Have you taken the time to appreciate those who walked this earth before you? Without our ancestors, we would not be here today. Langston Hughes addresses this topic in his poem “The Negro Speaks of Rivers.” Hughes introduces the poem by describing a river as a source of life for his ancestors. From the Euphrates to the Nile, Langston transformed historical events into words the reader can visualize. To convey his message, Hughes uses symbolism, similes and repetition. Symbolism is when an object or thing represents another idea different from its literal meaning. Similes compare these ideas using “like” or “as.” Meanwhile, using repetition allows you to write the same word or phrase multiple times to get a certain point across. In the poem “Africa” by Maya Angelou, Angelou is also trying to create a visual image. She attempts to capture the reader's emotion by comparing Africa to a human being without flaws. However, it fails to convey its main purpose to the reader. The use of literary elements such as symbolism, repetition, and similes in “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” by Langston Hughes creates a more successful poem than “Africa” by Maya Angelou. The use of symbolism in Hughes' poem "The Negro Speaks of Rivers" is more successful than Maya Angelou's "Africa". For example, "The Negro Speaks of Rivers" states "I bathed in the Euphrates when the dawns were young" (5), then moves to "I heard the song of the Mississippi when Abe Lincoln came down to New Orleans” (8-9). . This is an example of symbolism because Hughes views rivers as a timeline. Through different eras of history, Hughes connects to his ancestors through different rivers. This proves that the use of symbolism in “The Negro speaks of...... middle of paper...... his tears” (5-6). This is an example of a metaphor. Although he compares two quantities, the reader remains confused by questioning the events. For lack of comparisons, Maya's poem "Africa" ​​remains more difficult to understand. Therefore, Langston's poem contains greater success. The use of literary elements in “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” makes it a more successful poem than “Africa” by Maya Angelou. Through symbolism, repetition, and similes, Hughes creates a poem that is easier to understand. to understand. Through the importance of the rivers representing his ancestors, Langston emotionally connects with the reader. Meanwhile, Maya's poem fails to provide clear understanding, creating a less effective piece. It is important to remember your ancestors. They made you who you are today and paved a path to who you will be tomorrow. Works Cited “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” “Africa"