What are some tips for doing a critical analysis of Langston Hughes poetry?

When performing critical analysis of the poetry of Langston Hughes, readers should be aware of the context and time during which the poem was written and the cadence of the poem. Hughes wrote about the experiences of working-class African-American people across the entire span of his work.

Langston Hughes' poetry typically uses active, evocative language, subtle but pointed humor and stark imagery to convey to the reader the feeling and desire of the work. Hughes was a pioneer in using the lyrical nature of early jazz and bebop music to deliver his poems. He used rhythm, silence and cadence to help emphasize key phrases and images in his work.