Topic > Analysis of Literary Devices in the Poem Dreams by Langston Hughes

The poem “Dreams” by Langston Hughes would be described as a lyric poem because of its personal expression and emotions. Within two stanzas, Hughes literally uses devices such as similes, metaphors, imagery, and personification to convey the importance of his point. Anyone who reads this short poem can connect with the true meaning because every person has a goal. Whether that goal is to become the next president, the next millionaire, or the next doctor, it all starts with a dream. A world without dreams would be a world devoid of diversity, creativity, hard work and success. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay By analyzing the two stanzas of “Dreams” the message becomes clear and has a larger meaning within the short poem. With the repetition of the personification line "Beware of dreams" the reader can infer that the main point of the poem is about appreciating one's dreams. Hughes believes that having dreams is crucial, while to have them it is important to maintain and achieve them. Because these dreams make us who we are, they also give meaning and purpose to our lives as individuals. Every person has a purpose on earth, destined to leave their mark. However, life would be wasted if a person's every dream was not fulfilled. Using literary devices such as a metaphor, Hughes paints the image of a bird flying with broken wings and compares it to life with unfulfilled and forgotten dreams. This shows how vital his point of view is in showing how unfulfilled life can seem without having your goals. It is expressed through more figurative language that if dreams are lost "Life is a barren field frozen in snow" to show how boring and cold the world around you could be without pursuing what you want. Finally, as previously mentioned “Hold on to the dreams” is repeated to highlight the true meaning of this short poem. The speaker speaks with a sense of regret through some parts of the poem. Regret for how life might seem wasted if you don't act on your dreams. Use adjectives like frozen and barren to show the reader the disadvantage of not acting. Things are never easy. Every person has to overcome obstacles and work hard for their dreams to go or to give up.Keep in mind: This is just an example.Get a custom paper now from our expert writers.In conclusion, Langston Hughes has set a tone by using figurative language throughout his short poem for all those. who have set their dreams and held on to them despite the struggle. Any obstacle is better than having wasted your life, feeling like a barren, frozen field. Each of us has committed to completing tasks, each of us has a goal to be something, whether it is an astronaut, a model, the next Picasso or even a teacher. It all starts with a dream.