Comparing and Contrasting Elements in Poems
Langston Hughes’s “Harlem (or A Dream Deferred)” depicts what happens when a dream is deferred over a long period of time. Maya Angelou’s “Still I Rise” depicts the narrator’s resistance to those who try to oppress them. The poem’s “Harlem” and “Still I Rise”, use of simile and metaphor demonstrate different reactions and receptions of oppression.
“Harlem” and “Still I Rise” uses simile’s to demonstrate the reaction of being oppressed. The similes in “Harlem” express the buildup of pent up frustrations of having a dream oppressed from coming true. The first simile, “Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun” (lines 2-3)? makes the analogy of a dream to a grape, one so rich and juicy with life, that …show more content…
Hughes then makes the analogy of a dream deferred crusting and sugaring over “like a syrupy sweet” (lines 7-8), just like the rotting meat comparison, the dream is still there, covered over with a sweet glaze of deception; optimistic on the outside and a the same swirling ball of negativity within. Lastly, Hughes makes the analogy of a dream deferred to a “heavy load” (lines 9-10), a heavy load weighs down the person who carries it and puts a constant pressure those who carry it. The poem “Still I Rise” expresses the optimistic and resistant side to being oppressed. The speaker of the poem compares herself to dust rising (line 4), resistance to being put down and stepped on by others and like air (line 24), air always fall and rises (warm air falls, cool air rises). She also compares her stride to having “oil wells pumping” in her living room (lines 7-8), her laugh like she had “gold mines” in her backyard (line 19-20) and her dance like “diamonds” at her thighs (line 27-28). The optimism of her stride in the face of her oppressors displays a strength in the face of something that is supposed to bring her down. The speaker compares herself to the moon
Langston Hughes’s “Harlem (or A Dream Deferred)” depicts what happens when a dream is deferred over a long period of time. Maya Angelou’s “Still I Rise” depicts the narrator’s resistance to those who try to oppress them. The poem’s “Harlem” and “Still I Rise”, use of simile and metaphor demonstrate different reactions and receptions of oppression.
“Harlem” and “Still I Rise” uses simile’s to demonstrate the reaction of being oppressed. The similes in “Harlem” express the buildup of pent up frustrations of having a dream oppressed from coming true. The first simile, “Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun” (lines 2-3)? makes the analogy of a dream to a grape, one so rich and juicy with life, that …show more content…
Hughes then makes the analogy of a dream deferred crusting and sugaring over “like a syrupy sweet” (lines 7-8), just like the rotting meat comparison, the dream is still there, covered over with a sweet glaze of deception; optimistic on the outside and a the same swirling ball of negativity within. Lastly, Hughes makes the analogy of a dream deferred to a “heavy load” (lines 9-10), a heavy load weighs down the person who carries it and puts a constant pressure those who carry it. The poem “Still I Rise” expresses the optimistic and resistant side to being oppressed. The speaker of the poem compares herself to dust rising (line 4), resistance to being put down and stepped on by others and like air (line 24), air always fall and rises (warm air falls, cool air rises). She also compares her stride to having “oil wells pumping” in her living room (lines 7-8), her laugh like she had “gold mines” in her backyard (line 19-20) and her dance like “diamonds” at her thighs (line 27-28). The optimism of her stride in the face of her oppressors displays a strength in the face of something that is supposed to bring her down. The speaker compares herself to the moon