Exploring Langston Hughes and the Harlem Renaissance

What was the Harlem Renaissance primarily about?

• A movement focused solely on jazz music

• An exploration of black identity and artistic expression

• A political movement with no focus on art

• A European art movement

How did Langston Hughes view the use of the term 'negro' in his poetry?

• As a modern term

• As an offensive term

• As a historical term

• As a term of empowerment

What influenced Langston Hughes' decision to write poetry?

• His extensive travels around the world

• His desire to become a mining engineer

• His classmates' belief in racial stereotypes

• His interest in European poetry forms

Which poets influenced Langston Hughes' writing style?

• Emily Dickinson, Sylvia Plath, and Samuel Taylor Coleridge

• Paul Laurence Dunbar, Carl Sandburg, and Walt Whitman

• Shakespeare and Petrarch

• Countee Cullen and Claude McKay

What was Hughes' criticism towards other black writers of his time?

• Their lack of formal education

• Their disinterest in politics

• Their focus on European cultural standards

• Their use of complex language

What was the main theme of 'The Negro Speaks of Rivers'?

• The challenges of modern life

• The beauty of African landscapes

• The depth of the African American soul and history

• The importance of rivers in America

What does the repetition of 'I've known rivers' in the poem signify?

• A connection to ancient history and heritage

• The monotony of daily life

• Hughes' extensive travels

• Hughes' interest in geography

How did Hughes' poem 'Harlem' explore the concept of a dream deferred?

• Through optimistic imagery

• With imagery that mixes sweetness with decay

• By suggesting dreams are easily achieved

• By focusing on personal success stories

What literary technique is used in 'Harlem' to contrast its seemingly innocent form?

• Metaphor

• Simile

• Irony

• Alliteration

What does the 'heavy load' in 'Harlem' symbolize?

• Economic prosperity

• The burden of unfulfilled dreams

• Historical achievements

• Physical labor