What Happens to a Dream Deferred?

Harlem

by Langston Hughes, 1951

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 rotten meat?

Or crust and sugar over--

like a syrupy sweet?

Maybe it just sags

like a heavy load.

Or does it explode?

Questions

1. Define deferred, use a dictionary if needed.

2. What five things does he compare a dream deferred to?

3. Why do you believe he used those items in #2 as comparisons?

4. What dream do you think he might be referring to?

5. Why do you believe he titled the poem “Harlem”?

6. What year was the poem written? Why is that significant?

7. Do you feel the poem is optimistic about the future? Why/why not?