Paul+Lawrence+Dunbar

 =Paul Lawrence Dunbar __Biography__: Born in Dayton, Ohio on June 27, 1872 was one of the first African American poets to receive recognition for his work. Paul's parents Joshua and Matilda Dunbar freed slaves from Kentucky separated from him shortly after his birth. He drew on the story's of plantation life throughout his writing career. As a young man and a fine student Paul was financially unable to afford college and took up a job as a elevator. In the Year 1892 a former teacher invited him to read his poems at a meeting of the Western Association of Writers. impressed by his work James Whitcomb Riley wrote him a letter of encouragement. In 1893, Dunbar self-published a collection called //Oak and Ivy. He sold these books to people for a dollar who went on his elevator.// By 1895, Dunbar's poems began appearing in major national newspapers and magazines. whitch gave him large recognition among the people. In 1898, Dunbar's health deteriorated; he believed the dust in the library contributed to his tuberculosis and left his job to dedicate himself full time to writing and giving readings. Over the next five years, he would produce three more novels and three short story collections. Dunbar separated from his wife in 1902, and shortly thereafter he suffered a nervous breakdown and a bout of pneumonia. Pauls deteriorated health problems continued till on Feburuary 9, 1906 he died at the age of thirty three. __Relati____ons to the Harlem Renaissance__: The Harlem Renaissance was when African American's literature and arts attracted significant attention nation; Paul Lawrence Dunbar relates to it in many ways. Dunbar was an African American poet of this time; though he also wrote novels, short stories, and essays. Most of his works had similar themes to other literature during the H arlem Renaissance. The poem "Accountability" shows one of the common themes of the Harlem Renaissance: desire for social and political equality. Dunbar also was the first black poet to express lyrical qualities of black life and the black dialect, as seen in many of his poems. This is a way Dunbar expresses his racial pride; another theme relating him to the Harlem Renaissance. The final theme that ties Dunbar to the Harlem Renaissance is intrest in roots of the 20-century African American experience in Africa and the American South. This is shown in his poem "He Had His Dream". Accountability: FOLKS ain't got no right to censuah othah folks about dey habits; Him dat giv' de squir'ls de bushtails made de bobtails fu' de rabbits. Him dat built de gread big mountains hollered out de little valleys, Him dat made de streets an' driveways wasn't shamed to make de alleys. We is all constructed diff'ent, d'ain't no two of us de same; We cain't he'p ouah likes an' dislikes, ef we'se bad we ain't to blame. Ef we'se good, we need n't show off, case you bet it ain't ouah doin' We gits into su'ttain channels dat we jes' cain't he'p pu'suin'. But we all fits into places dat no othah ones could fill, An' we does the things we has to, big er little, good er ill. John cain't tek de place o' Henry, Su an' Sally ain't alike; Bass ain't nuthin' like a suckah, chub ain't nuthin' like a pike. When you come to think about it, how it's all planned out it's splendid. Nuthin's done er evah happens, 'dout hit's somefin' dat's intended; Don't keer whut you does, you has to, an' hit sholy beats de dickens,-- Viney, go put on de kittle, I got one o' mastah's chickens.  __ "A Negro Love Song" __  = SEEN my lady home las' night, Jump back, honey, jump back. Hel' huh han' an' s que'z it tight, Jump back, honey, jump back. Hyeahd huh sigh a little sigh, Seen a light gleam f'om huh eye, An' a smile go flittin' by -- Jump back, honey, jump back.

Hyeahd de win' blow thoo de pine, Jump back, honey, jump back. Mockin'-bird was singin' fine, Jump back, honey, jump back. An' my hea't was beatin' so, When I reached my lady's do', Dat I could n't ba' to go -- Jump back, honey, jump back.

Put my ahm aroun' huh wais', Jump back, honey, jump back. Raised huh lips an' took a tase, Jump back, honey, jump back. Love me, honey, love me true? Love me well ez I love you? An' she answe'd, " 'Cose I do" -- Jump back, honey, jump back.  =__<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive; font-size: 140%;">Poem Analysis __<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive; font-size: 140%;">: = =<span style="background-color: rgb(255,255,255); color: rgb(0,0,255); font-size: 12pt;">The most prominent convention used within this poem is dialect. The author comes from the predominately African American culture, where this language and shortening of words is commonly used. The simple nature of the poem parallels the simplicity of the Negro life. Its title, “A Negro Love Song,” sets the reader up for exactly what the poem is. This love that the author and the woman share is uncomplicated and filled with the little loving gestures that are the basis of any relationship. Within this poem, the phrase “jump back, honey, jump back” is used as repetition because the original intentions of this work were for it to be used as a song for other people to sing. This repetition gives the audience a chance to anticipate the next line and sing along with the performer. Along with the use of repetition, imagery is used creatively to describe the author’s actions towards the woman and also in observance of the things around him. In particular, the action of kissing “[his] lady” (1) is described as the author “[raising] huh lips an’ [taking] a tase” (19). The first stanza of the poem starts out with the author’s observations of his lady’s actions as she comes home. She sighs and it appears that she has had a long day. In the second stanza, the author reaches out to touch his lady, and describes all the peaceful actions that accompany him throughout this stage of the poem. In the third stanza, the author goes in to comfort her again, grabbing her around the waist and even building up the courage to give her a kiss. The woman still seems to be slightly tense, and as reassurance the author asks her if she loves him just as much as he loves her. The answer seems to be an obvious “Cose I do” (23). Although the relationship seems simple on the outside, this love between the two contains a greater amount of depth than the length and simplicity of the poem would suggest<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive; font-size: 12pt;">. = =<span style="background-color: rgb(255,255,255);"> = =<span style="background-color: rgb(255,255,255);">__Resorces__: = =<span style="background-color: rgb(255,255,255); font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 90%;">[] = =<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"> <span style="background-color: rgb(255,255,255); font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;">[] =