Question

Why does our speaker answer questions with questions? (Excerpt from Harlem (A Dream Deferred) by Langston Hughes)

a. To confuse the audience
b. To provoke critical thinking
c. To avoid providing direct answers
d. To showcase rhetorical skills

Answer 1

In Langston Hughes's poem, the use of rhetorical questions is to c)provoke critical thinking about the theme of postponed dreams, actively engaging the reader.

Step-by-step explanation:

The speaker in Langston Hughes's poem Harlem, often titled A Dream Deferred, answers questions with questions as a rhetorical strategy.

This technique is used to c)provoke critical thinking rather than to confuse the audience, avoid giving direct answers, or showcase rhetorical skills alone.

By posing these questions, Hughes invites the reader to ponder the consequences of postponed dreams and aspirations, engaging them in a deeper exploration of the theme.

These rhetorical questions encourage the audience to become actively involved in interpreting the poem and reflecting upon its implications in their own lives and in society.