A Dream Deferred - the Poetry of Langston Hughes - 1647 Words

The poetry of Langston Hughes, the poet laureate of Harlem, is an effective commentary on the condition of blacks in America during the 20th Century. Hughes places particular emphasis on Harlem, a black area in New York that became a destination of many hopeful blacks in the first half of the 1900à ­s. In much of Hughes poetry, a theme that runs throughout is that of a dream deferred. The recurrence of adream deferred in several Hughes poems paints a clear picture of the disappointment and dismay that blacks in America faced in Harlem. Furthermore, as each poem develops, so does the feeling behind adream deferred, growing more serious and even angry with each new stanza.brbrTo understand Hughes idea of thedream deferred, one†¦show more content†¦The poem changes moods with the linesIve seen them come dark/ out of Penn Station - / but the trains are late. / The gates are open - / Yet therere bars / at each gate. The people have not found what they expected and hoped for in H arlem. These last lines help the reader to understand the feelings that accompanied the harsh reality of Harlem. The addition of the blunt question,What happens / to a dream deferred? maintains this understanding: this is thedream deferred, and this is what the people were experiencing. The question is harsh and unyielding, and its position in the poem creates a feeling of seriousness. Another Hughes poem,Same in Blues, attempts to establish further the idea of adream deferred, incorporating a type of dialogue between characters to explain the components of adream deferred, adding an element of anger to the end. The first stanza has a woman telling her man that she has to keep moving, followed by the lines,Theres a certain / amount of traveling / in a dream deferred. This method continues through four stanzas, where peopl converse, and a new component is introduced:a certain amount of nothing,a certain amount of impotence. The last component the poem introduces is the most effective :Theres liable / to be confusion / in a dream deferred. The poem continues to say thattheres liable to be confusion / when a dreamShow MoreRelated Dreams of Blacks Deferred in the Poetry of Langston Hughes Essay1711 Words   |  7 PagesDreams of Blacks Deferred in the Poetry of Langston Hughes    The poetry of Langston Hughes, the poet laureate of Harlem, is an effective commentary on the condition of blacks in America during the 20th Century. Hughes places particular emphasis on Harlem, a black area in New York that became a destination of many hopeful blacks in the first half of the 1900s. In much of Hughes poetry, a theme that runs throughout is that of a dream deferred. The recurrence of a dream deferred in severalRead MoreHughes Use of Literary Devices658 Words   |  3 Pages Langston Hughes Use of Literary Devices Only a half of century after the abolition of slavery, the African Americans began the movement of the Harlem Renaissance in the 1920‘s. Suppressed by whites, segregation, second-class citizen ship and a poor education Langston Hughes became one of the most inspirational poets of his time. Langston Hughes let the world know of his existence through his poetry. Ignited with passion, pride and knowledge of the journey through slavery and there after, HughesRead MorePoets Write Feelings of Racism in Still I Rise In Harlem by Langston Hughes and Stil I Rise by Maya Angelou642 Words   |  3 Pagesto write their feelings turning them into poetry. One of these people is Langston Hughes. Hughes is a very influential man who has written countless amounts of poetry. Another leading poet that has a major impact to further demolish racism is Maya Angelou. She too has written a multitude of poetry over the years, and continues to be a major role model for young, upcoming poets. In Harle m by Langston Hughes it displays to the audience about a dream deferred. In Still I Rise by Maya Angelou there’sRead MoreLangston Hughes ´ Memories in His Poems Essay834 Words   |  4 PagesRenaissance, Langston Hughes was an inspirational poet who highlighted many aspects of the urban life of African-Americans through reflections of his own life and experiences. As a writer, a poet and a prominent activist of the civil rights movement, Langston Hughes was a man that was not only inspired by the world around him but used such inspiration to motivate others. Being that he was also one of the most influential writers during the Harlem Renaissance, Hughes held poetry demonstrationsRead MoreA Brief Look at Langston Hughes1413 Words   |  6 PagesLangston Hughes Langston Hughes’ challenging background, ethnicity, and era of life can all be thought of reasons as to why his style of writing relates among discrimination and unsettling topics. Although his writing can be said to bring hope to the African Americans, his style can be frightening and daunting when taken the time to read his pieces. They may not seem real, but they are his way of interpreting and informing the future of what African Americans, like himself, had to go throughRead MoreThe Life Poems of Langston Hughes Essay775 Words   |  4 Pagesliving with many relatives, Langston Hughes experienced poverty. Langston Hughes used poetry to speak to the people. Langston Hughes is a pioneer of African American literature and the Harlem renaissance error. Mr. Hughes dedicated his poems to the struggles, pride, dreams, and racial injustices of African American people. Langston Hughes was born James Langston Hughes, February 1, 1902 in Joplin, Missouri. Langston Hughes, named after his grandfather James Mercer Langston, was the first AfricanRead MoreThe Dream Deferred By Langston Hughes1020 Words   |  5 Pages â€Å"Dream Deferred,† is a poem written by Langston Hughes discussing what may become of a dream that is put off, delayed, or postponed by external influences. Throughout the poem, Hughes uses questions about concrete things in everyday life and compares them to the ignored dreams. Langston Hughes isn’t referring to the dreams we have when we go to sleep at night, he’s referring to an aspiration or a desire. â€Å"Does it dry up Like a raisin in the sun?† (Hughes 970) The vision of his dream is vanishingRead MoreEssay on Langston Hughes: in the Beginning There Was Language1027 Words   |  5 PagesLanguage A dream is a hope, a wish, and an aspiration. Everyone has dreams about what they want to be when they grow up, how they want to live, whom they want to marry and how their life will turn out. However, not all dreams can come true right away. Many of them are just out of reach and can only be attained by hard work, leadership and determination. The poem A Dream Deferred by Langston Hughes is an example of just that, a dream that is just simply out of reach. So what happens to a dream deferredRead More Langston Hughes: In the beginning there was language Essay1035 Words   |  5 Pagesnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;A dream is a hope, a wish, and an aspiration. Everyone has dreams about what they want to be when they grow up, how they want to live, whom they want to marry and how their life will turn out. However, not all dreams can come true right away. Many of them are just out of reach and can only be attained by hard work, leadership and determination. The poem â€Å"A Dream Defer red† by Langston Hughes is an example of just that, a dream that is just simply out of reach. So what happens to a dream deferredRead MoreThe Writing Style Of Langston Hughes1001 Words   |  5 Pagesbe afraid to do what he must choose.† Freedom of creative expression, whether personal or collective, is one of the many legacies of Hughes, who has been called â€Å"the architect† of the black poetic tradition. He is certainly one of the world’s most universally beloved poets, read by children and teachers, scholars and poets, musicians and historians. Langston Hughes became the voice of black America in the 1920s, when his first published poems brought him more than moderate success. Throughout his

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Oia Bible Paper Mark 223-28 Free Essays

New Testament Survey O-I-A Gospels/Acts Throughout the book of Mark, several themes are found to be present which address the legitimacy of Jesus. Multiple times Jesus’ actions prove He is who He says He is, although through His attempts to hide His identity from the public, people still are in disbelief about His identity. The periscope of the Sabbath helps to explain this. We will write a custom essay sample on Oia Bible Paper Mark 2:23-28 or any similar topic only for you Order Now The periscope on the Sabbath according to Mark is found in Mark chapter 2 verses 23 through 28: 23  One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. 4  The Pharisees said to him, â€Å"Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath? † 25  He answered, â€Å"Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? 26  In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions. †27  Then he said to them, â€Å"The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28  So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath. † My own understanding of this periscope is reworded like this: 23 One day on the Sabbath, Jesus was walking amongst His disciples through a field of gain. As they made their way, the disciples began to pick the heads of grain. 24 The Pharisees confronted Jesus and questioned Him as to why the disciples were breaking the law of Sabbath rest. 25 Jesus replied, â€Å"Do you know what David and his friends did when they were hungry? 26 Let me tell you, they entered the House of God during the days of Abiathar the high priest and ate the holy bread in front of Abiathar himself! You all know that the holy bread is only able to be eaten by the priests themselves! † 27 Jesus told the Pharisees, â€Å"I am the Son of Man. The Sabbath was made for man. † 28 Therefore the Son of Man is even Lord over the Sabbath. Multiple observations are obvious throughout the passage. To begin with, it is mentioned several times how the setting of the story is occurring on the Sabbath, which is a day of rest. It is mentioned how Jesus and the disciples are present in the grainfields and the Pharisees are there with them. The Pharisees end up questioning Jesus about the disciples’ actions. Jesus defends them with an allusion of David in the time of Abiathar. There are countless numbers of interpretations that can be made throughout this short passage. These deal with the actions of the disciples, Jesus’ confrontation by the Pharisees, Jesus’ allusion to David’s actions in the time frame noted and the meaning behind the consecrated bread. The disciples’ action of picking heads of grain was completely lawful, even though the Pharisees challenged it (Lane 114). In that time, people followed the Mosaic Law which stated, â€Å"when you come into your neighbor’s standing grain, then you may pluck it with your hands, but you shall not bring a sickle to you neighbors standing grain† which is found in Deuteronomy chapter 23 verse 25. The only grounds that the Pharisees had to challenge the disciples were because it occurred on the Sabbath (Lane 115). Their actions could be seen as reaping which was prohibited on the Sabbath by the Mosaic Law in Exodus chapter 34 verse 21. This violates the Sabbath because it is considered work. It was also noticed how the Pharisees question Jesus about the Disciples’ actions instead of question them personally. When someone was considered a â€Å"teacher† it meant that they were responsible for those under them, so Jesus was responsible for the disciples (Keener 142). This is the reasoning Pharisees specifically questioned Jesus directly. It was done in order to satisfy the legal requirement of a warning prior to the prosecution for Sabbath violation (Lane 115). It is also important to understand Jesus’ allusion to I Samuel chapter 21 verses 1 through 6. 1 David went to Nob, to Ahimelek the priest. Ahimelek trembled when he met him, and asked, â€Å"Why are you alone? Why is no one with you? † 2  David answered Ahimelek the priest, â€Å"The king sent me on a mission and said to me, ‘No one is to know anything about the mission I am sending you on. ’ As for my men, I have told them to meet me at a certain place. 3  Now then, what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever you can find. † 4  But the priest answered David, â€Å"I don’t have any ordinary bread on hand; however, there is some consecrated bread here—provided the men have kept themselves from women. 5  David replied, â€Å"Indeed women have been kept from us, as usual whenever I set out. The men’s bodies are holy even on missions that are not holy. How much more so today! † 6  So the priest gave him the consecrated bread, since there was no bread there except the bread of the Presence that had been removed from before the Lord and replaced by hot bread on the day it was taken away. According to Cole, Abiathar was Ahimelek’s son who survived the priestly slaying at Nob in I Samuel chapter 22 (129). Abiathar served as high priest and was better known in association with David than his father, so this is known as a common error could have entered tradition before it became known to Mark (Lane 115). Another interesting thing about the David reference is Jesus’ summary of the consecrated bread. He mentions in Mark chapter 2 verse 26 how David and his men ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. It is interesting to compare both passages when is mentions the restrictions of who is eligible to eat the bread. In I Samuel chapter 21 verses 4 through 6, it is mention that the requirement is for men to have kept themselves from women. One interesting question that Lane brings to light is the actual connection between what is happening in the grain fields and the reference that Jesus makes in light of the situation (116). The incident in the grain fields specifically deals with the Sabbath while the allusion that Jesus makes, highlights the fact that God does not condemn David for his actions. This shows how the Pharisees interpretation of the Law was not in accordance with the scripture (117). This can be applied to the biblical understanding of the Pharisees and others in that time period. Many people misinterpreted the text and often even twisted them to have a meaning that applied to their situation. The most important thing that I learned from this scripture is the importance of understanding the background information behind the scripture. I must admit that in this case, I would be no different that a Pharisee. Although I have read this passage and heard it referenced multiple times, I have never fully understood Jesus’ allusion within the text and how it applies to the situation at hand. I am constantly guilty of skimming over text or not reading it on a level deep enough to fully understand the message behind the words. This has been a lesson in itself. Works Cited Page Cole, R Alan. The Gospel According to Mark. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdman, 1989. Print. The Holy Bible New International Version. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1984. Print Keener, Craig S. The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament. Downers Grove: Intervarsity Press, 1993. Print Lane, William L. The Gospel According to Mark. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdman, 1974. Print. How to cite Oia Bible Paper Mark 2:23-28, Essay examples

