James Weldon Johnson

James Weldon Johnson's "The Creation" is very interesting as it gives some interesting interpretations as to the beginning of existence. The poem may allow the reader to make some deductions about the beginning of existence as we know it. People must have some kind of way to explain how things began. It may become essential to groups' beliefs to figure out where they came from.

Some of the analogies made in the poem certainly gave the poem the substance that it required. For example, in the second stanza, Johnson says "...Darkness covered everything, blacker than a hundred midnights..." Another Many other examples are illustrated throughout the poem. Every analogy definitely provided the reader with the proper insight as to the meaning that the author was trying to convey.

The reader of the poem could also use the poem to determine the reasoning behind some basic human characteristics. For example, during the poem, after everything God created He was still lonely. This in turn caused God to create man "in His own image." If God himself could be lonely after everything he created, then it follows reasonably that a human being would be lonely no matter what kind of possessions that they may obtain. From that portion of the poem, one could infer that that is reason why humans crave companionship and communication with others. It is natural for humans to want to be around other human beings. Using the poem one could say that the reason for that is because we are made in God's own image.

The poem not only explained the origins of the earth and creation of man. The poem gave particulars of how certain events in nature occur. Johnson says in the sixth stanza "...And He spat out the seven seas; He batted His eyes, and the lightnings flashed; He clapped His hands, and the thunders rolled; And the waters above the earth came down, The cooling waters came down". The poet is giving very specific

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