Mind Map for "Theme for English B" & "The Jacket" By: Richard Alikhanyan and Martin Ha

1. Characterization

1.1. The speaker in "Theme for English B" speaks out about the racial tensions of his era and the stereotyping of one's skin. The emphasis placed upon such a controversial topic depicts the speaker with a confident and determined semblance.

1.2. The character in "The Jacket" is introduced as someone who has many insecurities and low self-esteem. These internal insecurities are hidden under his jacket, which he makes out to be the cause of all of his problems. In reality, this external conflict that he creates ultimately makes his internal insecurities much worse. Towards the end of the story, however, the main character faces these insecurities head-on and learns to not be defined by them, accentuated by the line "...my jacket, that green ugly brother who breathed over my shoulder that day and ever since" (Soto 12), making him out to be stronger, especially mentally.

1.3. Overall, both the speaker in "Theme for English B" and the main character in "The Jacket" portray their resolve and fervor through the mindsets they hold.

1.4. Although the two literary works' characters are similarly defined in their traits, they still differ. In "The Jacket", the character has to learn to not let his insecurities define him, but this happens over time, whereas in "The Theme for English B", the speaker already has the willpower to speak on the topic of racial oppression.

2. Cultural Tension

2.1. Conflicts\Theme

2.1.1. "Theme for English B" portrays racial and cultural tensions due to people of color being forced to assimilate into the dominant society, but who were still discriminated against. Because of this, neither the speaker nor the "instructor" want to co-exist peacefully, emphasized by the lines "Sometimes perhaps you don't want to be a part of me-Nor do I often want to be a part of you.- But we are, that's true!" (Hughes 34-36).

2.1.2. Both of these literary works refer to the bigger picture of not allowing characteristics of oneself to define who you are, whether it be the color of one's skin or the internal insecurities that an individual faces.

3. Language & Diction

3.1. "Theme for English B" has a great use of language pertaining to first and second person. This is most likely due to the relationship the "I", or the speaker, shares with "you", or society. The importance of this relationship is what the entire poem is about. However, the use of first person also signifies how the speaker is an individual; the speaker is still their own person, still unique. The diction of "colored" is also significant as it allows for readers who feel as though they are stuck in the same situation to relate to the speaker, and feel empowered through the poem.

3.2. "The Jacket", just like "Theme for English B", has a great use of the first person. This is because the story's focal point is the main character and how he views life. Other than that, various negative diction is used to describe the jacket, stressing the animosity he holds against it.

4. Motifs & Symbolism

4.1. "Theme for English B" possesses a variety of different symbols. In the beginning of the poem, the Harlem Branch Y symbolizes the normality of the speaker. Although the speaker is of a different ethnicity, he is still like everyone else; he still lives in a home, which may not be as extravagant as those of the white scholars around him, but nonetheless a home. This representation of normality continues through the allusions to Bessie, bop, and Bach. These allusions demonstrate that the speaker has interests which co-align with the "dominant" culture, ultimately showing that the speaker is similar to others.

4.2. The symbolism within "The Jacket" comprises mostly of the jacket. This jacket, for the main character, is the cause of all his problems. However, the jacket really symbolizes the internal insecurities that the character has. This is known through the numerous lines in which the character blames the jacket, such as "The next day I wore [the jacket] to sixth grade and got a D on the math quiz" (Soto 6). It's represented as an external conflict created by the character to avoid all responsibility and to blame for his negative self-image.

4.3. Although "Theme for English B" & "The Jacket" tend to compare to one another in a variety of ways, they differ in symbolism, and the significance of the symbols used.

5. Text --> Self

5.1. Whilst reading "Theme for English B", I felt the passion with which the speaker, Langston Hughes, had written the poem. Although I've never dealt with racial oppression personally, cultural tension is something that I struggled with when I was younger. My home at the time was a completely different place, and it possessed a more traditional culture. However, the outside world, which possessed the more dominant American society/culture, still existed and impacted me. Because of how different the cultures were, it was hard to live within both.

5.2. "The Jacket" reminded me of a friend I had back in elementary school who would hide his social anxiety behind emotional outbreaks and rage. Although I attempted to help him with his social anxiety by interacting with him and introducing him to my friends, I was incapable of controlling when he would begin to feel uncomfortable being with us and go into an outrage about what we had done wrong. In the end, however, through his continence and my aid, he managed to overcome this habit. Although his situation wasn't as permanent as the internal insecurities that the main character in "The Jacket" held, it was still similar.

6. Text --> World

6.1. "Theme for English B" relates to the current racial oppression which still rules our society. Although racism is not as direct as it was in our world previously, it still exists and plays a big role in the separation between people of color and white people. While both parties are aware that everyone still falls under the same society, people still attempt to make subcategories for those they choose to discriminate against due to their skin color. It's honestly surprising and concerning that racial tension remains as a major problem in our society, even after 50+ years, back when "Theme for English B" was written.

6.2. "The Jacket" is relevant to anyone who's let superficial problems get in the way of personal growth and effort. Almost everyone has grown through a stage where they are so focused on external issues which they have no control over that they neglect personal problems that they can change.