Essay Questions

How does Hayes make an effort to capture and share the essence of folk culture in “New Folk?”

In this poem, Hayes ensures that he respectfully pays homage to this unique genre of music by integration specific words and dialect markers from folk singers. Also, Hayes not only shows his reverence for this genre and style of music, but he also describes and explores the unique lifestyles of many folk musicians. Hayes uses his poetic platform to share with readers many insights into the lives and travels of folk musicians. Hayes also explores the folk writing process and suggests that folk musicians draw heavily upon their travel and life experiences to craft their unique music. In short, Hayes works hard to capture the essence of folk culture in this poem by integrating authentic dialect words and verbiage that would be used by folk musicians, and by sharing the life experiences of these musicians.

Why does the second part of “The Golden Shovel” become much more abstract in nature?

Part II of Hayes’ poem, “The Golden Shovel,” is intended to represent the narrator’s adult life. In part I, the narrator—Hayes, himself—explores his childhood, particularly his relationship with his father. He reflects upon the experiences and insights he gleaned during his childhood. In Part II, however, the narrator’s experiences and insights are much less concrete. This can likely be attributed to the fact that adulthood is far more abstract and unclear than childhood. The worries and problems of most children are nowhere near the worries and problems of adulthood. In this way, Hayes has written the second half of his poem in this manner to reflect the fact that adulthood is often far more confusing and complicated than childhood.

What does the narrator mean in “Ode To Big Trend” when he says that Big Trend could “tear a Bible in two”?

This short and embedded in line Hayes’ “Ode to Big Trend” may go overlooked as nothing more than a metaphorical representation of Big Trend’s physical strength. And, though it is undoubtedly a reference to Big Trend’s physicality, it is—more subtly—a reference to his intellectual prowess and poetic capabilities. When the narrator suggests that Big Trend could tear a Bible in two, what he really means is that he can debate, reflect upon, and analyze the Bible, as if he had ripped it in two. In other words, the narrator uses this very short, and unassuming line, to characterize Big Trend as a remarkably reflective and intellectually observant man, one who has read the Bible so diligently that he is able to debate and discuss it with anyone. Given Big Trend’s eloquent fight for equal rights for black Americans, this seemingly simple quotation serves to show that Big Trend is not powerful because of his physical strength but is rather powerful because of the way he values intellectual debates, ideals, and conversations. His ability to read and dissect the Bible, in addition to this literal physical ability to tear it in to, allows Big Trend to serve as the prime advocate for the needs of black Americans.