Poem Analysis on "Tableau (For Donald Duff)"

A detailed Summary of Poem Analysis on "Tableau (For Donald Duff)"

The poem Tableau (for Donald Duff) written by Countee Cullen, shows the

friendship of two young boys, one black and the other one white as they walk down the

street "locked arm in arm" (line 1). The colored "folks would stare" (line 5) and the white

"folks would talk" (line 6), saying that these two dare not walk with each other. The two

boys continue to walk down without caring about what anybody has to say. It reinforces

the concept that friendship has no color boundaries. The message in this poem conveys

that the boys maintained their friendship, despite the criticisms of their interracial

relationship. "Tableau" is a three-stanza poem that utilizes rhyme, imagery and metaphor.

The structured rhyme scheme of this particular poem is brilliant.

makes the poem stand out above the rest. It explains the innocence of children and how

walking down the street with their arms linked together and having everyone staring and

there to spend their time with and to talk to. "In unison to walk" (line 8), is the most

Metaphors play a major role in the poem. Cullen talks about the white boy being

be black, white, brown, furry, inanimate...they do not care. As long as there is someone

Approximate Word count = 514
Approximate Pages = 2 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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