logo

18 pages 36 minutes read

I look at the world

Fiction | Poem | Adult | Published in 2008

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Poem Analysis

Analysis: “I look at the world”

“I look at the world” by Langston Hughes belongs to the lyric genre of poetry; it’s relatively short and expresses the personal views of the poet and speaker. In “I look at the world,” the speaker is a Black person conveying their individual perceptions about the United States and racism. Although the problems the speaker witnesses are personal and seen through their lens, the issues are universal within the Black community.

While the primary theme of the poem is racism, the speaker doesn’t lack confidence. Racism hasn't made them meek. Their tone is confident: “I look at the world,” declares the speaker (Line 1). They possess the poise to confront the world and evaluate it. They address race by describing how they look at the world through “awakening eyes in a black face” (Line 2). Continuing the declarative tone, the speaker tells the reader what they see.

The speaker reveals their observations: “This fenced-off narrow space / Assigned to me” (Lines 4-5). The last line—“Assigned to me”—reveals further details about the speaker. They didn’t choose to occupy this marginalized space. Rather, someone placed them in a restricted area due to their skin color.

blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
Unlock IconUnlock all 18 pages of this Study Guide

Plus, gain access to 8,650+ more expert-written Study Guides.

Including features:

+ Mobile App
+ Printable PDF
+ Literary AI Tools