Its english question, just answer those 3 question by reading the critic and poem.

Here is the critic:

Here is the poem: (or you can choose The Weary Blues, Jazzonia, or Lenox Avenue: Midnight)

Choose one critic s piece and write about it. It should follow the template below: (1) In one or two sentences, summarize the main idea/argument of the critic. (2) In your own words, specify/expand one point made by the critic. (3) Bring in a poem we have read in this unit and explain how it complicates the critic s view. (Does the poem agree/disagree/partially disagree/expand/... the critic s view? How so?) KAREN JACKSON FORD (B. 1956) Hughes s Aesthetics of Simplicity 1992 The repression of the great bulk of Hughes s poems is the result of chronic criti- cal scorn for their simplicity. Throughout his long career, but especially after his first two volumes of poetry (readers were at first willing to assume that a youthful poet might grow to be more complex), his books received their harshest reviews 862 A Cultural Case Study: Harlem Renaissance Poets first book, The Weary Blues (1926), to his last one, The Panther and the Lash for a variety of flaws that all originate in an aesthetics of simplicity. From his superficial, infantile, (1967), the reviews invoke a litany of faults: the poems are silly, small, unpoetic, common, jejune, iterative, and, of course, simple. Even his flatly opposes simplicity and artfulness. While Hughes s rejection of his own admirers reluctantly conclude that Hughes s poetics failed. Saunders Redding growth shows an admirable loyalty to his self-commitment as the poet of the sim ple, Negro commonfolk... it does a disservice to his art. James Baldwin, who recognizes the potential of simplicity as an artistic principle, faults the poems for takling] refuge... in a fake simplicity in order to avoid the very difficult simplic Despite a lifetime of critical disappointments, then, Hughes remained loyal to the aesthetic program he had outlined in 1926 in his decisive poetic treatise. The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain. There he had predicted that the common people would give to this world its truly great Negro artist, the one who is not afraid to be himself, a poet who would explore the great field of unused (folk) material ready for his art and recognize that this source would provide sufficient matter to furnish a black artist with a lifetime of creative work. This is clearly a portrait of the poet Hughes would become, and he maintained his fidelity to this ideal at great cost to his literary reputation. ity of the experience. From Do Right to Write Right: Langston Hughes s Aesthetics of Simplicity Twentieth Century Literature 38.4 (1992) MacBook Pro LANGSTON HUGHES Ballad of the Landlord 1940 Landlord, landlord, My roof has sprung a leak. Don t your member I told you about it Way last week? Landlord, landlord, These steps is broken down. When you come up yourself It s a wonder you don t fall down. Ten Bucks you say I owe you? Ten Bucks you say is due? Well, that s Ten Bucks more n I ll pay you Till you fix this house up new. What? You gonna get eviction orders? You gonna cut off my heat? You gonna take my furniture and Throw it in the street? Um-huh! You talking high and mighty. Talk on-till you get through. You ain t gonna be able to say a word If I land my fist on you. Police! Police! Come and get this man! He s trying to ruin the government And overturn the land! Copper s whistle! Patrol bell! Arrest. Precinct Station. Iron cell. Headlines in press: MAN THREATENS LANDLORD TENANT HELD NO BAIL JUDGE GIVES NEGRO 90 DAYS IN COUNTY JAIL.