A Dream Deferred
By Langston Hughes - Justice Michael Period 5
Explication Project
Literal
The speaker is describing a dream and the ways that a dream may be deferred.
The speaker writes about physical changes to the dream and what would happen to dream after it has been dreamed.
Situation
The poem expresses a mood of curiosity in what will happen in the future.
The speaker is Langston Hughes and he is speaking to an unknown audience.
The tone expressed in this poem is pondering, as the speaker asks rhetorical questions to the reader.
Structure
Language
Musical Devices
Langston Hughes History
Langston Hughes was born February 1, 1902, in Joplin, Missouri (Academy of American Poets). Most of his families were leaders in the African American community, so he lived different cities. He started to write poetry in his high school, in Cleveland Ohio (Academy of American Poets). He wrote poetry, novels, short stories, and plays (Academy of American Poets). Hughes was influenced by the rhythms of African American music, like blues and jazz (Academy of American Poets). His first poem started in his 8th grade year of school, and followed him throughout his life. He died in 1967 from cancer (Academy of American Poets).
Works Cited
Poets.org. Academy of American Poets, n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2015.
Rooney, Kathleen. "Harlem." Poetry Foundation. Poetry Foundation, n.d. Web. 03 Mar. 2015.