“Dreams” by Langston Hughes - Poem / Poetry Appreciation / Exercises on Poem / Question-Answer on Poem / Theme and Summary of Poem / Poem Analysis

“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

Summary: the speaker urges readers to hold on tightly to their dreams, as they give life purpose and direction. Without dreams, life is compared to a “broken-winged bird” that cannot fly, symbolizing a lack of freedom and potential. Similarly, life without dreams is likened to a “barren field frozen with snow,” representing a bleak and unproductive existence. The poem highlights the vital role that dreams play in inspiring hope and growth, encouraging readers to never let go of their aspirations.

Theme: It emphasizes the importance of holding on to dreams and aspirations in life. The poem suggests that without dreams, life becomes stagnant, lifeless, and devoid of purpose, symbolized by a “broken-winged bird” and a “barren field frozen with snow.” Ultimately, Hughes conveys the message that dreams are essential for a fulfilling and meaningful existence, urging the reader to cherish and pursue them despite challenges.

Paraphrasing

paraphrase of each sentence from Langston Hughes' poem "Dreams":

1. “Hold fast to dreams”Paraphrase: Cling to your dreams and never let them go. Hold onto your aspirations tightly, as they are crucial for a fulfilling life.

2. “For if dreams die”Paraphrase: Because if your dreams are abandoned or fade away, you will lose a significant part of what makes life meaningful.

3. “Life is a broken-winged bird”Paraphrase: Life becomes like a bird with a broken wing—unable to soar or reach its full potential. Without dreams, life loses its freedom and direction.

4. “That cannot fly”Paraphrase: Just as a bird with a broken wing cannot take flight, a life without dreams cannot move forward or achieve its fullest possibilities.

5. “Hold fast to dreams”Paraphrase: Once again, the poem urges us to hold tightly to our dreams and desires, as they are vital for a meaningful existence.

6. “For when dreams go”Paraphrase: Because when dreams are abandoned or fade away from our lives, the hope and motivation that once drove us are lost.

7. “Life is a barren field”Paraphrase: Life becomes like an empty, lifeless field—devoid of growth, purpose, or vitality. Without dreams, life feels desolate and unfulfilled.

8. “Frozen with snow”Paraphrase: Just as a barren field covered in snow appears cold and lifeless, a life without dreams becomes cold and devoid of warmth or vitality.

Short Answer Questions

questions and answers based on Langston Hughes' poem "Dreams":

1. What is the central theme of the poem "Dreams"?

   Answer: The central theme of the poem is the importance of holding onto dreams and aspirations. Langston Hughes emphasizes that dreams give life purpose and direction, and without them, life becomes desolate and unfulfilling.

2. What does Hughes mean by "Life is a broken-winged bird"?

   Answer: Hughes compares life without dreams to a bird with a broken wing, symbolizing that without dreams, life becomes restricted, unable to reach its potential or soar. Dreams are necessary for a full and meaningful life.

3. Why does the speaker in the poem urge the reader to "Hold fast to dreams"?

   Answer: The speaker urges the reader to hold fast to dreams because they are essential to living a fulfilling and purposeful life. Dreams provide hope and motivation, and without them, life becomes hopeless and stagnant.

4. What does "barren field frozen with snow" symbolize in the poem?

   Answer: The "barren field frozen with snow" symbolizes a life devoid of dreams and aspirations. Just as a field without crops and covered in snow is lifeless and empty, a life without dreams feels cold, unproductive, and lacking in purpose.

5. What happens to life when dreams are lost, according to the poem?

   Answer: According to the poem, when dreams are lost, life becomes like a broken-winged bird that cannot fly, or a barren, frozen field. Life loses its vitality, purpose, and hope, becoming a hollow existence without direction or growth.

6. How does the poet use imagery in the poem?

   Answer: The poet uses vivid imagery, such as "a broken-winged bird" and "a barren field frozen with snow," to convey the emotional and existential consequences of living without dreams. These images evoke feelings of stagnation, loss, and hopelessness.

7. What is the significance of repetition in the poem?

   Answer: The repetition of "Hold fast to dreams" emphasizes the urgency and importance of dreams in one's life. It acts as a reminder to hold onto one's aspirations and not let them slip away, highlighting their central role in shaping a meaningful existence.

