Marie and Felicia

Context: Published in the year Hughes got his first white collar job He had been travelling to Africa and Europe. Speaker: an African-American, could be Hughes himself Audience: Everyone; talking to himself Tone: Longing, defeated, determined - changing through time Theme: Discrimination throughout his life

It was a long time ago. I have almost forgotten my dream. But it was there then, In front of me, Bright like a sun— My dream. Set up for a story; flashback Singular Not completely given up - implies that it was never reached Enjambment Syntax - puts emphasis on the dream Simile Elongated pause Tone: longing, optimistic, naive, innocent Motif Caesura Motif Alliteration

And then the wall rose, Rose slowly, Slowly, Between me and my dream. Rose slowly, slowly, Dimming, Hiding, The light of my dream. Rose until it touched the sky - The wall. Represents the action of the wall continuing to rise Enjambment throughout this stanza ‘then’ refers back to title - he grew older Anaphora of ‘slowly’ and ‘rose’ Dream is still present Stages of the wall rising positive memory Tone: depressing, angry Syntax - emphasis on ‘the wall’ Metaphor for racial discrimination Consonance mechanical sounds Caesura; prolonged pause

Shadow. I am black. Still some light Enough to make a shadow Symbol; Representative of his place in society Realization; Only thing that matters about him Tone: defeated, realisation Present tense; back to reality One word syntax Declarative syntax Imagery

I lie down in the shadow. No longer the light of my dream before me, Above me. Only the thick wall. Only the shadow. Present tense Enjambment Loss of hope - acceptance Imagery Lying down; Looked down upon Addition of adjective ‘thick’ adds to the hardship of overcoming the wall Anaphora Realization of there still being light Tone: defeated, pessimism, anger Short syntax Eternal night - moon still gives off light from the sun

My hands! My dark hands! Break through the wall! Find my dream! Help to shatter this darkness, To smash this night, To break this shadow Into the light of a thousand suns, Into a thousand whirling dreams Of sun! Tone: determined, hope, possibilities, regained energy Anaphora Emphasis Exclamatory syntax Anaphora Violent diction Pathos Anaphora Enjambment Needs to clarify again he’s black Plural

Bibliography "Langston Hughes, As I Grew Older." Genius. Web. 31 Aug Poets.org. Academy of American Poets. Web. 31 Aug