Salvation Questions and Answers
Salvation
Key themes and elements in Langston Hughes' "Salvation"
Key themes in Langston Hughes' "Salvation" include the loss of innocence, the conflict between personal belief and societal expectations, and the disillusionment with religion. The story explores...
Salvation
In "Salvation," what type of details does Hughes include in his narrative?
Hughes's narrative in "Salvation" includes vivid sensory details that immerse the reader in the scene. Initially, he provides a generalized description of a revival meeting, capturing the atmosphere...
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Hughes's attitude and purpose in recalling the incident in "Salvation."
In "Salvation," Hughes's attitude is one of disillusionment and regret. His purpose in recalling the incident is to highlight the profound impact that societal and familial expectations can have on...
Salvation
What is salvation and why is it important for young Hughes to be saved?
Salvation in Christianity means repenting from sin and accepting Jesus Christ as Savior. For young Hughes, it is important to be saved to appease his family and church members, especially his aunt....
Salvation
Why are children in "Salvation" referred to as "lambs" and what are its connotations?
In Langston Hughes’ “Salvation,” the children are referred to as “lambs” because lambs symbolize innocence and purity and children are considered innocent people. This is also a reference to Jesus,...
Salvation
Narrator and setting of "Salvation"
The narrator of "Salvation" is Langston Hughes, recounting his own experience as a twelve-year-old boy. The setting is a church revival meeting where young Langston is expected to be "saved" and see...
Salvation
What is the irony in the title and first sentence of the essay "Salvation"? What is its theme?
The irony in the title "Salvation" and the first sentence of the essay lies in the fact that, instead of finding religious faith, Langston Hughes experiences disillusionment and learns to lie. The...
Salvation
Who does Hughes refer to as "young lambs" in his essay and where else does he use figurative language?
Hughes refers to children as "young lambs" in his essay, using the metaphor to symbolize innocence and purity, drawing on biblical connections. He employs additional figurative language by describing...
Salvation
What conflict does the narrator in Langston Hughes's "Salvation" experience and how does it build tension?
In "Salvation," the narrator experiences a conflict over a misunderstanding about being saved by Jesus. He expects a literal vision, creating tension as the revival meeting drags on. The pressure...
Salvation
"Salvation" Story Hook and Title Significance
Langston Hughes's story "Salvation" explores a young boy's quest for spiritual salvation, reflecting on his experience at a religious revival where he feels pressured to claim he has seen the light...
Salvation
Explain the following phrases from "Salvation" by Langston Hughes: "the ninety and nine safe in the fold," "the lower...
The first phrase might link to how the narrator is left out in the figurative cold. The second phrase might be an allusion to hell or damnation. The third phrase suggests that the narrator is not in...
Salvation
In "Salvation," what does the author mean by "I was saved from sin when I was going on thirteen. But not really saved."
The phrase "I was saved from sin when I was going on thirteen. But not really saved" reflects the narrator's disillusionment in Langston Hughes's story "Salvation." As a child, he was led to believe...
Salvation
What causes Hughes' change in perspective in the final paragraph of "Salvation"?
Hughes' change in perspective in the final paragraph of "Salvation" arises from his realization that his expectations of a literal vision of Jesus were unmet, leading him to lie about being "saved."...
Salvation
Why does Hughes focus on Westley in "Salvation"?
Hughes's behavior during the revival contrasts that of a fraud called Westley. When he was younger, Hughes couldn't bring himself to get up and leave the tent even though he knew that Jesus wasn't...
Salvation
How does Langston Hughes recount the revival meeting in his essay "Salvation"?
Langston Hughes recounts a revival meeting in "Salvation" through the perspective of his 13-year-old self, using exclamatory phrases to convey his aunt's religious fervor and his naive belief. He...
Salvation
What is the effect of the one-sentence paragraph in "Salvation" by Langston Hughes?
The one-sentence paragraph in Langston Hughes' "Salvation" emphasizes pivotal moments, such as "Still I kept waiting to see Jesus," highlighting the narrator's internal conflict and disillusionment...
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In "Salvation," how does Langston Hughes blend narrative and descriptive writing? Does he recount the story from an...
In "Salvation," Langston Hughes blends telling the story with showing his readers what happened. He does this by combining showing and telling throughout the story.