Always Eight Essay Example For Students

Always Eight Essay Im always eight minutes late to work, not because I cant get it together on time but, simply because all my clocks are conveniently eight minutes slow. Most other people I know would just change their clocks or mentally add the eight minutes and arrive on time. As I do for everything except work Not me. It relates to my whole mind-set. If I change all my clocks forward those eight precious minutes, I just might find myself arriving on time every day and losing more than just eight simple minutes. Although, I know I wont arrive on time, because I actually arrived on time one day. I changed all my clocks forward by eight minutes and found that I really dont enjoy being to work on time. The complete eight minutes that I was now given to work left me thinking about all of the things I could have accomplished before rushing through the door to crowds of people, most of them saying dam, and finding it terribly funny. Eight minutes later, I rush in the door three to four afternoons a week and appreciate those few extra minutes I had to collect myself before plunging into the chaos that reins. The locals never fail to ask how I am. I always say good, whether thats true or not. They always respond with a simple good and go back to their coffee which is always hot, though not entirely fresh. No one complains, they just pick up the newspaper thats lying on the counter, used and rumpled; search through the stack, create a little more disarray in a place thats already quite disarrayed and gives a little smile or chuckle every time some young child or tourist bellows dam, simply because they can in a place called The Dam Diner. All afternoon people come pouring into the diner, rapidly blinking from the lack of light, oohing and aahing over the combination of 40s and rustic Vermont decor. When they regain consciousness, begin reciting every joke they can think of involving the word dam. The combination of cheesy decor and cluttered darkness doesnt mean that the food isnt good or that the locals lack spice. Ive been told that its the best dam food anyone has had in a long time, and the locals are some of the most colorful people Ive ever had the chance to meet. A year ago the locals terrified me, the word dam was barely in my vocabulary except in times of reference or emergency, and I had never seen so much fried food in my life. Boot-camp reined in the kitchen and eternal chaos seemed to harbor itself in the dining room. My evening consisted of simply hiding from the customers that I was sure would send death stares my way when they found out that I was terrified of them; just as dogs go after people who happen to have that particular phobia. I was convinced that usually happy customers would simply hate  me just because of the fact that I happened to be their waitress. Not only that, but I had to include the word dam and a few jokes in my new found role. Before this period, my clocks were always on time and I often found myself arriving a few minutes early. Now I am always eight minutes late.