Early Autumn

This study guide will help you analyze the short story “Early Autumn” by Langston Hughes. You can also find a summary of the text, as well as inspiration for interpreting it and putting it into perspective.

Langston Hughes (1902-1967) was a renowned American author and social advocate. As a prominent figure in the Harlem Renaissance, he played a vital role in the resurgence of African-American art and literature. Hughes' body of work includes poetry, prose, non-fiction, and plays, earning him numerous accolades throughout his career. The short story "Early Autumn" initially debuted in the Chicago Defender newspaper and was subsequently featured in Hughes' 1963 compilation, Something in Common and Other Stories.

Excerpt from the study guide:

Similarly, the narrator does not mention that Mary will probably never see Bill again, but the ending implies this:

The bus started. People came between them outside, people crossing the street, people they didn’t know. Space and people. She lost sight of Bill. Then she remembered she had forgotten to give him her address—or to ask him for his — or tell him that her youngest boy was named Bill, too.

The mention of Mary “losing sight of Bill” ...