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In "Salvation" by Langston Hughes, what evidence does the writer use to support his thesis?
Hughes shares a story from his childhood about when he was "saved" but "not saved" at the same time. He uses his personal observations and the narrative of his story to support his conclusion: Jesus...
Salvation
Identify Freytag's pyramid points in "Salvation" by Langston Hughes.
All parts of Gustave Freytag’s pyramid are present in “Salvation.” There’s exposition, when Hughes lays out the scene and the most important characters. There’s an inciting moment, when Hughes...
Salvation
The value and effectiveness of dialogue in "Salvation."
The value and effectiveness of dialogue in "Salvation" lies in its ability to convey the internal and external conflicts of the narrator. Through dialogue, the story reveals the pressures the young...
Salvation
Details of the event in "Salvation" including location, participants, timing, and reasons
The event in "Salvation" takes place at a church revival meeting, attended by the narrator, Langston Hughes, his aunt, and other congregation members. It occurs in the evening, a significant time for...
Salvation
What influences led Langston Hughes to lie about being "saved" in "Salvation," and what did he learn about the adult...
Langston Hughes' essay, Salvation, is about how he lied to himself when he was a child. He acted like he believed in God and went through the motions of being saved, but in his mind; he knew better....
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Why does Hughes expect salvation at the revival meeting?
Hughes expects salvation at the revival meeting due to the influence of his community and his aunt, who described salvation as a profound spiritual experience. As a young boy, he trusted these...
Salvation
Why does Hughes use a paradox in the opening sentences of "Salvation"?
Langston Hughes uses a paradox in the opening sentences of "Salvation" to highlight the complexity and potential hypocrisy of religious experiences. By stating he was "saved" but "not really saved,"...
Salvation
How would you describe Hughes's tone in the opening sentences of Salvation?
Langston Hughes's tone in the opening sentences of "Salvation" is ambiguous, to say the least. He starts by telling us how he was saved from sin when he was going on thirteen. But then, in the very...
Salvation
What is the time duration in "Salvation" by Langston Hughes, and its significance?
The essays of the collection capture moments in the writers’ lives, and the fact that they cover such short periods of time is a way of emphasizing how important or influential these events were to...
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How does sentence variation in Langston Hughes's "Salvation" reinforce the drama of the events?
Interspersed with these long sentences are short, staccato sentences that emphasize the strangeness of the speaker's claim. These short sentences prepare us for the long ones that follow, which give...
Salvation
Is Langston Hughes' essay, "Salvation," amusing, serious, or both?
Langston Hughes' essay "Salvation" is both amusing and serious. It blends humor and sadness, capturing the contradictory feelings of a child's first encounter with religious expectation. The humorous...
Salvation
Why does Hughes use a limited amount of dialogue in "Salvation"?
Whilst there are several attempts being made to start a dialogue, there is only one real instance of a direct dialogue taking place in “Salvation.” The reason for this is that Langston Hughes wanted...
Salvation
What roles do the setting and supporting characters play in "Salvation" by Langston Hughes?
In "Salvation," the setting of the revival meeting is crucial as it establishes the religious and communal pressure experienced by the protagonist. The elevated platform and the crowd's expectations...
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Why does the speaker delay his salvation in "Salvation"?
The speaker delays his salvation because he genuinely expects a divine experience, as described by his aunt, but feels nothing during the church service. Despite waiting for a sign of Jesus entering...
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Is "Salvation" by Langston Hughes a nonfiction work?
This text is based on a true story. It was written by Langston Hughes and published in his autobiography The Big Sea. This essay shows how he did not see Jesus at the time of salvation for him when...
Salvation
Based on "Salvation," how does Langston Hughes describe Westley's future?
Langston Hughes's "Salvation" presents Westley's actions during a church service as indicative of disbelief and manipulation, suggesting potential for a future lacking morals or leading to trouble....
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Why doesn't Langston Hughes use present tense in "Salvation" and how would it change the story?
Past tense is a stylistic choice that suggests that the narrator understands something about the experience at the revival in a way that Langston, at age 12, did not.
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What does Auntie Reed's speech, appearance, and actions reveal about her character in "Salvation"? How do others...
Auntie Reed's speech in "Salvation" reveals her as a devout Christian, using evangelical language like "Lamb of God" to encourage Langston to be saved. Her actions, including praying and rejoicing...