Grade 9 English, Unit 12 People and Place || Madam and Her Madam Stanzawise Explanation and Exercise

Grade 9 English, Unit 12 People and Place || Madam and Her Madam Stanza wise Explanation and Exercise

Grade 9, English

Unit 12, People and Places
 

Reading II

Madam and Her Madam
 
Langston Hughes:
v Langston Hughes was an American poet, social activist, and one of the leading figures of the Harlem Renaissance.
v He was born in Joplin, Missouri, on 1st Feb. 1901, and grew up in Kansas City, Missouri.
v He attended Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, where he earned a degree in English.
v Hughes is best known for his poetry, which often dealt with the themes of race, class, and identity.
v His work is characterized by its use of vivid imagery, satire, and irony.
v He wrote in a variety of forms, including free verse, sonnets, and blues and jazz poetry, and his poetry is often considered to be a reflection of the African American experience.
v Hughes was also a prolific writer of fiction, essays, and plays, and he was an important figure in the Civil Rights Movement.
v He was a strong advocate for social and political change and his work often dealt with issues of poverty, injustice, and inequality.
v Hughes' work has had a profound impact on American literature, and he is considered to be one of the most important poets of the 20th century.
v His poetry continues to be widely read and studied, and his legacy lives on through the Langston Hughes Society, which promotes his work and legacy.
v He died on 22 May 1967, in New York City.
 
Harlem Renaissance
The Harlem Renaissance was a cultural and intellectual movement that emerged in the 1920s among African American artists, writers, and intellectuals. It was centered in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City, and it marked a new era of artistic and intellectual expression for African Americans. The movement was a response to the years of oppression and racism that African Americans had experienced in the United States. It was a time when African American artists and intellectuals began to declare their own identities and to create new forms of art and literature that reflected their experiences and perspectives. The movement was characterized by a renewed sense of pride and self-awareness among African Americans, as well as an interest in exploring the African American experience through art, literature, music, and other forms of cultural expression.
 
Reading II
Look at the picture below and guess the answers to the following questions.
 
a. What are the two momen doing?
Ans:- The women are close to each other. One woman is siting on a chair and having a cup of tea but the next woman is standing and washing dishes.
 
b. What do you think the relationship is between the two women?
Ans:- As we observe the picture, I think that the relationship between them is Madam and her maid/servant.
 
 
Madam and Her madam
I worked for a woman,
She wasn't mean—
But she had a twelve-room
House to clean.
Had to get breakfast,
Dinner, and supper, too—
Then take care of her children
When I got through.
Wash, iron, and scrub,
Walk the dog around—
It was too much,
Nearly broke me down.
I said, Madam,
Can it be
You trying to make a
Pack-horse out of me?
She opened her mouth.
She cried, Oh, no!
You know, Alberta,
I love you so!
I said, Madam,
That may be true—
But I'll be dogged
If I love you!
 
About the Poem
v "Madam and Her Madam" is a poem written by Langston Hughes, an American poet, social activist, and one of the leading figures of the Harlem Renaissance.
v The poem is a satirical and biting commentary on the hypocrisy and exploitation that existed in the lives of African American women who worked as domestic servants for white families.
v The poem is a powerful commentary on the racial and class divisions that existed in American society during the early 20th century.
v It highlights the exploitation and mistreatment of African American women who worked as domestic servants, and the hypocrisy and cruelty of the white women who employed them. Through the use of vivid imagery, satire, and irony, Hughes exposes the injustice and inhumanity of the system and gives voice to the oppressed.
v "Madam and Her Madam" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that deals with the themes of race, class, and gender, through the use of vivid imagery, satire, and irony.
v It exposes the hypocrisy and cruelty of the white society towards the African American community and gives voice to the oppressed, it is a powerful commentary on the racial and class divisions that existed in American society during the early 20th century.
 
