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Bitter River

This object symbolizes the intertwining of oppression and brutality. Two boys are lynched on a bridge nearby this object in a particularly famous poem within the collection.

Raisin

This object symbolizes the negative consequences of putting off a dream or passion. In the poem entitled "Harlem [2]," the speaker imagines the various ways in which a "dream deferred" (108) may manifest itself and this object is one used by Hughes in order to depict the importance of acting on a passion or dream before it is too late to do so.

Crystal Stair

The poem entitled "Mother to Son" revolves around the speaker's message to her son. This object is at first used to indicate everything that the speaker's life has NOT turned out to be, but ultimately, the object is used as a means to portray a message of perseverance from a mother to a son, and...

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This section contains 607 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample