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In the poem "A Dream Deferred" by Langston Hughes, what is Odysseus' dream, and why is it deferred, for how long, and which image is likely to apply most closely to how Odysseus reacts?

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Final answer:

Langston Hughes's poem 'A Dream Deferred' is not directly about Odysseus, but one can metaphorically associate Odysseus's deferred dream of returning to Ithaca with the 'exploding' image in Hughes's poem, representing his aggressive retaking of his home.

Step-by-step explanation:

The poem "A Dream Deferred" by Langston Hughes does not literally discuss Odysseus or his dreams. However, Odysseus, a character from Homer's epic The Odyssey, does have a dream of returning home to Ithaca after the Trojan War, which is deferred for a long time due to various obstacles placed by gods and fate. Odysseus' dream is deferred for 20 years. If we interpret the reactions in Hughes's poem metaphorically with respect to Odysseus, the image of a dream 'exploding' might apply to Odysseus's eventual direct action to reclaim his home and confront the suitors. This is because after being passive and delayed for so long, Odysseus takes decisive, explosive action upon his return.

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