing on imagery and sounds that evoke a vibrant, yet often tragic, narrative. The opening of the collection introduces the reader to the poem "The Congo," which serves as both a celebration and critique of the African American culture and its struggles. The poem begins with its immersive and rhythmic structure, drawing the reader into the revelry of the characters described—"fat black bucks" celebrating in a barrel-house, while also addressing deeper themes of violence and colonialism. In its progression, it paints a vivid, song-like picture of life along the Congo River, contrasting joyous celebration with the dark, haunting legacy of oppression. This duality set up in the opening portion establishes the tone for the rest of the collection, which boldly navigates various themes and styles, often intended for performance or vocalization, allowing the reader to engage both intellectually and emotionally with the text. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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| Language |
English |
| LoC Class |
PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature
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| Subject |
American poetry
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| Subject |
Narrative poetry
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| Category |
Text |
| EBook-No. |
1021 |
| Release Date |
Aug 1, 1997 |
| Most Recently Updated |
Jul 23, 2008 |
| Copyright Status |
Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads |
1429 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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