Question

In your own words, describe the connotation conjured by Langston Hughes' use of imagery throughout this poem. Provide at least one quote to support your answer.

Answer 1

The imagery used throughout Langston Hughes' poem conjures a sense of isolation and despair. For example, in the first stanza, Hughes writes: "Hold fast to dreams / For if dreams die / Life is a broken-winged bird / That cannot fly." This imagery suggests that dreams are essential to a person's sense of purpose and hope, and without them, life is bleak and futile.

Another example of the imagery used in the poem is the metaphor of a "broken-winged bird" to describe a person without dreams. This imagery suggests that such a person is unable to soar and achieve their potential, and is instead grounded and unable to move forward.

Overall, the imagery used in the poem creates a connotation of despair and isolation, and suggests that without dreams, life is bleak and meaningless.