Poetry

Dreams

By Langston Hughes

Hold fast to dreams

For if dreams die

Life is a

broken-winged bird

That cannot fly.

Hold fast to dreams

For when dreams go

Life is a barren field

Frozen with snow

Name one type of figurative language used in this poem.

• Simile

• Hyperbole

• Personification

• Metaphor

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.4.5

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.5.5

CCSS.RL.6.4

Dreams

By Langston Hughes

1 Hold fast to dreams

2 For if dreams die

3 Life is a

4 broken-winged bird

5 That cannot fly.

6 Hold fast to dreams

7 For when dreams go

8 Life is a barren field

9 Frozen with snow.

Which lines rhyme?

• 1 and 2

• 2 and 5

• 6 and 7

• 7 and 9

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.4.5

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.5.5

CCSS.RL.6.4

Dreams

By Langston Hughes

Hold fast to dreams

For if dreams die

Life is a

broken-winged bird

That cannot fly.

Hold fast to dreams

For when dreams go

Life is a barren field

Frozen with snow.

What does the poet mean by "Hold fast to dreams"?

• Make sure dreams happen quickly.

• Don't let go of your dreams.

• Dreams are fast.

• Dreams hold you.

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.4.5

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.5.5

CCSS.RL.6.4

Dreams

By Langston Hughes

Hold fast to dreams

For if dreams die

Life is a

broken-winged bird

That cannot fly.

Hold fast to dreams

For when dreams go

Life is a barren field

Frozen with snow.

What does the poet mean by "For if dreams die Life is a broken-winged bird"?

• A bird broke his wing and lost his life.

• The broken-winged bird's dreams died.

• Without your dreams, your life won't go anywhere.

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.4.5

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.5.5

CCSS.RL.6.4

1 Hold fast to dreams

2 For if dreams die

3 Life is a

4 broken-winged bird

5 That cannot fly.

6 Hold fast to dreams

7 For when dreams go

8 Life is a barren field

9 Frozen with snow.

What is the main message or theme of the poem Dreams.

• Dreams can go away quickly.

• Birds with broken wings can't fly.

• Make sure you always dream when you sleep.

• Don't give up on what you want out of your life.

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.4.5

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.5.5

CCSS.RL.6.4

The Night was creeping on the ground!

She crept, and did not make a sound

Until she reached the tree: And then

She covered it, and stole again.

I heard the rustle of her shawl

As she threw blackness everywhere.

What type of figurative language is being used in this poem?

• simile

• metaphor

• hyperbole

• personification

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.4.5

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.5.5

CCSS.RL.6.4

The Night was creeping on the ground!

She crept, and did not make a sound

Until she reached the tree: And then

She covered it, and stole again.

I heard the rustle of her shawl

As she threw blackness everywhere.

What point of view is this poem written from?

• night

• shawl

• a person observing darkness

• tree

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.4.5

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.5.5

CCSS.RL.6.4

The Night was creeping on the ground!

She crept, and did not make a sound

Until she reached the tree: And then

She covered it, and stole again.

I heard the rustle of her shawl

As she threw blackness everywhere.

What is the author's purpose in writing this poem?

• To describe how darkness spreads while nighttime comes.

• To tell a story about a woman with a shawl.

• To teach students how darkness falls.

• To explain how a women covers the ground with darkness.

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.4.5

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.5.5

CCSS.RL.6.4