| In Class: We discussed the importance of cultural appreciation, not appropriation. Students made lists of what culture was to them and we discussed what would happen if someone took any of those away from you. Someone in each class answered: death. Homework: Bring an article to class. Once you think deeply about what the poem means to Hughes and to you, think of examples that relate to it that make it more real to your reader. Bring an article about someone who had to fight their own personal obstacles or obstacles in society to realize their dream. Or maybe, they never did. Feel free to connect “The Road Not Taken” to the poem, or another piece of literature. The choice is up to you, but come prepared with concrete examples of the symbols, ideas, or experiences in the poem. You do not need to annotate it, just read it well enough to know you like it and be able to cite it (know where it came from). We will work on it in class. |
As I Grew Older
-Langston Hughes It was a long time ago. I have almost forgotten my dream. But it was there then, In front of me, 5 Bright like a sun-- My dream. And then the wall rose, Rose slowly, Slowly, 10 Between me and my dream. Rose until it touched the sky-- The wall. Shadow. I am black. | 15 I lie down in the shadow. No longer the light of my dream before me, Above me. Only the thick wall. Only the shadow. 20 My hands! My dark hands! Break through the wall! Find my dream! Help me to shatter this darkness, 25 To smash this night, To break this shadow Into a thousand lights of sun, Into a thousand whirling dreams Of sun! |