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Dream Deferred, By Langston Hughes

594 Words3 Pages

Indecisive Aspiration In his poem “Dream Deferred” (1951), Langston Hughes questions what would happen if a person put their dreams on hold. Hughes also makes it clear throughout the poem that there are positive and negative effects about postponing an inner ambition. He constructs this lyrical poetry with the use of many literary devices. For example, to help the reader envision the meaning of his words in depth, Hughes infuses the stanzas with a familiar allusion, couplets, vivid imagery, connotation, multiple similes, and hyperbole; gradually, tying everything together to forge the theme: It’s up to you to decide if it’s too late to live out your dreams. The word “deferred” means to delay or hold back, Hughes asserts an emotional thought

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