HSC/ALIM English 1st Paper Unit 2 Lesson 2 : Dream Poems with solutions
Introduction:
William Wordsworth (1770-1850), the great Romantic poet, considered poets dreamers because they have the ability to tum "our wish, our power, our thought" into "a deed." Poets give voice to what we desire and strive hard to achieve. They write about the dreams of lovers, men of action, patriots, social reformers, workers and just about anyone given to imagining a better tomorrow for themselves and for others.
In the previous lessons we've learnt about different aspects of dreams. In this lesson, we will read two poems, written by two poets from two sides of the Atlantic. While D.H. Lawrence (1885-1930) was an English novelist, poet and essayist, Langston Hughes (1902-1967) was an American poet, novelist and playwright. Hughes was also a leader of the Harlem Renaissance which attempted to bring changes in the lives of the Black people in the 1920s.
A. Find out more about Lawrence and Hughes from the Internet. Lawrence was more famous as a novelist, so write down the names of five of his novels. Then present your findings in a group to the class.
B. Now read the two poems and answer the questions that follow.
Dreams
- D. H. Lawrence
All people dream, but not equally.
Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their mind,
Wake in the morning to find that it was vanity.
But the dreamers of the day are dangerous people,
For they dream their dreams with open eyes,
And make them come true.
The main themes of the poem "Dreams" by D. H. Lawrence include:
The power of dreams - The poem contrasts "dreamers of the night" who simply dream in their sleep, with "dreamers of the day" who make their dreams come true through determination and focus.
The difference between passive and active dreaming - The poem highlights the difference between simply dreaming at night and actively pursuing one's dreams with open eyes.
The importance of taking action - The poem emphasizes the importance of taking action to make one's dreams come true, rather than just dreaming passively in one's sleep.
The dangers of complacency - The first half of the poem portrays those who simply dream at night as vanity, implying that complacency and inaction can lead to wasted potential.
The power of the mind - The poem touches upon the idea that our thoughts and beliefs can shape our reality, as the "dreamers of the day" make their dreams come true with open eyes.
Dreams
- 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.
The main themes of the poem "Dreams" by Langston Hughes include:
The importance of dreams - The poem emphasizes the importance of holding on to one's dreams, as they are essential for a fulfilling life.
The consequences of giving up on dreams - The poem shows the consequences of giving up on one's dreams through two metaphorical comparisons, life as a broken-winged bird and life as a barren field frozen with snow.
The need for determination and perseverance - The poem encourages the reader to hold fast to their dreams and not give up on them, even when times are tough. This implies that one needs to be determined and persistent in pursuing their dreams.
The dangers of losing one's purpose - The poem shows how giving up on dreams can lead to a life without purpose and meaning, represented by the frozen and barren field.
The metaphor of life - The poem uses two different metaphors to show the importance of holding fast to one's dreams and the consequences of giving up on them.
C. What are the meanings of the following words and phrases?
a. recesses of the mind
b. dusty
c. make something come true
d. vanity
e. a broken-winged bird
f. barren field
g. frozen
D. What parts of speech are the following words?
a. fast
b. winged
c. snow
d.equally
e. vanity
f. true
0 Comments