Glossary: (From the poem)
Mean                   : unkind or cruel, showing no consideration for                                   others
Supper                : a light meal that is typically eaten in the evening,                                 often before going to bed
Got through      : to have succeeded in completing or dealing with                                    something difficult
Scrub                   : to clean something thoroughly, usually by rubbing                        it hard with a brush and soap or detergent
Walk the dog around: to take a dog for a walk, usually for exercise                                  or to do its business
Break down       : to stop functioning or to collapse, either physically                               or emotionally
Pack horse         : an animal, usually a horse or a mule, that is trained                          to carry heavy loads
Out of me          : from me, indicating possession or origin
Dogged              : determined and persistent, not easily discouraged
 
Stanzawise Explanation:
 
I worked for a woman,
She wan't mean
But he had a twelve room
House to clean.
 
This stanza describes the speaker's experience of working for a White woman as a domestic worker. The speaker states that he worked for a woman (White) and that the woman was not mean to them, but she had a lot of work to do because the house she was cleaning had 12 rooms. The speaker seems to be describing a sense of tiredness and perhaps even frustration with the amount of work that she had to do, but at the same time, the speaker does not suggest that the woman she worked for treated them poorly. This stanza highlights the hardworking and laborious aspect of the speaker's job.
 
Had to get breakfast,
Dinner, and suppur, too
Then take care of her children
When I got through
 
This stanza describes the speaker's daily routine and responsibilities as a domestic worker. The speaker states that she had to get breakfast, dinner, and supper ready for her Madam and her family, which shows the speaker's role in the household as a cook and a caregiver. Furthermore, the speaker mentions that she also had to take care of the woman's children when after finishing the cooking, which highlights her role as a nurse as well. This stanza illustrates the demanding and time-consuming nature of the speaker's work, as has to perform multiple tasks and has little time to rest.
 
Wash, iron and scrub
walk the dog around
it was too much,
Nearly broke me down.
 
This stanza describes the speaker's experience of working as a domestic worker and the various tasks she has to perform. The speaker lists three specific tasks that she has to do: "wash, iron and scrub" these are the typical housekeeping tasks. The speaker also mentions that she has to walk the dog around, which adds another responsibility to her already demanding workload. The last line of the stanza expresses the speaker's feelings towards the amount of work she has to do: "it was too much, Nearly broke me down." This line implies that the speaker feels speechless and exhausted by the total amount of work she has to do. This stanza highlights the physically and emotionally demanding nature of domestic work and the duty it takes on the worker.
 
I said, Madam,
Can it be
You trying to make a
Pack-horse out me?
 
This stanza describes a conversation or an exchange between the speaker and the woman she works for. The speaker uses the term "Madam" to address the woman, which implies a formality and a level of respect. The speaker then poses a question to the woman, asking if she is trying to make a "Pack-horse" out of her. The term "Pack-horse" is a metaphor that suggests that the speaker feels overworked and overburdened, like a pack-horse that carries a heavy load. The question implies that the speaker feels she is being treated unfairly, and she is being overworked to the point of collapse. The stanza highlights the speaker's frustration and resentment towards the woman she works for, and the feeling of being abused and misunderstood.
 
She opened her mouth.
She cried, Oh, no!
You know, Alberta,
I love you so!
 
This stanza describes the Madam's reaction to her maid's question. Speaker's Madam is depicted as opening her mouth and crying "Oh, no!" which suggests that the speaker's question has taken her by surprise, and she is shocked and saddened by it. The woman then addresses the speaker by her name, "Alberta," which implies that they have a more personal relationship. The woman also expresses her feelings towards the speaker, saying "I love you so!" which is a strong and emotional statement. This line could indicate that the Madam genuinely cares for her maid and that she is regretful for not realizing the level of the speaker's workload and how it is affecting her. The stanza highlights the woman's realization of her mistake and her expression of love and affection towards the speaker, which suggests a possible resolution to the previous tension between the two of them.
 
I said, Madam,
That may be ture
But I'll be dogged
If I love you!
 
