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Irregular meter
Rhetorical questions
Concrete (comparisons)
vs. abstract (“dream”)
diction – these specific
words suggest negative
connotations of deferred
dreams; they are also
mainly cacophonous
words which add to the
negative/warning tone
simile – mostly
negative, indicates that
deferred dreams will
result in negative effects
metaphor – only one
(comparison to a bomb)
rhyme – ends of
thoughts, not ends of
lines
(connects/emphasizes
whole thoughts)
Comment [WW1]: In some editions called
“Dream Deferred”
Harlem
from Montage of a Dream Deferred (1951)
What happens to a dream deferred?
5
offsets first and last
lines – connects them to
each other more than to
middle lines
10
A
Comment [WW2]: Alliterative and inverted
Does it dry up
B
like a raisin in the sun?
C
Or fester like a sore –
D
And then run?
C
Does it stink like rotten meat?
E
Or crust and sugar over –
F
like a syrupy sweet?
E
Maybe it just sags
G
Comment [WW5]: Indicates questioning of sorts
because “maybe” is not a concrete word
like a heavy load.
H
Comment [WW6]: Statement – beings with
“maybe” so not solid; weighs on ppl
Or does it explode?
H
Comment [WW7]: Italicized – emphasis on
THIS
Comment [WW3]: Caesura – pause emphasizes
space in time between festering and running
Comment [WW4]: Caesura – pause makes us
linger on “crust and sugar over” and then the image
of crusted sweet syrup
Tone is warning