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?
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Langston Hughes's poem uses similies and diction to express the theme. Throughout the whole poem, Hughes uses similies to question what happens to dreams that are not followed and put aside. Hughes comes up with many different alternatives for dreams that are "deferred". He questions if it "dr(ies) up like a raisin in the sun...or crust and sugar over" (lines 2 and 4). With these similies, he thinks that dreams when left behind and never thought of just rot. People don't think of them and the dreams dissappear. Also, Hughes uses diction to really set in the question that he is posing. With the words "sag" and "fester" (Lines 2 and 6), he makes his different options more plausible. it creates a deeper meaning and the theme of never forgetting your dreams is revealed.
In the poem "A Dream Deferred", the theme of postponing your dreams can lead to your destruction is portrayed by the use of similies and imagery. Langston Hughes wants to know what happens when a "dream" is "deferred". By using a simile, he wonders whether dreams "dry up like a raisin in the sun", or does something more extreme happen like they "explode". Hughes also uses the imagery of a dream "sagg[ing] like a heavy load" and "fester[ing] like a sore". The explanations of "what happens to a dream deferred" seems to get worse as the poem progresses which symbolizes that the longer you postpone your dreams, the more out of reach they become. Langston Hughes also uses alliteration when he says "Does it dry up" and when he says "like a syrupy sweet". The use of similies, alliteration, and imagery make the reader think about what really does happen to "a dream deferred", and it makes the theme of postponing your dreams can lead to your destruction on the readers mind.
This is a short poem that poses the question: what happens to a repressed dream? Though small, the poem does give a lot of devices for interpretation. Devices such as imagery, the 'drying' like a 'raisin in the sun' or 'sugar over' like a 'syrupy sweet', which is also a simile and a form of personification. Dreams(or life goals, hopes, etc.) are not always literally sugar-coated, sagged, festered or shriveled when repressed, yet they can be in a sense outside of what the words directly mean. Hughes' use of diction also proves to be superior in the powerful word deferred. The definition of deferred, delayed until some point in time, means that the dream is being pushed back, reserved for a future use. The poem is merely a question of description for 'dream[s] deferred,' and yet it asks so much more.
In the poem What happens to a dream Deferred, there are many present writing devices that make the poem’s meaning as strong as it is. The main device that is clearly used here, is metaphors and similes which evidently create imagery “like a raisin in the sun” is a clear use of a metaphor, where you can see your dreams and what you want to achieve in life slipping out of your hands. Also, it only uses the word “dream”, not day dream; or any description words to tell the reader what type of dream is being discussed. At the end of the poem, it changes the tone completely by saying, “or does it explode”. This changes the “deferred” dream into something that was put off for a period of time, into something that is now a goal never to be reached.
The poem starts off with the question, "What happens to a dream deferred?" and this seems to be answered with more questions. If we were to asses the responses we come to the conclusion of how the speaker truly feels about what happens to dreams being prolonged. Langston Hughes also answers the question by using smilies. When Hughes says "Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? Or feaster like a sore," he is questioning if dreams that are being postponed/delayed really matter or if they are just being forgotten about. He also uses personification by saying a dream can run. This creates more of an image about how a dream can just disappear if it becomes a dream that is delayed.
In saying this, you can also conclude that with every technique Hughes uses, it all comes together to create this image of a dream being forgotten because it was put to the side and it wasn't payed attention to.
In Langston Hughes' poem, "Dreams Deferred," he uses alot of metaphors to explain the meaning of the poem in a different way. Instead of just writing about a dream that was put off, he explores what happened to that dream by using the metaphors to paint a picture in the readers mind. He wonders if it "dry (dries) up like a raisin in the sun," which paints the image of a shriveled up raisin, or a dream that shriveled up with time. Or "Maybe it just sags like a heavy load," which makes me as a reader picture someone dragging this lost dream behind them like heavy weights. The metaphors help to create an image, which create the mood of the poem as well.
