The specific meaning of “dream” is to be in pursuit of something, or a goal on e wants to accomplish. The understanding of the poem reveal some struggles and hopelessness because as a black American in the early 1900s it was difficult to do anything or even aspire to dreams.…
Dreams change whether we want them to or not, but how might dreams change if they are ignored? Langston Hughes describes a dream deferred in his poem, "Harlem: A Dream Deferred", "What happens to a dream deferred?”; “Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?" He compares a dream deferred to various concepts. In connection to the play, written by Lorraine Hansberry, "A Raisin in the Sun" the Younger family, an impecunious African-American family, struggle in achieving their dreams, having to postpone them. Although the Younger family each face the same challenge, character Walter Younger is unalike the rest as his dreams deferred impact his personality and his actions. I argue that Walter Younger best illustrates the central theme of Hughes’…
The poem “Harlem” tries to define what happens to a “Dream’s Deferred”. Foremost the poem explores the problems within trying to find the American dream by asking what happen to a dream over time. Nerveless, the poem has descripted imagery that can be interpreted to try to answer the question. The poem explores the problems with finding the American dream by asking questions that all interpret to what happens to those dreams that never come true.…
In “Harlem,” by Langston Hughes, the speaker wants the reader to consider the dangers of postponing their dreams. Through similes of imagery, he emphasizes the importance to consider dreams to be as real as flesh and vital as food. “Harlem” is a free verse poem consisting of eleven lines, which are broken into four stanzas. In the first stanza, the speaker offers a question, “What happens to a dream deferred?” which has infinite many answers. In stanzas, two and three he answers his first rhetorical question with five more questions. In the forth stanza, he provides a final answer to the original questions in the form of a declarative question.…
The dream that was never born, the promise of hope that was never promised, the right to be treated equal that was never given. Langston Hughes expresses his discomfort with the American ideals in his poem Let America Be America Again. The author details the aspects of a life that American is supposed to represent, the right of liberty and opportunity, yet Hughes lets its discomfort be known; The discomfort of a lie, a lie that promises equality for everyone, and the right to be part of the land of liberty an opportunity. The truth that America requires an established wealth to participate in its dream.…
Whitman wrote, “I hear America singing.’’ The purpose of the poem was to tell the reader how the American dream was going when Whitman wrote this poem. Langston Hughes wrote,” Let America be America again.’’ The purpose of this poem was to tell the reader that not everyone could have lived the american dream. What i have gathered they can both agree on that they want america to get better. Since, “ I hear america singing,”and “Let America be America again” are similar and different. I can compare and contrast.…
The Harlem Renaissance is known for many unique objectives, but one of the most important objectives that it was well known for is how many wonderful artists’ and writers came about during that time period. One of the most famous writers or what many consider a “prolific and versatile writer” (Beckman 65) was Langston Hughes. Langston Hughes was an American poet, novelist, and play writer whose African-American themes made him a primary contributor to the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s” (“Langston Hughes Bio.”). Hughes was born February 1, 1902, In Joplin Missouri and sadly died May 22, 1967. During his time he first started off writing about ordinary African Americans. He was said to be a “Major creative force in the Harlem Renaissance”…
1. According to this poem, is there an answer to the question asked in the first line: “What happens to a dream deferred?”…
Langston Hughes's poem "Dream Deferred" is basically about what happens to dreams when they are put on hold. Hughes probably intended for the poem to focus on the dreams of African-Americans in particular because he originally entitled the poem "Harlem," which is the capital of African American life in the United States; however, it is just as easy to read the poem as being about dreams in general and what happens when people postpone making them come true. Ultimately, Hughes uses a carefully arranged series of images that also function as figures of speech to suggest that people should not delay their dreams because the more they postpone them, the more the dreams will change and the less likely they will come true.…
In his closing statement Hughes tone has changed from the start of his poem. Now, in this last verse, his tone is hopeful. He points out how he is aware America never was what it was cut out to be, but he still has hope for this country.…
The first line in the poem bluntly addresses the audience with a strong voice and asks us the question, "What happens to a dream deferred?" This is one of the most compelling ways the audience is addressed by this poem. What does happen if you lose a dream? Where does that energy, fire, and desire go? What, as humans, are we supposed to do with that void? The loss of a dream is one of the biggest losses a person can experience; it is almost the same as the loss of a loved one because people may form strong, emotional ties to their hopes and ambition (Harlem: Analysis). With this in mind, we can assume the speaker is someone who is trying to cope with loss of their dream.…
“Harlem” is a sad poem. The way the poem states what happens to a dream which has been given up. it says that once a dream is given up that people forget about their dream and it is never pursued ever again. Words such as, explode, rotten, and sore give negative feelings. It says that the dream starts to die because there is no drive to pursue it.…
First, I’m going to be explaining about what the dream means to Langston Hughes. Langston Hughes has a good way with words. In the first paragraph he talks about how he wants America to be the dream that it was meant to be. Pretty much the way that I think Langston feels about America is that he believes that everyone should have the opportunity of the American dream and have equal rights. It’s saying that there are many people who’ve come here with hopes and dreams, and they’re being let down. He’s also saying that there is an economic disparity between people. In essence the rich get richer, and the poor get poorer because there is not equal opportunity.…
There is a man, a man who had a dream, and his name was Martin Luther King. Martin Luther King was born on January 1, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia. (biography.com) He graduated in the year of 1951. Martin Luther King got arrested in 1963, he was awarded a freedom award, in 1977. Sadly, he wasn’t there to collect his award, because he was assassinated in 1968. He was inspiring to many people. Martin Luther King’s quotes are another thing that inspired his people. “ Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” Martin Luther King, an American Baptist minister, fought for justice and freedom.…
This poem by Langston Hughes titled “Harlem” introduces the idea of loss. The loss being a dream put on hold or deferred for some time. Hughes questions what happens to it once it is deferred. Does it dry up, fester like a sore, stink like rotten meat or crust over? Metaphorically, he is asking if over time will a dream become less important and fade away or will it eat away at you if put off for too long. Then it suggests that it might just sag like a heavy load suggesting that it holds you back from your other dreams. He lastly asks if it explodes which would represent a total loss of a dream.…