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will explain that when you read, you can “hear” an author’s voice. Voice is the author’s tone or attitude toward a subject in a text. By looking at the words an author has chosen and how they describe the setting, characters, or plot, you can identify the voice of the author. I will read the poem “Mother to Son” by Langston Hughes in Poetry for Young People: Langston Hughes edited by David Roessel and Arnold Rampersad aloud. I will model identifying the author’s voice in the poem using the words in phrases in the poem. The poem is written by Langston Hughes but the poem is written from the point of view of a mother. The author uses words like “tacks,” “splinters,” “boards,” and “bare,” and phrases like “life ain’t been no crystal stair.” The mother’s attitude about life is that it is a struggle and that you must continue to keep going and push on. The mother’s voice speaks of hardship and perseverance.

Ask: How did I identify the author's voice in the poem? Students should respond that as you read the poem you paid close attention to words and phrases that told you how the author felt about the subject.

will read “Aunt Sue’s Stories” by Langston Hughes in Poetry for Young People: Langston Hughes. We will identify the author’s voice in the poem using words and phrases from the poem. Words and phrases such as “heart full of stories,” “summer nights on the porch,” “cuddles a brown-faced child,” “singing sorrow songs,” “mingle themselves softly,” and “the dark-faced child is quiet” give the reader the feeling of comfort and love for a grandmother. The author’s voice is warm and quietly respectful.

will read “Youth” by Langston Hughes in Poetry for Young People: Langston Hughes. You will give examples of words and phrases that support the author’s voice of hope. This can be done by underlining words and phrases in the poem or by writing the examples on separate paper. Note: You will need to provide the poem “Youth” for students.