Wednesday, July 29, 2015

What is the structure of the poem "Dream Variations" and how does the structure of this poem help to accentuate its theme?

Langston Hughes's "Dream Variations" has an irregular structure, but the irregularity works to accentuate the theme within the poem. Technically, the poem is free verse; there is no regular meter or rhyme scheme. Yet throughout, Hughes maintains a close proximity to more traditional patterns. He uses a similar rhyme scheme in the two stanzas. Stanza one contains a rhyme scheme of ABCBDEFEG, which almost mirrors itself (in the ABCB and DEFE lines) but then ends with a final line that does not rhyme with any other part of the stanza. This stanza also focuses on the desires of the narrator, to occupy a place of contentment where the narrator can "fling . . . arms wide," "whirl, "dance," and "rest." Much like the regularity of the rhyme scheme, this is a vision of perfection to the narrator. On the other hand, stanza two becomes more irregular, reading ABHBDEIF. It still bears some similarity to the more regular meter of the first stanza, but also contains more lines that do not fit together quite as well. This stanza also focuses on the more immediate experience of the narrator. It begins with the same line as the first stanza, but then the narrator moves "[i]n the face of the sun" rather than "[i]n some place of the sun." Further, the actions taken are also direct, as Hughes writes "Dance! Whirl! Whirl!" In this stanza, rather than resting "[b]eneath a tall tree" as in the first stanza, the narrator also simply observes "[a] tall, slim tree" in such a way that suggests the narrator is the tree, which shows that they recognize themselves as an inherent, essential part of the world. However, the stanza finishes in a similar way as the first stanza, echoing the relationship between the narrator and night, this time "[b]lack like me" rather than "[d]ark like me."This makes for an interesting juxtaposition. While the first stanza is more regular in rhyme scheme, within it the narrator is more disconnected from the world. However, the second stanza, in its irregularity, posits the narrator as a more connected, essential part of the world. Perhaps this is Hughes saying that when we are further from constructed ideas regularity and perfection, we are closer to our true essence, that we are by nature, imperfect, and that this is not only ok, but essential.

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