A Dream Deferred
by Langston Hughes
What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore--
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over--
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?
Vocabulary Quiz 1
exasperated – irritated, provoked
furtively – secretly, sneaky
futile – useless
proposition – suggested plan
tentatively – uncertainly
tyrant – ruler who exercises power in a harsh, cruel manner, a dictator
undistinguished – common, nothing special
vengeance – with violence or fury
viciously – violently, cruelly
vindicated – cleared of an accusation, blame, suspicion, or doubt
arrogant – self-important, overconfident
assimilation – integration, absorption
cliché – overused word or phrase
coquettishly – coyly, flirtlingly
eccentric – unusual, peculiar
Vocabulary Quiz 2
forlornly – sadly, hopelessly
haphazardly – randomly, irregularly
heathenism – “religion” of those who do not believe in God
inappropriately – unbecomingly, wrongly, improperly
insinuatingly – cleverly, shrewdly
menacingly – threateningly
oppressive – cruel, unfair
plaintively – sorrowfully; pleadingly
sarcastically – ironically, mockingly
assimilate – to blend into a group or culture
eccentric – strange
monologue – to speak thoughts aloud on stage
oppress – to hold back, to prevent from achieving
Vocabulary Quiz 3
Prometheus – a Greek god who made man in the image of gods and made him stand upright
tentatively – carefully
desperation – hopelessness
presumably – probably
rebuffs – snubs, rejects
revelation – new, important information
amiably – pleasantly, good-naturedly
exuberance – enthusiasm
ludicrous – ridiculous
ominous – foreshadowing evil
plunder – take by force
pronouncements – announcements or opinions made with authority
raucously – loud
retrogression – regressing; going backwards