1a. In the poem "Dreams," what does Hughes say will happen if we do not hold fast to our dreams, but instead give them up?
1b. What is Hughes trying to tell us about life without dreams?
2a. What does Hughes suggest dreams might do in "A Dream Deferred"?
2b. Which of these things do you think is most like what happens to a dream deferred? Why?
3a. What does the speaker in "The Dream Keeper" say he will protect the dreams from?
3b. Why do dreams need to be protected from the world? What will happen to them?
4a. Which poems tell more about the positive effects of dreaming? Which emphasize the negative effects of giving up dreams?
4b. Do these poems support each other to create one overall message? What is it?
5a. Decide whether you believe Langston Hughes's ideas about dreams. Is he right, that if you give up on your dreams they fester like a sore, rot, or explode? Is the real world too hard on dreams, so that they need to be protected?
5b. Should we dream of better things? Is dreaming just a waste of time, something that gives us false hope, or does it give us real hope that we can achieve our dreams and ambitions? Do you think your view is the same as someone who has less or more money, who is of a different race, or whose parents either encourage or discourage their dreams? Consider people in different situations and how they might think about dreams.
Theme. As you read, you identified possible themes in Hughes's poems. What were some of the themes? Are they all the same? Are they similar? How would these themes be important to people of different backgrounds?
Rhythm and Sound. Look back to your graphic organizers and discuss as a class ideas on how sound and rhythm influence mood and voice in Hughes's poems. Consider Giovanni's poem. Do sound and rhythm evoke mood and voice in her poem? Discuss your answers. Does reflecting on sound and rhythm in the poems change the way you think about them?
1. Write a short letter to Langston Hughes telling him about your dreams in life and how you plan to achieve them.
2. Create a poem about dreams. Decide what you want your poem to say and how you want people to feel when they read it. Use sound and rhythm to achieve this.
3. Choose a group of people that you think have a hard time achieving their dreams. They may be poor, oppressed, technologically underdeveloped, or have other problems. Craft a short persuasive speech that will convince them that they can dream of a better future.
Internet sources.
Books and print sources.
1. Do something interesting
2. I ran and ran every day
3. Metaphor has its point of view
4. What happens to your dreams
5. Write down your answers
6. Do you enjoy reading poems
7. Look out for that car
8. Langston Hughes was a well-known poet
9. Should we all have dreams
10. Don't give up your dream
