Preview

The Consequences Of A Dream Deferred In 'Harlem' By Langston Hughes

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
257 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
The Consequences Of A Dream Deferred In 'Harlem' By Langston Hughes
The consequences of a Dream Deferred In the poem “Harlem ( A Dream Deferred)” by Langston Hughes, he talks about dreams; dreams that society has, dreams that he has. Not a dream that you have while you're sleeping but a dream that you have and want to pursue. He addresses the questions of what happens when a person's dreams are destroyed. The author uses a lot of visual, descriptive language to try and show that nothing good can come from not achieving your dreams. For example, he compares not realizing a dream to the stench of rotten meat, which suggest the consequence is negative. None of the language in the poem reflects anything positive about a dream deferred. I found a connection between what Hughes is talking about in the 1950’s
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    An Analysis Of Langston Hughes Harlem: A Raisin In The Sun
    • 134 Words
    • 1 Page

    An Analysis Of Langston Hughes Harlem: A Raisin In The Sun

    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’…

    • 134 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Langston Hughes: The Savior Of African Americans
    • 348 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Langston Hughes: The Savior Of African Americans

    Langston Hughes was a poet whose poems helped many African Americans. Hughes had achieved fame, was a leader of the Harlem Renaissance, has written over 50 poems, and had a tragic death. He had a long life and wanted to help his fellow African Americans with their life struggles.…

    • 348 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Langston Hughes History of a Harlem Renaissance Man
    • 1448 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Langston Hughes History of a Harlem Renaissance Man

    During a time in American History were African Americans did not have right of equality or freedom of speech. Langston Hughes during the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s, influenced a lot of people with his poems, short stories, novels, essays and his bravery to promote equality among African Americans and that racism should be put to an end. Langston Hughes is an African American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist. Born on February 1, 1902 in Joplin, Missouri and died on May 22, 1967 in New York, NY. Hughes used three elements to write his literatures poverty, racism, and suffrage.…

    • 1448 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Harlem Renaissance with Langston Hughes Essay Example
    • 1691 Words
    • 7 Pages

    The Harlem Renaissance with Langston Hughes Essay Example

    The Harlem Renaissance brought about uniqueness amongst African Americans; everything was new. The visual art, the jazz music, fashion and literature took a cultural spin. During this time writer Langston Hughes seemed to outshine the rest with amazing works.…

    • 1691 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Langston Hughes: The Harlem Renaissance
    • 791 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Langston Hughes: The Harlem Renaissance

    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”…

    • 791 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    English 1302 Poetry Analysis
    • 2043 Words
    • 9 Pages

    English 1302 Poetry Analysis

    1. According to this poem, is there an answer to the question asked in the first line: “What happens to a dream deferred?”…

    • 2043 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Langston Hughes And The Harlem Renaissance
    • 350 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Langston Hughes And The Harlem Renaissance

    The 1920’s where a thriving time for many individuals in America. It was a time when the city really came to life. It was an ear of rebirth, and it was known as the Harlem Renaissance. It was a time when people could really express their individuality through art, and Harlem, New York was a major contributor of these individuals. There was new theatre, new music, new literature, new up and coming artists. Among these up and coming individuals was a man named Langston Hughes. He was an aspiring young writer and had a large influence on African American culture and their past oppression throughout history since the civil war. His poetry spoke for thousands of African Americans who felt they didn’t have a voice, that they were cast away in the…

    • 350 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Hearing Harlem By Langston Hughes Analysis
    • 521 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Hearing Harlem By Langston Hughes Analysis

    We as humans are born a different race, but we are still the same. In Langston Hughes "Theme for English B" his diction created an atmospherical representation of the world that he lived in and the world where we wanted and hoped to live. The speaker in the poem explains that although he is black and the instructor is white they are still the same.…

    • 521 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Analysis of Langston Hughes' Harlem (Dream Deferred):
    • 413 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Analysis of Langston Hughes' Harlem (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.…

    • 413 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    A Dream Deferred By Langston Hughes Analysis
    • 944 Words
    • 4 Pages

    A Dream Deferred By Langston Hughes Analysis

    In his poem “A Dream Deferred,” Langston Hughes utilizes vivid sensory imagery and similes to explore the various phases of a dream deferred. Before I wrote my stylistic imitation, one of my friends suggested I look carefully at the historical context surrounding this poem’s publication. This poem was written right before the Civil Rights Movement, during a time when racial tensions were high in the U.S. and this got me thinking about movements today. Recently, there has been an increased awareness of the rampant police brutality in America, and as I was contemplating the historical context of my poem today, I immediately thought of the #BlackLivesMatterMovement today, which is why I titled my imitation “Matter.” Hughes lived in a society where the dreams of Black people for true liberty and equality were constantly de-valued. Similarly, today, it is clear that racism and systematic oppression still exists. While black and brown people are being shot down by corrupt police officials, these same officials are being acquitted of their crimes, and our cries for justice are not answered. This is what I tried to draw…

    • 944 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Langston Hughes: The Harlem During The Harlem Renaissance
    • 907 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Langston Hughes: The Harlem During The Harlem Renaissance

    The Harlem Renaissance is an artistic and literary movement that centers in Harlem, New York from the 1919 to the mid-1930s. During this period of time Harlem became the cultural center for African pride and heritage, bringing together African-American writers, artists, poets, musicians, and scholars throughout the nation.…

    • 907 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    A Dream Deferred - a Literary Comparison
    • 1888 Words
    • 8 Pages

    A Dream Deferred - a Literary Comparison

    In Lorraine Hansberry's play A Raisin in the Sun, the author reveals a hard-working, honest African-American family struggling to make their dreams come true. Langston Hughes' poem, Harlem, illustrates what could happen if those dreams never came to fruition. Together, both Hansberry and Hughes show the effects on human beings when a long-awaited dream is thwarted by economic and social hardships.…

    • 1888 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Beta
    • 285 Words
    • 1 Page

    Beta

    “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.…

    • 285 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    How America Should Be
    • 462 Words
    • 2 Pages

    How America Should Be

    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.…

    • 462 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Explication Essay
    • 661 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Explication Essay

    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.…

    • 661 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics