LEARNING TARGET: I CAN INTERPRET A

POETS MESSAGE BY ANALYZING THE

CRAFT AND STRUCTURE

Idioms in Democracy

-"To stand on my own two feet

And on the land."

Explanation: The poet is saying he wants independence and to be able to have his own
rights.

Metaphor

Freedom is a strong seed planted In a great need.

Explanation: Freedom is being compared to seed, which means you need this in order
to survive or live.

DO NOW: INTERPRET THIS QUOTE BY

SUMMARIZING IT IN YOUR OWN WORDS

LANGSTON HUGHES (1902-1967)

Major contributor of the Harlem

Renaissance
Wrote about black life in America during
the 1920s and 1960s to reflect black
culture and struggle

STUCTURE
- Stanzas
- Lines
- Freestyle

CRAFT
- Figurative Language
- Descriptive language
- Tone & Mood
- Imagery

- Organizes poem and - Strategies used to

helps to EMPHASIZE convey meaning in a
words or sections
poem implicitly

MEANING (Structure)

POEM
A Dream Deferred
By: Langston Hughes

Insolated hook ---------------

(important question related to
overall meaning of poem)

Stanza attempting to
answer poems question
(It almost seems like a
brainstorm)--------------

Isolated thought (must be

an important image)
Isolated final thought
(Important- this is the final
image that Hughes wants to
leave with the reader)

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?

Meaning (Craft)
Deferred =
Delay until later/ to wait
Maybe poem is delaying a dream?

Simile...Compares a dream to a
raison drying up (Grape became a
shriveled raison= dream was reduced)
Simile comparing a dream to a
wound that oozes
SimilesDoes the dream go
bad, become disgusting or
glazed over and crusty? Does
the dream become
unappealing?
SimileMaybe the dream
becomes a useless burden

or does it die?
**Notice the vivid imagery
throughout the poem

POEM SUMMARY (OVERALL MEANING)

What happens to a dream deferred?
A delayed dream may become ruined or go away
all together.
Take action on your dreams now

***How does the meaning of this poem relate to the

quote from the DO NOW?

DEMOCRACY
BY LANGSTON HUGHES
Structure
(meaning)
What is the main
point of this
stanza?

POEM
Stanza 1:
Democracy will not come
Today, this year
Nor ever
Through compromise and fear

Craft (Meaning)
Why wont
democracy come?
Why would fear and
compromise prevent
democracy?

Structure
(meaning)
What is the main
point of this
stanza?

POEM
Stanza 2:
I have as much right
As the other fellow has
To stand
On my two feet
And own the land

Craft (Meaning)

Who is this other fellow?

What does the other fellow
symbolize?
What does he mean by
stand on his own two feet
and own the land?

Structure
(meaning)
What is the
main point of
this stanza?

POEM
Stanza 3:
I tire so of hearing people say,
Let things take their course
Tomorrow is another day.
I do not need my freedom when Im dead
I cannot live on tomorrows bread

Craft (Meaning)
What is meant by
letting things take
their course?

Bread is compared
with:
a. Tomorrow
b. Freedom
c. Hope
d. Living
Why? What kind of
figurative language is
this line?

I DO NOT NEED FREEDOM WHEN IM DEAD

What is the meaning of the line?

When does he need freedom?
When do people need freedom?

Structure
(meaning)
What is the
main point of
this stanza?

POEM
Stanza 4:

Freedom
Is a strong seed
Planted
In a great need

Craft (Meaning)
Freedom is a strong
seed is an example of
a:
a. Metaphor
b. Simile
Why is freedom
compared to a strong
seed?
How does the last two
lines of the stanza help
to answer the question
above?

Structure
(meaning)
What is the
main point of
this stanza?

POEM
Stanza 5:

I live here, too.

I want freedom
Just as you

Craft (Meaning)
Is the meaning of this stanza
implicit or explicit? Why?
Who does you represent?

Compare and Contrast stanza 3 from

Democracy, with A Dream Deferred