Langston Hughes and Figurative Language

Read the poems below, "Down Where I Am" "Harlem". Both were written by poet Langston Hughes, a black American who wrote about his struggles living in a segregated America in the 1960s. The first four questions will correspond with "Down Where I Am," and the rest of the worksheet will be over "Harlem." Read "Down Where I Am" by poet Langston Hughes. "Done broke my ankles down, / Got nowhere"What type of figurative language is this an example of? Metaphor Dialect Allusion Idiom "Done broke my ankles down, / Got nowhere"How does the figurative language in this sentence affect it? It paints a vivid picture with sensory details It brings the narrator to life and makes him feel more real It reminds the reader of other books and movies that they've experienced What do you think this poem is about? A young man locked out of his house A traveler who wants to go home A lower-class person tired of trying to fit in An athlete who has just finished training How would you describe the change in the narrator from the beginning to the end of this poem? They become more confident They become less confident They gain more friends They lose some friends "Does it dry up / like a raisin in the sun?"What type of figurative language is this an example of, and what two things are being compared? Metaphor / The sun and raisins Metaphor Raisins and dreams Simile / The sun and raisins Simile Raisins and dreams How do all of the similes in this poem affect it? They help the reader feel how heavy, disappointing, or disgusting a deferred dream is They make the reader question Langston Hughes's background and influences They help the reader understand complicated vocabulary in the poem They create a humorous, entertaining mood What do you think this poem is about? Feeling hungry because you can’t afford food. Putting off a goal or dream for a long time. Leaving food out to rot. Feeling content even though you can't have something you want Which statement would the author most likely agree with? Laziness won’t get you anywhere. It is best to forget about impossible dreams because they will only exhaust you. Ignoring a dream for too long won’t make it go away, but make it stronger. Beware of nature, because it can hurt you.