DREAMS DEFERRED

Langston Hughes

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 a rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over –
Like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe just sags Like a heavy load,
Or does it explode?

What does the repetition of the word “like” emphasize based on the author’s desire?
a. find out what happens to dreams.
b. see how dreams disappear.
c. understand what dream is.
d. both A and B

1. The poet reveals the speaker’s feelings mainly by using _______________

a. personification to show the characteristics of a dream.
b. similes to describe what happens to dreams.
c. metaphors to describe what happens to dreams.
d. synecdoche to show what dreams mean.

2. The repetition of the word “like” emphasizes the speaker’s desire to _______________
a. find out what happens to dreams.
b. see how dreams disappear.
c. understand what dream is.
d. both A and B

3. The poet helps the reader understand how it felt to _______________

a. forget about a dream.
b. be a dried up raisin.
c. run away from the dream.
d. have a dream.

4. Based on the first stanza, the reader can conclude that the speaker ______________
a. hates having a dream.
b. remembers all his dreams.
c. curious of what happens to dreams.
d. loves dreaming.

5. The imagery in lines 1 through 8 helps the reader understand what ______________
a. the reader thinks happens to a dream deferred.
b. a dream looks like.
c. the dreams do.
d. a dream should be made of.
What do we call the active process of constructing meaning, whether printed or digital?
a. Reading
b. Writing
c. Listening
d. Speaking

Which of the following simply means worthiness; quality of being suitable or having some kind of value?
a. Truthfulness
b. Effectiveness
c. Relevance
d. Sufficiency

“The information that closely matches a reader’s goal is more relevant; whereas information that does
not match the goal is less relevant.”

What does the imagery in lines 1 through 8 helps readers understand?

a. the reader thinks happens to a dream deferred.
b. a dream looks like.
c. the dreams do.
d. a dream should be made of.