This stanza is a response from the speaker to her Madam's statement in the previous stanza, "I love you so!" The speaker addresses the woman again as "Madam," and she expresses her skepticism towards her Madam's statement, saying "That may be true." The use of the word "Madam" instead of the woman's name again implies a level of formality and a lack of trust towards the woman. The speaker then expresses her own feelings towards the woman, saying "But I'll be dogged / If I love you!" The phrase "I'll be dogged" is an colloquial expression that means "I'll be damned" or "I'll be surprised" which implies that the speaker does not share the same feelings as the woman. The line "If I love you" also shows a rejection of the woman's affection and it could indicate that the speaker does not trust the woman's words and does not feel the same way about her. This stanza highlights the speaker's mistrust towards the woman and her lack of affection towards her, despite her apology and expression of love.
 
 
B. Answer the following questions.
a. Was he Madam really not mean? Why does the speaker say 'she wasn't mean'?
Ans:- The speaker simply states that "she wasn't mean," but it doesn't explain the reasons behind this statement. It's possible that the speaker is being polite or trying to be diplomatic in their description of the Madam. It could also mean that the Madam did not physically or verbally abuse the speaker, but that doesn't mean that the Madam was not exploitative or inconsiderate in other ways.
 
b. Make a list of work that the maid had to do.
Ans:- The list of work that the maid had to do are cleaning and maintaining a 12-room house, cooking breakfast, dinner, and supper, taking care of the woman's children, washing, ironing, and scrubbing and walking the dog around.
 
c. What made her nearly break down?
Ans:-The speaker descrobes a heavy workload and demanding duties such as cleaning, cooking, taking care of children and walking the dog. All of these tasks and the lack of rest or time off made the speaker nearly break down. The line, "it was too much, Nearly broke me down" further supports this idea.
 
d. How did the Madam respond to the maid's question?
Ans:- The Madam responded to the maid's question by opening her mouth and crying shockingly and remorsefully.
 
B. Match the following words/phrases in column A with their meanings in column B.
 
Column A                 Column B
a. mean               -         iv. unkind
b. get through  -         vi. to manage to do or complete something
c. dinner             -         vii. the main meal of the day
d. break down  -         iii. cease to function; collapse
e. pack-horse    -         ii. a horse that is used to carry heavy loads
f. Madam            -         v. a formal and polite way of speaking to a                                           woman
g. dogged          -         i. not giving up easily
 
C. The poem above presents presents an example of one type of discrimination. What kinds of discrimination are in existence in you society? Discuss.
 
The poem "Madam and Her Madam" by Langston Hughes presents an example of color discrimination between whites and black. There are many different forms of discrimination that exist in our society. Some of the most common forms include:
 
Discrimination based on a person's race or ethnicity that is called racism. This can take many forms, from overt acts of hatred and violence, to more subtle forms of discrimination, such as racial sketching or redlining.
 
Another discrimination is based on a person's gender. This kind of discirimination is known as sexism. Sexism can be found in the workplace, as well as gender-based violence and harassment.
 
Another discrimination is based on a person's age called agism. People behave differently according to the age group of other people.
 
Ableism is a kind of discrimination based on a person's physical, mental or emotional disabilities. This can include discrimination in the workplace, as well as lack of accessibility in public spaces and services.
 
Homophobia and Transphobia: Discrimination based on a person's sexual orientation or gender identity. This can include discrimination in the workplace, as well as hate crimes and harassment.
 
Religious discrimination is based on a person's religion or belief system. This can include discrimination in the workplace, as well as hate crimes and harassment.
 
Economic discrimination: Discrimination based on a person's economic status. This can include discrimination in the workplace, as well as lack of access to education, healthcare and other basic necessities.
 

These are some of the most common forms of discrimination, but it's important to note that there are many other forms of discrimination that exist in society, and that the experiences of different individuals may vary. It's also important to note that discrimination can be multi-layered and individuals can face multiple forms of discrimination in their lives.