As I grew Older by Langston Hughes | Summary | Questions and Answers.
"As I Grew Older" is a poem about the dreams that the poet was unable to achieve because of racial discrimination. The poet, in his childhood, had dreams but as time passed and he grew up, he was subjected to racial prejudice and oppression. this poem depicts the negative effects of racism, prejudice and discrimination. It is a comment on any form of racial oppression where one is unable to achieve their dreams, whether it is because of gender, nationality or racism. The poem puts up a message that we should believe in ourselves and stand up against the unjust society and rise above any sort of discrimination.
It was a long time ago.
I have almost forgotten my dream.
But it was there then,
In front of me,
Bright like a sun
My dream.
And then the wall rose,
Rose slowly,
Slowly,
Between me and my dream.
Rose until it touched the sky
The wall.
Shadow.
I am black.
I lie down in the shadow.
No longer the light of my dream before me,
Above me.
Only the thick wall.
Only the shadow.
My hands!
My dark hands!
Break through the wall!
Find my dream!
Help me to shatter this darkness,
To smash this night,
To break this shadow
Into a thousand lights of sun,
Into a thousand whirling dreams
Of sun!
-- Summary --
"As I Grew Older" is a poem about the dreams that the poet was unable to achieve because of racial discrimination. The poet, in his childhood, had dreams but as time passed and he grew up, he was subjected to racial prejudice and oppression. In the beginning of the poem, the speaker recalls a dream which he had long ago and had nearly forgotten, the speaker represents all African Americans who had to give up their dreams due to the discrimination prevalent in the early 20th century in the American society. As the poem progresses, the speaker's disappointment turns into determination. The speaker forcefully commands his "dark hands" (that represent his race that has always stood as a barrier in the path of his dream), to break through the wall so that he can achieve his dream. He wants to "shatter this darkness", "smash this night" and "break this shadow into a thousand lights of Sun". The sunlight represents a hope to achieve his dream. He wants happiness. Therefore, there is a self realisation to grasp for a dream that might be out of reach.
-- Explanation --
- 1st Part -
It was a long time ago. I have almost forgotten my dream.
But it was there then, In front of me,
Bright like a sun, My dream.
And then the wall rose, Rose slowly,
Slowly, Between me and my dream.
Explanation :
The speaker starts by describing a dream he used to have a long time ago that he has nearly forgotten now. Back then, however, it was right in front of him, bright like a sun. Then, a wall rose up slowly between the speaker and his dream. It shows how he often had something in his way, when he tried to reach his dream. The wall is a metaphor for the darkness that is blocking him from achieving his dream.
- 2nd Part -
Rose until it touched the sky, The wall. Shadow.
I am black. I lie down in the shadow.
No longer the light of my dream before me, Above me.
Only the thick wall. Only the shadow.
Explanation :
It has become a barrier and it seems to grow forever . It grew so high until it touched the sky. Therefore, with the wall blocking the bright light, the poet's dream is in the dark. It means that all the light of hope is replaced by darkness and he is not hopeful towards the attainment of his dream. The barrier has become a long dark shadow which has covered his dream and overshadowed it. The dream which was as bright as the sun has now turned dark. The symbol of a shadow is a way to depict his race (African), because the speaker's race is the barrier that is keeping him from achieving his dream in the society. He says that he lay down in the shadow which means he feels defeated and helpless in the darkness. His dream is no longer above him.
- 3rd Part -
My hands! My dark hands!
Break through the wall! Find my dream!
Help me to shatter this darkness,
To smash this night, To break this shadow
Into a thousand lights of sun,
Into a thousand whirling dreams Of sun!
Explanation :
The speaker forcefully commands his "dark hands" (that represent his race that has always stood as a barrier in the path of his dream), to break through the wall so that he can achieve his dream. He wants to "shatter this darkness", "smash this night" and "break this shadow into a thousand lights of Sun". The sunlight represents a hope to achieve his dream. He wants happiness. Therefore, there is a self realisation to grasp for a dream that might be out of reach.
-- Tone/mood of poem --
The tone/mood of the poem, 'As I Grew Older', keeps changing as the poem progresses. In the beginning, the tone in the speaker's voice is of pessimism where he is depressed over recalling his dream that he could not achieve, but in the second half of the poem there is hope ,determination and optimism and it expresses the fact that he can still achieve his dream.
-- Poetic Device --
SYMBOLISM : "Light' in the poem, symbolizes dreams, hopes, optimism and possibilities. On the other hand, 'darkness' symbolizes prejudice, discrimination, hatred, racism and evil.
The use of the words 'dark hands' are used with emphasis to symbolize the colour of the poet's skin. The poet is black and he himself makes reference to his 'dark hands.