8. How does the tone of the poem reflect the message about dreams?

   Answer: The tone of the poem is both urgent and cautionary, urging the reader to not let dreams die. The tone conveys a sense of importance and seriousness about the need to preserve dreams, as the consequences of losing them are portrayed as dire and destructive.

9. Why does Hughes use the metaphor of a bird in the poem?

   Answer: Hughes uses the metaphor of a bird with a broken wing to suggest that life without dreams is like a bird that cannot fly. The bird represents freedom, potential, and growth, and a broken wing symbolizes the inability to achieve those things without dreams.

10. What does the poet suggest about life’s purpose in "Dreams"?

Answer: The poet suggests that the purpose of life is deeply tied to having dreams. Dreams provide meaning, hope, and a sense of direction, and without them, life is empty and devoid of fulfillment. Dreams are what allow us to strive for something greater and live fully.

Multiple-choice questions based on the text:

1. What is the central message of the poem "Dreams"?

   • A) Dreams are unattainable

   • B) Life without dreams is meaningless

   • C) Dreams cause confusion

   • D) Dreams are not important

   • Answer: B) Life without dreams is meaningless

2. What does the phrase "Life is a broken-winged bird" symbolize in the poem?

   • A) Life without dreams is flightless

   • B) Life is full of hope

   • C) Dreams are harmful

   • D) Birds are fragile

   • Answer: A) Life without dreams is flightless

3. What is the significance of the "barren field frozen with snow" in the poem?

   • A) It represents peace and stillness

   • B) It symbolizes a life without dreams, cold and lifeless

   • C) It suggests a future of hope

   • D) It shows the end of winter

   • Answer: B) It symbolizes a life without dreams, cold and lifeless

4. What does the speaker urge the reader to do in the poem?

   • A) Forget about dreams

   • B) Chase after impossible dreams

   • C) Hold onto dreams tightly

   • D) Dream in silence

   • Answer: C) Hold onto dreams tightly

5. What happens to life when dreams "die" in the poem?

   • A) Life becomes peaceful

   • B) Life becomes dull and hopeless

   • C) Life becomes richer

   • D) Life becomes easier

   • Answer: B) Life becomes dull and hopeless

6. Which of the following is the best example of imagery in the poem?

   • A) "Life is a broken-winged bird"

   • B) "Hold fast to dreams"

   • C) "When dreams go"

   • D) "Frozen with snow"

   • Answer: A) "Life is a broken-winged bird"

7. What role do dreams play in the poem?

   • A) They make life harder

   • B) They are irrelevant

   • C) They provide purpose and hope in life

   • D) They are fleeting and unimportant

   • Answer: C) They provide purpose and hope in life

8. How does the tone of the poem come across?

   • A) Joyful and celebratory

   • B) Serious and cautionary

   • C) Neutral and indifferent

   • D) Angry and bitter

   • Answer: B) Serious and cautionary

9. What effect does the repetition of "Hold fast to dreams" create in the poem?

   • A) It makes the poem feel monotonous

   • B) It emphasizes the importance of dreams

   • C) It downplays the significance of dreams

   • D) It creates a rhythmic effect

   • Answer: B) It emphasizes the importance of dreams

10. What does the poem suggest about the consequences of abandoning dreams?

    A) Life becomes more colorful and vibrant

    B) Life becomes less complicated and easier

    C) Life loses its meaning and purpose

    D) Life becomes more peaceful and calm

    Answer: C) Life loses its meaning and purpose

Summary:

Langston Hughes' poem "Dreams" highlights the importance of holding onto dreams and aspirations in life. The speaker of the poem begins by urging the reader to “hold fast to dreams,” emphasizing that without dreams, life becomes unfulfilled and aimless. The first stanza compares life without dreams to a bird with a broken wing, symbolizing the inability to soar and reach one’s potential. Dreams give life direction and purpose, and without them, individuals are left helpless and grounded.

In the second stanza, Hughes reinforces this idea by warning that when dreams fade or are abandoned, life becomes like a barren, frozen field, devoid of growth and vitality. The image of the field covered in snow represents a life that is stagnant and unproductive. Through these powerful metaphors, Hughes suggests that dreams are essential for a meaningful and enriched life, providing the energy and motivation necessary to move forward.

Theme:

The theme of "Dreams" revolves around the necessity of holding onto one's dreams and aspirations. Hughes portrays dreams as vital for a fulfilling life, and without them, life becomes desolate and void of purpose. Dreams are portrayed as the driving force that gives life meaning, direction, and vitality.

