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Caitlin Halliday

Junior LIT - A

Mr.Smith

9 February 2023

“As I Grew Older” Explication

In “As I Grew Older”, Langston Huges presents the idea that being African American

causes challenges that get in the way of living out a dream. Hughes opens his poem by reflecting

on his childhood, and writes, “I have almost forgotten my dream” (Hughes 2). Hughes had a

dream as a child that became so unrealistic he has basically forgotten it. The child's innocence

has disappeared, now that he has grown up and faced the realities of being African American in

America. Hughes, being an African American, speaks for the community that his dream, along

with others, was for African Americans to have equality; to be able to share the privileges and

acceptance as white americans. Hughes builds on this idea of inequality on African Americans

by using imagery. Hughes applies metaphorical language when writing, “And then the wall rose”

(Hughes 7), which creates an image of a wall continuing to rise in between him and his dream.

Additionally, it creates a feeling of being imprisoned and isolated to represent how he feels

infuriated by this treatment. His dream was feasible as a kid, but as he grows older and gains a

better perception of life, in his mind that wall grew higher. The racism and discrimination

received towards the black community, causes the feeling of solitude and for his wall to build.

Hughes moves to the idea of breaking through these barriers and proving African American

stereotypes wrong. When developing the metaphor, Huges states, “My dark hands! Break

through the wall!” (Huges 20-21), which presents an image of him looking at his hands, and him

using them to break through the metaphorical wall. He did this to express the idea that just
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because he’s African American it doesn't mean he cannot do what whites can. He wants to take

control of his life and his dreams. He will no longer let his skin color prevent him; he will fight

to break stereotypes and discrimination, as others should too. Hughes leaves an encouraging

message to the African American community to break through the barriers and prove the

discrimination against Black Americans wrong, show that they are worthy. This idea of African

Americans having a disadvantage to live their dreams was a common theme at this time within

Harlem and other parts of the US. The passion of African Americns was undermined and

ultimately affected their chances to pursue the life they dreamt of as children.
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Works Cited

Hughes, Langston. "As I Grew Older." PoemHunter.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 8

Mar. 2013.
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Poem Explication Rubric

Skill Not Foundational Proficient Advanced
Yet
Identifies the topic Identifies the topic Identifies a specific
of the poem of the poem and a theme/perspective
basic theme of the poem

Comments:

Thesis/
Theme

Includes some Includes at least 3 Includes 3 or more

specific lines from specific references specific, meaningful,
the poem, but may to lines of the poem and well-chosen
not have much that have some lines from the poem
connection to the connection to the that relate to the
theme/may be theme theme
surface-level
Evidence
May have 2 or fewer
lines from the poem

Comments:

Explains how the Explains how the Explains the effect

facts or basic details figurative language, and impact of
of the poem connect imagery, or tone of specific figurative
to its main ideas the poem contribute language, imagery,
to its or tone of the poem
Connects to basic theme/meaning and how this
Analysis context of the supports the
Harlem Renaissance Connects the theme theme/author’s
of the poem to the purpose in writing
context of the the poem
Harlem Renaissance
Makes nuanced and
specific connections
to the context of the
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Harlem Renaissance
and/or the poet’s
biography

Comments:

Some elements Heading is correctly No errors in MLA

missing or some formatted format
errors in MLA format
Pages are numbered

In-text citations are

correctly formatted

Works Cited format:

hanging indent,
MLA Format double-spaced,
alphabetized, starts
on a new page

Lines of poetry are

correctly
cited/formatted

Comments:

Shows evidence of Most quotes are All quotes are

basic proofreading correctly integrated correctly integrated

Follows organization: Fluid organization,

Conventions/ topic/thesis sentence, including smooth
Expectations integration of transitions between
evidence, analysis, evidence
and concluding
sentence Shows evidence of
careful proofreading
Shows evidence of
proofreading
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Comments:

Caitlin,
You effectively navigate the development of the theme, and how Hughes builds us a metaphor
over the course of the poem. Your interpretations were slightly on the surface-level, and so I do
encourage you to think about how poets utilize every word very deliberately… This means that
most lines probably have multiple meanings to explore. I think your historical connection at the
end of the paragraph is probably the strongest aspect of this, so look back on it, and consider
what elements were present.

Grade: B+