Sunday, July 15, 2012
"Harlem [Dream Deferred], by Langston Hughes.
This particular poem seems to oscillate from a negative and positive light, most often expressing the negative outcome more than the positive. However he does make a point to end the poem on a positive note by saying "Or does it explode?" In my mind, he did this to reestablish a glimmer of hope for the reader who can directly relate to the poem’s message. The overall meaning of this poem was to inspire the readers of his poem to take action and not defer one's dreams, which is something that all people need to hear.
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I also noted the ending of Hughes' poem. I marked a question mark my the statement: "Or does it explode?" I did this because I was not sure if the author wanted his readers to gain a sense of hope or hopelessness regarding his topic. I was not sure if there was hope that the promised freedoms African Americans were promised would finally be given to them, or if he thought they would never become a part of their lives. Although, the author was probably unsure as well. Thus, this is why he chose to state this statement.
ReplyDeleteI loved the realistic aspect of this poem. How real it is that peoples dreams die every day and people give up everyday.I though this poem could be read to high school and middle school students in order to intrinsically motivate them to follow their dreams and goals in life.
ReplyDeleteIt's obvious that the last line, Or does it explode?, has caught the attention of many of us. When I first read it, I understand it to say that perhaps dreams explode in their face, as it were, meaning they don't transpire. After last nights Lit circ., I now can see and understand where, as Conner puts it here, that the explosion is about their dreams Exploding into realization. I appreciate the historical context, as this helps bring a better and deeper meaning.
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