Claude McKay Outcast

Connotation- "And I must walk the way of life like a ghost."

This is a connotation because the word "ghost" is not used in a literal manner. McKay uses this word to describe how he feels in the world. This greatly adds the the emotion of feeling lifeless, and not important.

Symbolism- "While to its alien gods i bend my knee."

This represents symbolism because the line describes a physical action of "surrendering" and "obeying" the gods, which in this case are the people of America. This describes how he views the United States and how their racist actions make him feel.

Works Cited

• Academy of American Poets. "Claude McKay." Poets.org. Academy of American Poets, n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2016.
• Poetry Foundation. "Claude McKay." Poetry Foundation. Poetry Foundation, 2015. Web. 14 Apr. 2016.
• Hathaway, Heather A. "On "Outcast"" On "Outcast" Cultural Crossings, 1993. Web. 15 Apr. 2016.
• Poetry Foundation. "Claude McKay." Poetry Foundation. Poetry Foundation, 2015. Web. 1

What does this poem mean?

Literary Devices

Theme-

An overall sense of placelessness and unworthiness

Analysis-

The poem reveals that Claude was going through a magnitude of things in life, only to find himself alone in the end.

"He may never find release from this alien world in which he is enslaved." - Carol Davis

He feels that he will always be over powered by the white man. He feels separated, like a ghost, walking among the rest of the men on earth. Therefore, he feels alone, and like an outcast.

Personification- "But the great western world holds me in fee."

This shows personification because it is giving the western world the human ability to be holding on to something. This shows that the narrator feels "held back" from reaching happiness.

Historical Background

http://study.com/academy/lesson/claude-mckay-role-in-harlem-renaissance-america-analysis.html

Outcast

For the dim regions whence my fathers came

My spirit, bondaged by the body, longs.

Words felt, but never heard, my lips would frame;

My soul would sing forgotten jungle songs.

I would go back to darkness and to peace,

But the great western world holds me in fee,

And I may never hope for full release

While to its alien gods I bend my knee.

Something in me is lost, forever lost,

Some vital thing has gone out of my heart,

And I must walk the way of life a ghost

Among the sons of earth, a thing apart;

For I was born, far from my native clime,

Under the white man's menace, out of time.

Claude McKay

About Claude McKay

After moving back to the United States and loosing his interest in communism, he turned his attention to the teaching of various spiritual and political leaders; eventually he turned over to Catholicism.

His work ranged from peasant life in Jamaica to poems challenging white authority in America.

Influence

Major Works & Accomplishments

Returning again, he writes an autobiography (A Long Way From Home) where he focuses on a broad movement against colonialism, racism and segregation- which lead to his ideas for writing the poem Outcast.

A London publishing house produced his first books of verse: Songs of Jamaica and Constab Ballads.

He used the money he earned from these poems to move back to the United States from Russia.

After again leaving the country, McKay spent 11 extremely productive years in Europe and North Africa; he wrote three novels- Home to Harlem, Banjo, and Banana Bottom

Claude McKay Outcast

Poetry Analysis

By: Brianna Akers and Kayla Shelp