“Dream Deferred” and “Dreams”

1. “Dream Deferred” and “Dreams” Pages 904 and 905

2. Langston hughes (1902-1967) • Born in Missouri • First African American to have a “strictly literary career” • Several different jobs before • Ability to express “the spirit of Black America” • Influenced by his grandmother and her stories and by the Harlem Renaissance (1920s) (video)

3. “Dream Deferred” (1951) • deferred: (adj.) put off until a future time • First word of the poem: • Harlem • “What happens to a dream deferred?” means: • What happens to a dream that isn’t realized– put off? • What does Hughes compare a dream deferred to? (series of similes) • a raisin in the sun (dry up) • a sore • rotten meat • syrupy sweet (crust over) • heavy load • Last line: Metaphor? why is it italicized? • explode- violent act bomb • relates to Harlem (people) • Message (Theme) of the poem: • postponing dreams can lead to frustration/violence

4. “Dreams” • Metaphors: • When dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird • when dreams go, life is a barren field frozen with snow • The speaker tells the reader to: • hold on to dreams… don’t let them go • What is the theme of “Dreams” • A life without dreams is nothing-- dreams are what give life meaning… dreams give us hope