This poem attempts to answer a simple question through similies: what happens when a dream is post poned? Does the dream "dry up like a raisin in the sun" or "fester like a sore". Through the use of these similies, the author tries to relate a delayed dream to either becoming weaker and less motivating or worsen and become embedded in you. The dream could also "run" or "stink like rotten meat". This personification and similie represents how a dream could slip away and be forgotten or always be remembered. These literary devices also create a paradox. In addition, a dream could "crust and sugar over" or "sag[s] like a heavy load" indication post-poning a dream could result in a good outcome or always weigh down your thoughts and actions becoming regretful. Throughout the poem, the author creates a series of contadictions, debating whether delaying a dream can be positive or negative. In the end, the author never comes to a clear conclusion indicating that different dreams should be sought and others forgotten.
The poem starts off with a focused question that is questioned by many more statements throughout the poem. "What happens to a dream deferred?" is referred to throughout the whole poem, and questioned many more times.
The author uses a metaphor "does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?" This refers to the dream, being forgotten about and "dried up", or disappered. This helps the reader understand that the dream is fading and slowly disappearing, and helps with the meaning of the poem. The author says "maybe it just sags like a heavy load." This is another metaphor, referring to the dream as something that just sits there, with no meaning or purpose: pointless. It helps the reader understand that the dream is not important enough to have a meaning.
The author uses the use of metaphors to show the reader that someone's dream cannot come true if it just "dries up" or "sags". He is making the point that to have a dream, you have to work at it.
In the is poem by Langston Hughes, a large amount of similes are used to show the meaning of how if dreams are postponed and put aside, they can often die and never become a reality. The constant questioning of "what happens to a dream deferred" makes the reader ask themselves that exact question. Hughes says that dreams left deferred "dry up like a raisin in the sun", showing that they shrivel up and become nothing. He compares a dream put on hold to the spoiling of "rotten meat" and to a "fester[ing] sore". This shows that dreams that are forgotten about or are put aside, often turn into something unpleasant that we don't expect to happen. The constant use of similes shows the importance and theme of holding on to the dreams that matter before they slip away.
The main topic to this short poem by Langston Hughes is, "What happens to a dream deferred?". To get deeper into this topic Hughes uses many literary techniques such as smilies to explain such a topic. "does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?" "Does is stink like rotten meat?" These are two smilies that try to question what happens to a deferred dream. Within these words the theme is that after a while a dream seems to just fade away and be forgotten. If you don't care enough about a dream, it will just go away and not come true. Also, the author uses imagery here to further explain a deferred dream. "maybe it just sags like a heavy load." This imagery puts theme into the poem and makes you understand a meaning. Overall, this poem is saying to keep each dream in mind, and don't let it turn into something you never wanted it to. Keep it close to you and never let go.
In this poem, Langston Hughes questions as to "what happens" when a "dream [is] deferred". He then addresses possible answers himself using stimulating imagery to bring his point across further. By suggesting that a "dream Deferred" might "dry up like a raisin in the sun" proposes the notion that postponing your dreams causes them to fade away and die, similar to the image of "a raisin in the sun". Hughes also uses imagery when he questions if the deferred dream "sags like a heavy load". This imagery makes one think that putting off a goal makes everything in life worse and slows you down. This usage of imagery is useful in order to demonstrate Hughes' negative outlook on deferring dreams. Hughes' then uses diction to further this point. Words like "stink", "rotten", "crust", "sag", and "explode" are used to give putting off dreams an even worse image. The word "explode" is the most important, because it suggests a serious consequence of deferring a dream. That Hughes' would suggest such a volatile possibility completely solidifies Hughes' negative opinion on deferring dreams.
The poem by Langston Hughes uses metaphors to express theme. He compairs a "dream deferred" to a "rasin in the sun". He is saying what may happen to a "dream deferred". The author is using metaphors to portray the idea the a dream put aside will never come back the same as you left it. The author also uses imagery to help the reader visualize what may happen to a "dream deferred". It may "crust and sugat over-- like a syrupy sweet" or simply "explode". Neither of those things would be the same as you started with them. Langston Hughes uses personification throughout the poem to give a thought or dream physical traits, like the ability to "stink like rotten meat" or "sag like a heavy load". This personification only strengthens his visual and metaphorical method of portraying the theme of the poem about what happens to a "dream deferred".