Bangla Translation (Summary)

সারাংশ:

ল্যাংস্টন হিউজের "ড্রিমস" কবিতায় জীবনে স্বপ্ন এবং আকাঙ্ক্ষা ধরে রাখার গুরুত্ব তুলে ধরা হয়েছে। কবিতার বক্তা পাঠককে "স্বপ্ন ধরে রাখার" আহ্বান জানিয়ে শুরু করেছেন, জোর দিয়ে যে স্বপ্ন ছাড়া জীবন অপূর্ণ এবং লক্ষ্যহীন হয়ে পড়ে। প্রথম স্তবকটি স্বপ্ন ছাড়া জীবনকে ভাঙা ডানাওয়ালা পাখির সাথে তুলনা করে, যা নিজের সম্ভাবনায় পৌঁছাতে এবং উড়তে না পারার প্রতীক। স্বপ্ন জীবনকে দিকনির্দেশনা এবং উদ্দেশ্য দেয় এবং এগুলি ছাড়া ব্যক্তিরা অসহায় এবং ভিত্তিহীন হয়ে পড়ে।

দ্বিতীয় স্তবকটিতে, হিউজ এই ধারণাটিকে আরও জোরদার করে সতর্ক করে বলেছেন যে যখন স্বপ্নগুলি ম্লান হয়ে যায় বা পরিত্যক্ত হয়, তখন জীবন একটি অনুর্বর, হিমায়িত মাঠের মতো হয়ে যায়, যেখানে বৃদ্ধি এবং প্রাণশক্তি থাকে না। তুষারে ঢাকা মাঠের চিত্রটি এমন একটি জীবনের প্রতিনিধিত্ব করে যা স্থবির এবং অনুৎপাদনশীল। এই শক্তিশালী রূপকগুলির মাধ্যমে, হিউজ পরামর্শ দেন যে স্বপ্ন একটি অর্থপূর্ণ এবং সমৃদ্ধ জীবনের জন্য অপরিহার্য, যা এগিয়ে যাওয়ার জন্য প্রয়োজনীয় শক্তি এবং প্রেরণা প্রদান করে।

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vocabulary words from Langston Hughes' poem "Dreams", along with their meanings in English and Bangla:

1. Hold fast

   • English: To grip tightly or firmly

   • Bangla: শক্তভাবে আঁকড়ে ধরা

2. Dreams

   • English: Aspirations, hopes, or desires for the future

   • Bangla: স্বপ্ন

3. Die

   • English: To cease to exist or to lose vitality

   • Bangla: মরিয়া যাওয়া

4. Life

   • English: The existence of an individual or organism

   • Bangla: জীবন

5. Broken-winged

   • English: Describing something that is damaged and unable to function properly

   • Bangla: ভাঙা ডানা

6. Bird

   • English: A flying animal with feathers

   • Bangla: পাখি

7. Cannot fly

   • English: Unable to soar or move through the air

   • Bangla: উড়তে অক্ষম

8. Barren

   • English: Empty, unproductive, or incapable of producing life

   • Bangla: শূন্য, নিষ্কলঙ্ক

9. Field

   • English: An area of land, typically used for farming or growth

   • Bangla: ক্ষেত

10. Frozen

    • English: Solidified due to extreme cold, lacking warmth or life

    • Bangla: জমে যাওয়া

11. Snow

    • English: Precipitation in the form of ice crystals

    • Bangla: তুষার

12. Expire

    • English: To come to an end or cease to exist

    • Bangla: শেষ হওয়া

13. Uncertain

    • English: Not sure or unsure about something

    • Bangla: অনিশ্চিত

14. Afraid

    • English: Feeling fear or anxiety about something

    • Bangla: ভীত

15. Dying

    • English: Coming to an end or ceasing to exist

    • Bangla: মরতে থাকা

16. Meaningless

    • English: Lacking purpose or significance

    • Bangla: অর্থহীন

17. Hope

    • English: A feeling of desire or expectation for something to happen

    • Bangla: আশা

18. Inspiration

    • English: A sudden good idea or motivation to do something creative

    • Bangla: অনুপ্রেরণা

19. Vitality

    • English: The state of being full of energy and life

    • Bangla: জীবনশক্তি

20. Fulfillment

    • English: The achievement of something desired or promised

    • Bangla: পরিপূর্ণতা