Analysis of Langston Hughes “A Dream Deferred” Poetry Analysis of Langston Hughes “A Dream Deferred”

What are the Elements of poetry? Speaker: the voice of the poem Subject: what the poem is about Audience: the person the speaker is talking to Tone: the way the speaker feels about the subject Theme: the underlaying message of the poem Stanza: a group of lines (like paragraphs) Rhyme scheme: a regular pattern of rhyming in the poem

What devices do poets use? Imagery: descriptive writing that appeals to the senses Symbolism: any object that represents or stands for something else Repetition: the repeating of words, lines, or phrases Simile: a comparison of two unlike things using like or as Metaphor: a comparison of two unlike things without using like or as Personification: the giving of human qualities or traits to inanimate objects

What devices do poets use? Alliteration: the repetition of initial consonant sounds Onomatopoeia: words that represent sounds Hyperbole: a deliberate exaggeration Irony: the difference between what is expected, and what actually happens

What are the steps to analyzing a poem? Read the poem. What is your general impression? Did you like it – yes or no? Identify the tone of the poem – is it happy or sad? Silly or serious? Read it again and paraphrase it (put it in your own words). Identify the speaker, audience, subject and theme. Read it one last time to identify the literary devices used. Finally – discuss the poem with a friend!

A Dream Deferred by Langston Hughes 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?

A Dream Deferred by Langston Hughes Tone: Questioning, judgmental, warning 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? Speaker: Someone who is bitter about having his dreams put off Audience: Society

A Dream Deferred by Langston Hughes Subject: A series of rhetorical questions about living with disappointment 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? Themes: Having to postpone one’s deepest desires can lead to destruction or destructive behavior

A Dream Deferred by Langston Hughes Paraphrase: What happens to your dreams when they are put off? Do they shrivel and die, or just eat away at you and make you sick? Do they rot away, or do you try to cover up the loss of your dreams by convincing yourself “it’s not so bad”? Or maybe the burden of your unrealized dreams drag you down like an unbearable load. Or do they build up until you can’t take it anymore? 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?

A Dream Deferred by Langston Hughes alliteration: “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? similes: “dry up like a rasin in the sun” “fester like a sore-” “stink like rotten meat” Sugar over-Like a syrupy sweet?” “sag like a heavy load” imagery: “raisin in the sun” “fester like a sore” “stink like rotten meat” “heavy load” “explode”

A Dream Deferred by Langston Hughes repetition: “does it” 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? Rhyme scheme: “sun-run” “meat-sweet” “load-explode” metaphor: “does it explode?”

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