Hughes and Harlem 5.4

Last updated almost 4 years ago
3 questions
Answer the follwoing questions. You may look back at the poem "Harlem" or other Poet's Journal pages as you work.
2

Langston Hughes published "Harlem" in 1951. Based on what you know about how Harlem changed between 1920 and 1950, why might he think of Harlem neighborhood as a place where people's hopes and dreams were deferred?

2

Look back at your chart of similes from the previous lesson. Most of the similes Hughes uses describe things that sound bad --things stink and fester. Why might he use all these similes to describe a deferred dream?

3

If Hughes had the chance to give people advice on how to live, what do you think he would tell them about following their dreams? Make sure your answer includes a reason from the poem.