Date: 6/27/11 Read the Langston Hughes poem "Dream Deferred" again: 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? Look up definitions for the words defer and fester and write them down. Identify the five similes Hughes uses in the poem. Explain
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1. The theme of “I‚ Too”‚ by Langston Hughes‚ is that African Americans are an integral part of American society and they deserve the right to live equally. The theme of “Harlem”‚ by Langston Hughes‚ is that the dreams of African Americans are forgotten‚ pushed aside‚ and simply never achieved; even though African Americans are freed from oppression‚ they still face discrimination in the American society. 2. Two literary devices in “I‚ Too” are a metaphor and the use of repetition. There is
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Langston Hughes’s writing showcases a variety of themes and moods‚ and his distinguished career led his biographer‚ Arnold Rampersad‚ to describe him as "perhaps the most representative black American writer." Many of his poems illustrate his role as a spokesman for African American society and the working poor. In others‚ he relates his ideas on the importance of heritage and the past. Hughes accomplishes this with a straightforward‚ easily understandable writing style that clearly conveys his
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Langston Hughes Throughout many of Langston Hughes’ poetry‚ there seems to be a very strong theme of racism. Poems such as "Ballad of the Landlord"‚ "I‚ Too"‚ and "Dinner Guest: Me" are some good examples of that theme. The "Ballad of the Landlord" addresses the issue of prejudice in the sense of race as well as class. The lines "My roof has sprung a leak. / Don’t you ’member I told you about it/ Way last week?" (Hughes 2/4) show the reader that the speaker‚ the tenant‚ is of a much lower
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"Battle Royal" The Denial of Social Equality "Battle Royal" by Ralph Ellison is the story of a young‚ African American‚ high school graduate who withstands humiliation to give a speech amongst the towns leading white citizens at an event called a "Battle Royal." The narrator was chosen to give the speech because he had given the speech once before at his high school graduation and it was a tremendous success. During this time period the story takes place black people were not considered equal
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Neither Langston Hughes nor Maya Angelou were just poets in the world of the twentieth century but instead heroes and leaders who showed the world that race wasn ’t what made you but whom you are instead. Though both grew up during times and events in the world‚ both have similar ideas while also different. Though both poets were put down by society‚ neither let what people said get to them. Both instead wrote poems about how what people say doesn ’t matter. Maya told those people that despite what
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Oxford English Dictionary Report: Negro OED report In 1940‚ Langston Hughes wrote: "The word [negro] to colored people of high and low degree is like a red rag to a bull. Used rightly or wrongly‚ ironically or seriously‚ of necessity for the sake of realism‚ or impishly for the sake of comedy‚ it doesn ’t matter. The word [negro]‚ you see‚ sums up for us who are colored all the bitter years of insult and struggle in America." When asked about the etymology of the word Negro most people
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Dreams “Hold fast to dreams/ For if dreams die /Life is a broken-winged bird/ That cannot fly.” There are many ways to interpret Langston Hughes in this poem‚ but it is clear that he is saying that we‚ as people‚ need dreams to keep on going. Throughout this unit‚ we have seen many different cases in which dreams can come true‚ even if not all of them do. While dreams can seem truly impossible to accomplish‚ they are worth pursuing because it gets through the days of hopelessness‚ there is lot to
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Journey From Childhood to Adults Everyday our youth is reminded of the reality of the world around them. As they grow up they learn the truth not only about our world‚ but themselves. They feel the pressure to conform to what others think is acceptable of them. In turn they overcome hardships that help them to grow as individuals. This rite of passage is called initiation. The presence of this theme occurs throughout our textbook in a number of stories. The story “Doe Season”‚ by David Kaplan
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better. Pondering the future is not an unusual characteristic to have. It is natural to try to figure out what will happen to someone and why. This allows one to consider the realisticness of a dream and what will happen if it isn’t achieved. In Langston Hughes’ poem “Harlem”‚ the speaker wonders about his “deferred dreams”. He wants to know if not pursuing his dream will cause regret later in life‚ and I wonder that as well. I want to know what the consequences are for not reaching my goals in life
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