Dream Deferred by Langston Hughes

In Langston Hughes' Dream Deferred, the speaker questions what happens to the dreams that are never fully lived. He begins the poem with a question, "What happens to a dream deferred" (Hughes). He then proceeds to attempt to answer this question, with several questions. This technique of not answering the question, but rather suggesting several alternate theories, allows the reader to decide for themselves.

Throughout the questions the speaker asks about the dream, there is always a simile. Each simile describes to the reader the agony of a dream wilting away to nothingness. However, the speakers final question lacks a simile. He simply asks, "Or does it explode?" (Hughes). The speaker felt no need to clarify it with a simile. Due to this, I believe he felt he could end the poem there, for he had discovered his answer.