Langstone
Hughes
By Aiskelly Villalobos
Agenda
01. Poet introduction
02. Facts about the poet.
03. Poem introduction.
04. Opinion of the powem
05. Project review and more.
Langstone Hughes
01 biography
Langston Hughes was an American writer who was an
important figure in the Harlem Renaissance. He was
born on February 1, 1902 in Joplin, Missouri. Hughes
was a poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and
columnist. He was one of the earliest innovators of the
literary art form called jazz poetry. Hughes made the
African American experience the subject of his
writings, which ranged from poetry and plays to novels
and newspaper columns.
02 Fact about him
He studied Engineering and Chemistry at
Columbia University, but dropped out to
pursue writing.
He was one of the earliest innovators of
the literary art form called jazz poetry.
He wrote about the everyday lives of the
Black working class.
He was accused of being a Communist
and forced to testify in Washington, D.C.
by Senator Joseph McCarthy.
03 ‘‘Harlem’’
Phrase: Questions the consequences of deferred
dreams in the African American experience.
Themes: Frustration, disillusionment, aspirations.
Motifs: Dreams, oppression, frustration.
Literary Devices: Simile, metaphor, rhetorical
question.
04 ‘‘Mother to son’’
Phrase: A mother's advice to her son,
emphasizing perseverance and resilience in the
face of adversity.
Themes: Guidance, resilience, hope.
Motifs: Stairs, hardships, perseverance.
Literary Devices: Extended metaphor, dialect,
imagery.
05 ‘‘I, Too, Sing,
Amenrica’’
Phrase: Asserts the equality and resilience
of African Americans in the face of
oppression.
Themes: Identity, equality, resilience.
Motifs: Singing, exclusion, empowerment.
Literary Devices: Symbolism, repetition,
allusion.
06 ‘‘Let America be again’’
Phrase: Critically examines the American Dream
and the disparity between its ideals and reality,
especially for marginalized communities.
Themes: Equality, justice, disillusionment.
Motifs: America, dreams, oppression.
Literary Devices: Repetition, allusion, imagery.
07 Harlem by Langstone
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?
.
08 opinion of the poem
"Harlem" by Langston Hughes vividly depicts the
consequences of delaying dreams, presenting a series
of stark and poignant images to illustrate the
potential outcomes, ranging from decay and
stagnation to explosive consequences, emphasizing
the importance of pursuing one's aspirations before
they lead to destructive outcomes.
09 Critical analysis of James Presley
James Presley remarks on "Harlem" by stating, "Hughes
articulates not only the personal despair but also the
collective anger within African American communities,
suggesting that deferred dreams might lead to social
upheaval."
This concise analysis highlights the poem's exploration
of both individual and communal consequences of
unfulfilled aspirations against the backdrop of racial
discrimination, emphasizing its broader social
implications.
10 My interpretation of the
poem.
=In "Harlem" by Langston Hughes, the poem begins by questioning the fate
of a deferred dream, using vivid imagery to delve into its emotional and
societal impact. The simile of a dream drying up "like a raisin in the sun"
suggests that unfulfilled dreams lose their vitality, becoming desolate and
wasted. This image contrasts with the metaphor of a dream festering "like a
sore," suggesting neglected dreams not only cause pain but also worsen over
time. These lines highlight the theme of the poem: the toll of deferred
dreams, particularly in the context of racial injustice faced by the African
American community. Through metaphorical language, Hughes conveys the
stagnation and decay of ignored dreams, critiquing societal systems that
hinder their fulfillment.
11 Review
and connections of the poem.
the film "Fruitvale Station," which portrays
Reviewing Langston Hughes's "Harlem" the real-life story of Oscar Grant, a young
reveals a rich tapestry of shared motifs African American man who was fatally shot
concerning the impact of deferred by a BART police officer in Oakland,
dreams and racial injustice. Hughes's California. While not explicitly about
exploration of the potential outcomes of deferred dreams, the film delves into
postponed aspirations echoes through themes of racial injustice and the fragility of
various forms of storytelling, illustrating life for black individuals in America, echoing
the universality and timelessness of these Hughes's concern with the societal systems
themes. that perpetuate inequality and defer
dreams.
An idea from me
"The Whispering Gears," set in a quaint village surrounded
by a forest of clockwork trees? Their leaves are delicate
gears that chime softly in the wind, a sound said to contain
the secrets of the universe. The protagonist, a young
inventor named Ivy, discovers that the trees are part of an
ancient machine that governs the balance of nature and
technology. With her inventive mind and the help of a
mysterious, gear-shaped amulet, Ivy embarks on a quest to
repair the machine, facing challenges that test her ingenuity
and courage. Along the way, she learns that harmony lies in
the intricate dance of leaf and gear, whisper and wind.
Reflection
In the heart of Harlem, Hughes did pen, Dreams deferred, whispers of what could have been.
A raisin, a sore—imagery so stark, Painted deep within Harlem's vibrant mark.
My project, a deep dive into his dream, Where every line, every word does gleam. Through
Hughes’s eyes, Harlem’s streets I roam, Seeking the dreams that found a place called home.
Reflecting now, I see the dreams take flight, In Harlem’s embrace, through day and night.
Hughes's words, a beacon, guiding the way, For dreams deferred that still seek the day.
In this journey, Hughes’s voice rings clear, A call for dreams to hold, to draw near. My
reflection, a homage to his verse, In Harlem’s dream, a universe diverse.
Resources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Langston_Hughes?
scrlybrkr
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Langsto
n-Hughes
genius.com/Robert-frost-mending-wall-
annotated
https://www.byarcadia.org/post/poetry-and-
politics-101-poetry-of-the-harlem-renaissance
Thank
you
