Summary of Langston Hughes' Poem, "Ballad of the
Landlord"
EXAMPLE
1
In this brief assignment, I
will summarize Langston Hughes' poem, "Ballad of the Landlord."
This poem describes a
confrontation between a black tenant, living probably in the ghetto of a
big-city, USA, and his landlord. The tenant reminds the landlord of his
maintenance problems, a leaky roof and broken steps. The landlord ignores the
tenant's problems and tells him his ten-dollar rent is due. This response
angers the tenant, so he refuses to pay until the landlord fixes the house.
Immediately, the landlord threatens to evict him, turn off the heat, and throw
all his furniture into the street, if he doesn't pay the rent. Feeling that one
threat deserves another, the tenant also threatens the landlord with a punch to
the lips to shut him up. The landlord calls the police because of the tenant's
threat. The media distorts this incident and portrays the poor tenant (and not
the landlord) as the aggressor. The tenant is arrested and thrown to jail,
without bail, for 90 days.
EXAMPLE
2
The
poem "Ballad of the Landlord" was written by Langston Hughes in
the early to middle 1900's.
It is the story of an encounter between a
landlord and his tenant. The
tenant is upset with the landlord,
because his roof is leaking
and his steps are broken. When the
landlord asks for the
month's rent, the tenant says he will not pay
until the house is repaired.
The landlord threatens to evict the
tenant, and the tenant
threatens to punch the landlord. Upon this threat the landlord calls the
police, and they throw the
tenant into jail. The story is summarized
in the local paper, making
the minority renter seem completely at fault.
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