It is important to give students a good introduction to the Harlem Renaissance. Students should note McKay's dependence upon traditional British forms such as the sonnet. Original Audience I help students to understand the social history that shaped McKay's work and determined his first audience. Then I try to help students see why the poems remain fresh and vital to our own time. Comparisons, Contrasts, Connections Since McKay was influenced by important British poets such as Wordsworth, Shelley, and Donne, it is useful to compare and contrast his work with that of English romantic and metaphysical poets.
Stylistic similarities are often evident.
Bibliography James R. Giles's Claude McKay is a good book for teachers. The text is well organized, and the index makes it easy to locate specific information.