Analysis of Langston Hughes“Dreams”

and“Harlem – A DREAM

Deferred”

“Dreams” Discussion Questions

To what does the speaker compare life in the first stanza?

Interpret the metaphors. What does each suggest about life?

Restate in your own words the advice that this poem offers. The American poet Delmore Schwarts once wrote," In dreams begin responsibilities." How might Hughes interpret this statement? Base your answer on the poems you have just read.

Subject: Keep trying to

achieve your dreams

Occasion: personal experience

Purpose: to show you cannot live to your full potential if you let your dreams die

“Dreams”by Langston Hughes

Hold fast to dreamsFor if dreams dieLife is a broken-winged birdThat cannot fly. Hold fast to dreamsFor when dreams goLife is a barren fieldFrozen with snow. Audience: general

audience; other African Americans

Speaker: unknown narrator-possibly poet

“Dreams”Annotations

Hold fast to dreamsFor if dreams dieLife is a broken-winged birdThat cannot fly. Hold fast to dreamsFor when dreams goLife is a barren fieldFrozen with snow.

Type: Lyric

Repetition: Hold fast to dreams

Metaphors: Life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly

Life is a barren field frozen with snow

“Dreams”ANNOTATIONS

Hold fast to dreams AFor if dreams die BLife is a broken-winged bird C That cannot fly. B Hold fast to dreams AFor when dreams go DLife is a barren field EFrozen with snow. D Alliteration: dreams

die

Assonance: that & cannot; frozen & snow

Stanzas: 2 Quatrains

“Dream Deferred” Discussion Questions

List the verbs used to indicate what can happen to "a dream deferred.”

With what kind of dream do you think the poem is concerned? Identify five similes in the poem. What do you think the speaker is suggesting in each simile?

Discuss the following theme: dream, disillusionment, poverty and frustrations

Interpret the last line. Why people need to feel they can fulfill their dreams?

Tone: Questioning, judgmental, warning

Speaker:Someone who is bitter about having his dreams put off

Audience:Society

“Dream Deferred”by Langston Hughes

(Harlem)What happens to a dream deferred?

Does it dry uplike a raisin in the sunOr fester like a sore—

And then run?Does it stink like rotten meat?Or crust and sugar over—

Like a syrupy sweet?

Maybe it just sagslike a heavy load.

Or does it explode?

Subject: A series of rhetorical questions about living with disappointment

Themes:•Having to postpone one’s deepest desires can lead to destruction or destructive behavior

“Dream Deferred”by Langston Hughes

(Harlem)What happens to a dream deferred?

Does it dry uplike a raisin in the sunOr fester like a sore—

And then run?Does it stink like rotten meat?Or crust and sugar over—

Like a syrupy sweet?

Maybe it just sagslike a heavy load.

Or does it explode?

“Dream Deferred”ANNOTATIONS

(Harlem)What happens to a dream deferred?

Does it dry uplike a raisin in the sunOr fester like a sore—

And then run?Does it stink like rotten meat?Or crust and sugar over—

Like a syrupy sweet?

Maybe it just sagslike a heavy load.

Or does it explode?

“Dream Deferred”ANNOTATIONS

(Harlem)What happens to a dream deferred? A

Does it dry up Blike a raisin in the sun COr fester like a sore— D

And then run? CDoes it stink like rotten meat?EOr crust and sugar over— F

Like a syrupy sweet? E

Maybe it just sags Glike a heavy load.

Or does it explode? H

Type: Lyric

Metaphor: “does it explode?”

End Rhyme: “sun-run”“meat-sweet”“load-explode”

Stanzas: Six

Repetition: “does it”

Imagery: “raisin in the sun”“fester like a sore”“stink like rotten meat”“heavy load”“explode”

Similes: “dry up like a rasin in the sun”“fester like a sore-”“stink like rotten meat”Sugar over-Like a syrupy sweet?”“sag like a heavy load”

“Dream Deferred”by Langston Hughes

(Harlem)What happens to a dream deferred?

Does it dry uplike a raisin in the sunOr fester like a sore—

And then run?Does it stink like rotten meat?Or crust and sugar over—

Like a syrupy sweet?

Maybe it just sagslike a heavy load.

Or does it explode?

Alliteration: “dream deferred”

Essential Question

Why do writers use figurative language like similes and metaphors in their

poetry?

Writers use metaphors and similes to invite the reader to make a comparison between two unlike things and to note a surprising characteristic they share.

“Dreams” and “A Dream Deferred”

Think about goals you have set for yourself but are not sure you can

achieve. How does the possibility of failure make you feel? What if

someone told you that you couldn’t achieve your goals and dreams?

Post-ReadingText to Text Connection

What similarities do you see between the poems “Dreams” and “A Dream Deferred”?

How are the poems different?

Use evidence from the poems to support your answers.