Hello! My assignment: Analyze the poetic techniques that allow the poet to communicate his tone. Use the terms from this unit as effectively as you can.
Here is my analysis. Does it sound alright?
In the poem “Dream Deferred”, Langston Hughes uses a variety of poetic techniques in order to convey a serious tone. The poem consists of 11 lines that create four stanzas. The syntax consists of six questions within the poem that are broken into two lines each, perhaps to cause the reader to ponder each question more thoroughly. Hughes uses similes to compare a deferred dream to common but unpleasant things. He begins to compare a dream to a raisin drying in the sun. He wants us to think of our postponed dreams as something that will no longer contain the passion that it once had, because it has been neglected. Next he compares a deferred dream to a festering sore as well as rotting meat. A festering sore and rotting meat are not very pleasant things or pleasant for comparisons. However, Hughes is using these two comparisons so we can imagine neglected dreams as something that decays over time when it is not given the attention it needs to prosper. It is not of the same quality. Then, he compares it to a sweet syrup that crusts and sugars over. Here, Hughes is wanting us to think of a dream as something sweet and enjoyable. A sweet syrup loses its consistency when it is not savored and appreciated, and it hardens and becomes something not as delightful as it once was. It loses the value it once had at its most ideal state. It is the same for a dream, except it does not physically harden. Finally, he compares a deferred dream as a heavy load that sags. Perhaps Hughes is wanting us to ponder that a dream we prolong is something that we must carry that eventually becomes a burden until it is recognized and cared for. Hughes diction is rather terrible, as he uses words such as “fester”, “stink”, “crust”, and “sag”. Although the words aren't very attractive, and have negative connotations, it is Hughes’ intention. These words evoke disgust and pity from whomever reads it, therefore contributing to the serious tone of the poem, and the negative effects of a deferred dream. The images that Hughes creates with a raisin drying in the sun, a festering sore, rotting meat, syrup that is crusting and sugaring over, a heavy load sagging, and “explode” allow us to picture these scenarios so that we may fully contemplate his message. We may not know exactly what deferred dreams look like, but because we can picture these images, we are able to easily grasp the importance of keeping dreams alive.
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Thank you!
First ... divide this too-long response into paragraphs so the reader doesn't get a headache.
You may have to do some revising to make sure the paragraphs make sense.
Your analysis provides a good understanding of the poetic techniques used by Langston Hughes to convey a serious tone in the poem "Dream Deferred". However, there are a few areas where you can enhance your analysis and incorporate more effective use of the terms from the unit.
First, you mentioned that Hughes uses similes to compare a deferred dream to common and unpleasant things. To further enhance your analysis, you can point out that this technique is called "simile" and explain how it contributes to the tone of the poem. Similes are comparisons that use "like" or "as" to establish a connection between two unlike things. In this case, Hughes compares deferred dreams to objects or situations that evoke negative emotions or experiences, such as a raisin drying in the sun, a festering sore, rotting meat, syrup that crusts and sugars over, and a heavy load sagging. By using these similes, Hughes creates vivid and powerful images that evoke disgust, pity, and a sense of heaviness, reinforcing the serious tone of the poem.
Next, you briefly mentioned the syntax of the poem, noting that it consists of 11 lines divided into four stanzas and that each question is broken into two lines. You can further elaborate on the impact of this device on the reader. The fragmentation of the questions into two lines each creates a sense of pause and reflection, allowing the reader to ponder each question more thoroughly. This deliberate pacing heightens the serious tone by emphasizing the weightiness and significance of each question as the reader contemplates the potential consequences of deferred dreams.
Additionally, you stated that Hughes' diction is "terrible" due to his use of words such as "fester," "stink," "crust," and "sag." Though it is important to acknowledge the negative connotations of these words, you can provide more nuanced analysis by explaining that this intentional choice of diction is called "connotation." Connotation refers to the emotional or cultural associations that certain words carry beyond their literal meanings. By using words with negative connotations, Hughes amplifies the serious tone and evokes emotions of disgust and pity in the reader.
Finally, it would be beneficial to tie all your analysis together by explicitly connecting the use of these poetic techniques, such as simile, syntax, and diction, to the overall theme or message of the poem. By emphasizing the decay, loss of value, and burden conveyed through the similes and the deliberate syntax, Hughes highlights the negative consequences of deferred dreams and urges the reader to consider the importance of pursuing and nourishing one's dreams.
Overall, your analysis is thorough and demonstrates a good understanding of the poem's tone and the techniques used by Langston Hughes. By incorporating these suggestions and effectively employing the terms from the unit, you can further enhance your analysis.