American Literature / Unit 13 AML 1209 short lesson, about 20 seconds
"Harlem" and the Deferred Dream
Captions available
The idea
The poem asks what happens to a dream deferred, and offers possibilities as questions: drying like a raisin in the sun, festering, stinking, crusting over, sagging like a heavy load. The last line, set apart, asks whether it explodes. The poem is eleven lines and almost all question.
In practice
A question, answered with more questions.
Where people slip
The final line stands alone for a reason.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Builds on
Unlocks
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