The poem is trying to reach an answer as to why a dream is deferred. It explores the possible answer through the use of similes. This makes the questions much more interesting than asking just a regular question. For example, when it says, "Does it stink like rotten meat?" it is achieving the goal of the same question whether it be asked in this form or a simpler form. Having asking all these questions also creates a broader range of answers as to why dreams are deferred and what happens to them. it paints a picture in the mind, for example, the line, "Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?" would paint a picture of a dream wrinkled, and bare of its elements and details. All of the questions must lead to an answer, and maybe that answer is that it is all of the things the questions asked.
This poem uses diction, similies, and personification to answer one question, "What happens to a dream deferred?", with others. The theme is to not put your dreams on hold, but it is not very clear; almost every sentence is a question. This causes you to ask yourself what will happen if you put your own dreams on hold. Will they "dry up like a raisin in the sun" and you won't be able to try again? Or will they "fester like a sore-- And then run?" and you'll regret your decision for a while, but it will soon go away? Maybe it will "stink like rotten meat" and leave you with a bad taste in your mouth for a long time. Or could it "[sag] like a heavy load" and weigh you down forever? Or possibly "explode" and prevent further pursuit of your dream. It makes you realize that if you have the chance, you should go for your dreams.
Lanston Hughes's poem, "A Dream Deferred" is about what happens to a dream that is postponed from occuring. The literal definition of deferred is "to put something off until a later time," which is exactly what this poem is talking about. Hughes goes from easily comprehenisble poems, such as, "like a raisin in the sun," to more complex ones, such as, "fester like a sore." Hughes's exquisite use of metaphor decribes a single cause and effect: the postponement of something, causing it to loose its freshness and its excitin gor more likable properties.
Langston Hughes used similes in his poem "A Dream Deferred". He writes the poem in as a series of questions such as "Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?" In this line, Hughes questions if a dream can become old and dry like a raisin in the sun can become over time. Using these similes, Hughes demonstrates what he believes may happen to a dream if it is left unaccomplished or unachieved. The theme of this poem is to never forget your dreams or let them slip away because the longer you wait, the less attainable they become.
In Langston Hughes poem the question is: what is going to happen to a dream that is hold onto for e certain amount of time. Hughes uses similes through put the whole poem to compare the dream to a "raisin in the sun", "a sore", "like syrup sweet", and " like a heavy load". He is asking whether or not it will last or it will "explode".When he asks the questions about a dream he wants to know if it will "dry up like a raisin in the sun" and just rot away or if it will "crust and sugar over--like syrup sweet" and stay preserved. This poem also gives a lot of imagery when it talks about a "raisin in the sun" or a "fester[ing] sore". This poem is about someone's dream and if they hold on to it for a long time what would happen. will they forget about it and let it disappear or will it be preserved until it is needed in the future.
Langston Hughe's uses personification, similies, and metaphors to question, or perhaps imply, what happens when you defer, or postpone, a dream. He uses a similie when he questions, "does it dry up like a raisin in the sun" (line 2). Or when he uses a metaphor to example further, "...or crust and sugar over". He uses these techniques to explain that he thinks a dream will just rot when we postpone it too much. His diction also shows what he believes happens to dreams when he uses words such as, "sag"(line 2). He uses imagery to show that when you leave behind your dreams, you're leaving them to die.
In Langston Hughes poem, "A Dream Deferred", Hughes uses similarities between "dried up raisins and sores". He uses similies such as "stink like rotten meat" and "crust and sugar over-- like a syrupy sweet". By doing this, Hughes uses imagery to create an image in a readers mind about what happened to the "deferred dream". Hughes even uses personification for the dream wondering if it "ran or exploded".
Hughes uses clever literary techniques to question what happens to dreams that aren't pursued. The author seems curious to understand what happens to "deferred" dreams. In order to to this he uses connotation, imagery, and similes.
An example of a simile is; “Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun". This is obviously suggesting that the dream will become worthless because if a raisin is left in the sun to dry up, it becomes hard and impossible to eat. In other words meaning its value is worthless.
Hughes also uses imagery by using the words such as explode. He also uses connotations "Does it stink like rotten meat?" Which con notates something horrible since the smell is unbearable.
In conclusion, Hughes is able to portray the meaning of his poem by using connotation, imagery, and similes.
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