Response to Literature Unit 2 “A Dream Deferred” and “Dreams” :Langston Hughes “The Road Not Taken” and “Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Day”: Robert Frost

A little bit about Langston Hughes…

James Mercer Langston Hughes February 1, 1902-May 22, 1967 American novelist, playwright, short story writer, and columnist One of earliest innovators of new literary art form called “jazz poetry” Best known for his work during a time period which became known as the “Harlem Renaissance” Very unstable childhood which would later influence the poet he became Hughes was very proud of his African-American heritage Writings focused on the strengths, resiliency, courage and humor of the African-American community His poetry focused on insightful views of the working class lives of blacks in America which he portrayed as full of struggle, joy, laughter and music Poetry confronted racial stereotypes and protested social conditions

“Harlem” also known as… “ A Dream Deferred” What is the definition of deferred? To postpone To delay So think about this title before we read it. What could this mean? What does it mean when Langston says “A Dream Deferred”? What could that possibly have to do with Harlem? What and where is Harlem? What happens to dreams that are “put on hold”?

Let’s look at the poem… 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?

Analysis: What does it mean? Having to postpone one’s deepest desires can lead to destruction. Literary devices: The questions are all rhetorical questions, because they intend to answer themselves. Each question in the first stanza uses simile: “like a raisin in the sun,” “like a sore,”like rotten meat,” “like a syrupy sweet.” The second stanza which is not a question but a suggestion also uses simile “like a heavy load.” What is a heavy load? A burden. What is the burden? Having a dream? Or, having to put your dreams on hold because of things you can’t control, like…racism. The last stanza uses metaphor, “does it explode?” The poem employs rhyme: sun-run, meat-sweet, load-explode

Analysis continued… The “dream” is a goal in life, not just dreams experienced during sleep. The dream is important to the dreamer’s life. But what dream is it exactly? The poem does not choose the dream but leaves it up to the reader. Nevertheless, the speaker’s position is clear that any important dream or goal that must be delayed can have serious negative effects. As we look at each question we find out what those effects are. With each question the speaker offers a possibility of each negative effect. The first one “Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun”: a raisin is already dry, and as a raisin, it is a good thing, useful and nutritious, but if a raisin is left in the sun to dry up, it becomes hard and impossible to eat; its value sucked out, it no longer serves its useful, nutritional purpose. The dream or life goal of a human being is central to what makes the human a valuable member of society, but suppose that person with the dream is told he cannot fulfill his goal just yet; he must wait until society changes, until institutions and laws change to allow him to become what he longs to be.

Powerful words… Langston says that the dream may “stink like rotten meat”. Meat also has nutritional value and helps us to grow the way that dreams do. When meat begins to smell, it is because it has started to rot or decay, the same way a dream deferred may begin to die if not realized. Overall, the poem means that man can’t live without dreams, and dreams deferred or put off can cause total destruction of the man.

“Dreams” Langston Hughes Hold fast to dreams For if dreams die Life is a broken-winged bird That cannot fly. Hold fast to dreams For when dreams go Life is a barren field Frozen with snow.

Analysis: What does it mean? Life without dreams is simply not a life worth living. All people need to have goals and dreams. “Hold fast to dreams For if dreams die Life is a broken-winged bird That cannot fly” A simple metaphor is used here…man is meant to dream the same way that a bird is meant to fly.

“Hold fast to dreams For when dreams go Life is a barren field Frozen with snow.” Life without dreams is being compared metaphorically to a barren field. Barren means empty. Nothing grows in a barren field. Man can’t continue to grow or live without dreams.

Robert Frost March 26, 1874-January 29, 1963 Known for his poetry about rural life Used his poems as metaphors to explain many social and philosophical aspects of life

“Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” Whose woods these are I think I know. His house is in the village though; He will not see me stopping here To watch his woods fill up with snow. My little horse must think it queer To stop without a farmhouse near Between the woods and frozen lake The darkest evening of the year. He gives his harness bells a shake To ask if there is some mistake. The only other sound’s the sweep Of easy wind and downy flake. The woods are lovely, dark and deep. But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep.

Analysis: What does it mean? The speaker in the poem is experiencing a conflict. He is attracted to the loveliness of the woods, but is bound by responsibilities of the outside world. He’d like to stop and enjoy the beauty of the woods, but can’t because he has other demands on him with his life. Does it suggest something darker? If you stop and rest too long in the snow, snow falls and covers your steps and you can lose your way. Has the speaker lost his way? Does he wish to forget where he came from? Or, is it really about a man torn between stopping to rest while he knows he has many responsibilities or things to do and if he lingers too long, will guilt grab a hold of him?

“The Road Not Taken” Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back. I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I- - I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.

Analysis: What does it mean? The speaker in the poem is against conformity. Conformity means to “act in accordance with social standards, attitudes and practices”. To conform means to do what is expected of you by most. This poem is promoting individualism rather than conforming for the sake of being the same!

Frost is saying by using a metaphor, that in life you will come to many “forks in the road”. You will experience many times when you will have to make choices. The choices may not be clear, or held popular by others. You have to allow your mind and heart to guide you to the right choice and not spend time wondering what would have or could have been had you made the other choice- gone down a different road or a path because in life, your own choices define who you are. Your choices make you who you are, and that is the difference between you and everybody else!

Literary Response Essay “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson Directions for your essay. Using your notes from the 4 poems we just read and analyzed, construct an essay in which you… Analyze the quote above by Ralph Waldo Emerson. Connect this quote to 2 of the poems we read and analyzed. (You must choose 1 poem from Langston Hughes 1 from Robert Frost.) Construct a 4 paragraph essay based upon the following guidelines: 1st paragraph: Rewrite the above quote and explain what it means. 2nd paragraph: Connect the quote to 1 Langston Hughes poem 3rd paragraph: Connect the quote to 1 Robert Frost poem 4th paragraph: Summarize your essay and your main points