Poetry Analysis Essay

Write a five paragraph poetry analysis essay explaining the stylistic devices used by Langston Hughes in
his poem A Dream Deferred.
Prompt: What is Langston Hughes message in the poem A Dream Deferred and what poetic
elements does he use to emphasize his message?
Format:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

1.

Length: 2 pages (5 paragraphs)

Font: Times New Roman
Font size: 12
Margins: 1 all around
Spacing: Double Spaced
Heading: Upper left hand corner (double
spaced)

Directions: Complete the following steps in order

to complete the assignment
1. Brainstorm 3 key poetic elements.
2. Setup your framework: Thesis and three
topic sentences
3. Write your body paragraphs using TIKAC
4. Write intro using ANT
5. Write conclusion
6. Fill out Essay Organizer
7. Revise and type

Brainstorm what three key poetic elements you will write about.

Directions: Think about what three key elements you are going to write about. Also, identify the elements
and quote them in the element graphic organizer below.
Key Poetic Element #1

Key Poetic Element #2

Key Poetic Element #3

Textual Evidence (Quote):

Textual Evidence (Quote):

Textual Evidence (Quote):

Poetic Element:

Poetic Element:

Ex. Does it dry up like a raisin in

the sun

Poetic Element:
Ex. Simile

1.

Answer the question below. Use any one of the sentence starters.
What three poetic elements did you decide to write about?

I decided to write about

2.

Setup Framework

Directions: Write your thesis by ANSWERING THE PROMPT. Write your topic sentences by using
your brainstorm from step one to help you.
1. Write your thesis: (answer the prompt in one sentence)
Prompt: What is Langston Hughes message in the poem A Dream Deferred and what poetic
elements does he use to emphasize his message?
Ex. Thesis: Langston Hughes uses simile, metaphor, and rhyme in order to express to the reader
his belief that one should never give up on a dream.
Langston Hughes uses _________, ________, and _____________ to show that one
should never
Using ________, ____________, and __________, Langston Hughes expresses his belief
that
Langston Hughes uses a variety of poetic devices such as _________, __________, and
______________, in order to show that

2. Write your three topic sentences (use your brainstorm ideas to help you):
Ex. Hughes uses the poetic device simile, in order to suggest to the reader that deferring a dream is
like letting something dry up and whither.
Hughes uses the poetic device ________, in order to suggest to the reader that
Hughes uses ___________, to show that
In order to show ____________, Hughes uses the poetic device
One of the poetic devices used by Hughes is __________, in order to convince the
reader that
Topic 1:

Topic 2:

Topic 3:

3. Write body paragraphs using TIKAC

Directions: Now that you have a framework for you essay, begin writing your body paragraphs using
TIKAC (Topic, Introduce, Key element, Analyze, Conclude). Remember, you have already completed
your topic sentences in your framework. Complete this inside your essay organizer.
Introducing a key element: The easiest way to do this is simply to define the element.
Ex. A simile is a comparison between two unlike things using like or as.
Possible sentence starters to analyze a quote.
Hughes emphasizes this in order to show that
The reason why Hughes uses __________ here, is to suggest that
Possible sentence starters to conclude:
Thus, Hughes intends to communicate that
This shows us that
4. Write your intro using ANT
Directions: Now that you have your framework and have completed your body paragraphs, it is time to write
your intro, to provide background for your story. Follow the steps ANT (Attention grabber, Necessary
information, Thesis) to complete your intro.
1. Opening sentence/ Attention grabber (one sentence)
Ex. A dream is something to be cherished; something that one should never give up on.

2.

Necessary Information (two sentences)

Ex. What happens when the achievement of a dream is postponed again and again? In A Dream
Deferred, Langston Hughes discusses what might happen when one abandons his dreams.

In the poem A Dream Deferred, Langston Hughes discusses

In Langston Hughes poem A Dream Deferred, the reader is posed with an important
question to answer:

3. Write your thesis (you should have already completed this in your framework).

5. Write your conclusion

Directions: Now that you have finished the first four paragraphs of your essay, it is time to begin your
conclusion. Your conclusion should restate your thesis, restate your main points, and provide a
clincher.
1. Restate your thesis (one sentence):
As we can see from ________, __________, and _____________

2. Restate your main points/topic sentences (three sentences):

Hughes uses the poetic device ________, in order to suggest to the reader that
Hughes uses ___________, to show that
In order to show ____________, Hughes uses the poetic device
One of the poetic devices used by Hughes is __________, in order to convince the
reader that
Topic 1:

Topic 2:

Topic 3:

3. Provide a clincher (identify a lesson that the audience might learn)

Ex. Perhaps dreams are the stuff that truly makes life worth living.
Perhaps it would be a good idea to
Hopefully, people will learn to
We would all be wise to consider