.Hugltes/"Harlem"
For Students
QUESTIONS ON MAIN POINT AND MEANING
l.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Who is speaking?
Who is the audience?
What is a deferred dream? What does the speaker mean by "dream"?
According to the speakeq, what are the possible outcomes of a deferred dream? Provide an
example of each of these outcomes. These examples may be historical, literary, personal, or
imaginary.
Analyze the internal organization of lines 2-8. What are the divisions? How does this
division affect the meaning of the poem?
Why is "Harlem" the title of the poem? How important is the title to the meaning of the
poem?
In some publications the title has been'A Dream Deferred." Which title is more effective?
whv?
Examine the stanza divisions. What might be the reason(s) for arranging the lines in this
pattern? How does the form affect the meaning of the poem?
QUESTIONS ON LITERARY ELEMENTS
I.
2.
What is the primary syntactical pattern for the poem? What is the effect of this approach?
What is the primary poetic device of the poem? How does it appeal to the senses? What is
the effect of this device?
MULTIPLE.CHOICE QUESTIONS
1.
In the poem, the most appropriate
synonym for "drearn" is
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
2.
fantasy.
reality.
5.
anaphora.
metonymy.
personification.
rhetoricalquestion.
simile.
The use of a metaphor in the last line
of the poem serves
ananalogy.
an irony.
aparadox.
a simile.
a symbol.
a.
b.
The dominant tone of the poem is
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
The dominant poetic device of the
poem is
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
goal.
nightmare.
memory.
"Harlem" functions as
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
3.
4.
c.
ironic.
threatening.
to show that Hughes can use more
than one poetic device to make his
point.
to create a sense ofuncertainty
because the content of explosion is
unknown.
to intensify the message because it
complements the first stanza.
d. aandb
e. bandc
sarcastic.
bitter.
wry-
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A
Stu:dy
6.
of Langston Hughes
The function of Iine 11 in relation to
line I is
Lines 9 and 10 appeal to
a.
b.
c.
d
te.
the sense of sight.
the Fense ofsound.
thelsense oftouch.
a.
b.
aandb
aandc
c.
d.
7.
The dash is used as
a.
b.
c.
d.
variation of the comma.
a dramatic pause for emphasis on
what follows.
an indicator that the speaker is
reflecting.
a meaps of emphasizing the
rhythm of the poem.
a
to frame the poem.
to provide variety in poetic devices.
to provide the most dramatic
answer to the question.
to answer a question with a
question.
to echo line 1.
e. candd
AP-STYLE ESSAY QUESTIONS
l. What is the dominant rnobiof the poem? In an essay, explain
and why it is effective for the message of the poem.
2.
how this mood is established
Is Langston Hughes lamenting a chronic situation for black peopJe in this poem, as in a
blups song, or is he announcing the lirnitations of acquiescence? How do tle images control,the meaning?
SUGGESTED WRITING ASSIGNMENTS
1.
2.
The similes and the metaphor of the poem suggest actual moments iri the history of man's
struggle for equality. In a well-r,rritten essay, identify examples from literature that demonstrate each of the c6mparisons. Explain how each example complements the meaning of
"Harlem."
In an essay, compare Langston Hughes's "Harlem" to Martin Luther King's "Letter from
Birrningham Jail" and "I Have a Dream." Why do both authors use the dream analory?
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