Dream defered rl4 practice
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Langston Hughes wrote the poem "Dreams Deferred" in 1951 referring to the unfulfilled promises of the Emancipation Proclamation. The poem explores what might happen if the dreams and aspirations of African Americans continued to be postponed through the use of ominous and foreboding word choices like "dry up", "fester", and "explode". Hughes uses this poem to convey his theme that deferred dreams will have negative consequences for both individuals and society if aspirations are not achieved. This theme of pursuing dreams still resonates today in encouraging all people to follow their aspirations.
Dream defered rl4 practice
- 2. Langston Hughes Born: 1902, in Joplin, Missouri. l Wrote novels, short stories, plays, poetry. l His writing was important in shaping Harlem Renaissance. l Died: 1967 of prostate cancer. l
- 3. Background of Dream Deferred Langston Hughes wrote this poem in 1951 and refers to the delayed promise from the Emancipation Proclamation (1863). l The African Americans still did not have the civil rights they were promised; this is the deferred dream. l All the possibilities of the dream deferred pertain to what the community might do if it continues to not attain its dream . l
- 4. How can a dream l Explain the significance and connotation of the following words and phrases: l l l l l l dry up fester like a sore stink like rotten meat crust and sugar over sag like a heavy load explode
- 5. Dream Deferred What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? Or 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 sags like a heavy load. Or does it explode? Langston Hughes (1902-1967)
- 6. Word Choice l How does word choice help the reader discover the author s meaning? l l l Explain what you think the author means by dream ? (challenge: don t use I think ) What is the denotation of deferred ? Explain what happens when dreams are deferred ?
- 7. Word Choice to Tone Tone is the attitude a writer has about the subject he or she is writing. So . . . .based on the word choice of Hughes, explain his TONE in the poem.
- 8. Tone to Theme If TONE helps develop the THEME, explain Hughes theme of this poem: * hint: theme is the overall message sent by the author
- 9. Theme to Our Own Lives We ve had word choice to tone, tone to theme, and now theme should be extended to our own lives. Explain how Hughes theme still applies to the world you live in today.
- 10. The Importance. . . l Theme s Importance to the Civil Rights Movement: l Encouraged African-Americans to: l Dream l Take advantage of new opportunities l Break free of the racial struggles l Theme s Importance to Today: l Encourages people to follow their dreams l Take risks to follow one s dream. If people don t, they may miss opportunities
- 11. Practice Test 1)Explain how the repetition of the questions affects the tone of the poem. 2) Explain the significance of the word fester and what effect it has on the overall theme.