The speaker believes that he can break through the barrier of being born with a darker skin tone in a white society. He says, 'I am black' and 'my dark hands'
METAPHOR: "And then the wall rose"
The wall has been used as a metaphor. The wall is presented as an obstacle to the poet's dream. The obstacle is racism and discrimination against the blacks.
SIMILE: "Bright like a Sun"
Answer the following questions with reference to the context :
A. But it was there then ,
In front of me,
Bright like a sun …
Q. what is ‘it’ being referred to?
Ans- The poet’s dream is referred to as ‘it’ in the poem.
Q. Why isn’t it ‘ Bright like a Sun ‘ anymore ?
Ans- It is not ‘Bright like a Sun’ because of the wall of racism that stands high between the poet and his dream.
Q. What must be done to make ‘it’ shine again?
Ans- The wall must be broken to make it shine again.
B. Rose slowly , Slowly…
Q. What is being referred to in the qabove lines?
Ans- The rising wall is being referred to in the line.
Q. What does it rise between?
Ans- The wall rose between the poet and his dream.
Q. When does it stop rising?
Ans- When it would touch the sky.
C. I am black.
Q. Who is the speaker?
Ans- The poet is the speaker.
Q. Why has the speaker turned black?
Ans- The speaker has turned black because of the shadow of the wall that stood between him and his dream had fallen upon him. Also, it is a metaphor , as the poet is black.
Q. Explain the significance of this vis-a vis the poem .
Ans- A symbolic wall has been built between the poet and his dream and the shadow which has fallen on him makes him black. The poet must break the wall to reach accomplish his dreams .
FAQ's :-
Q. What did the poet have a long time ago? Does he remember it?
Ans- The poet had a dream long time ago. He feels that he has almost forgotten the dream .
Q. What has happened to the dream ?
Ans- The dream was pushed away from the poet and a shadowy black wall stood in between the dream and the poet.
Q. What change has the poet undergone?
Ans- The poet has gone through a change of ups and downs in life. These barriers have taken the poet away from his dream.
Q. What all does the poet want to break , smash and shatter ?
Ans- The poet wants to break , smash and shatter anything that stood between him and his dream like the wall and the shadow.
Q. How does the poet hope to recapture his dream ?
Ans- The poet hopes to recapture his dream by shattering the wall into a thousand lights of sun.
Q. How are the images of light and dark used in the poem?
Ans- The image of light is a metaphor for the speaker's dream and his being able to fulfil it. The image of darkness is a metaphor for the fact that he is unable to fulfil his dream (because he is black.) //The image of light is a metaphor for equality and the speaker's belief he has the same chance as everyone else (to reach his dream). The image of darkness is a metaphor for society which tells him that he is not equal because he is black and so doesn't have the same chance (to reach his dream).
Q. Is the poem optimistic, pessimistic or both? Explain.
Ans- The poem is both pessimistic and optimistic. The speaker talks about a wall which separates him from his dream. This wall is the attitude/prejudices/racism of society towards black people. The "wall" separates him from his dream (because he is black) and has fewer chances to succeed (than whites).
- The poem is pessimistic because it talks about a wall separating him from his dream. This wall could be any obstacle that prevents him from achieving his dreams.
- The poem is optimistic because the last stanza is optimistic. The speaker is going to use his hands to break through the wall and take away the shadow. The last word of the poem is "sun", a hopeful word. The speaker will fight to make his dream come true and believes he will succeed. The speaker's will to fight and not just give up – "lie in the shadow" – makes the poem optimistic.
Q. What did the speaker have "a long time ago"?
Ans- The speaker had a dream.
Q. What happened to the speaker as he grew older?
Ans- He almost forgot what his dream was about. / His dream dimmed. / He was unable to fulfil his dream. / His dream disappeared.
Q. Why does the speaker mention using his hands to break through the wall?
Ans- The speaker mentions his hands because people use their hands to build and create things, and here the speaker is using his hands to break down the wall in order to build a better world. Hands are the instruments of change. His hands are used as a metaphor for his mind/will power. His "hands" are an artist's /a writer's hands and he will try to change his reality / society's attitudes and / or prejudices through his art.
Q. What do you think will be the effect of breaking through the wall?
Ans- The effect of breaking the wall will lead to the speaker fulfilling his personal dreams. The effect of breaking the wall will lead to equality between all people and the end of racism.
Q. Which wall do you think separates the poet from his dream ? Elaborate .
Ans- The symbolic walls of difficulties and hurdles separate the poet from his dreams, also, that the poet is black in a country of Whites is an obstacle for him.
Q. Is the poem optimistic or pessimistic? How can you tell?
Ans- The poem is optimistic. This is because he encourages the readers to break through any wall of tough situation and racism that stands between them and their dream.
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