Themes of the Harlem Renaissance

You have explored theme in the literature, poetry, art, and music of the Harlem Renaissance. As a group you have identified common themes and related those themes to modern American life. Take a few moments to reflect on the common themes presented in class. Select one of those themes and answer the following questions in a well developed paragraph.

1. Identify the theme you will discuss.

2. Identify one example of the theme in the work of the Harlem Renaissance.

3. In what way is this theme still relevant or irrelevant to modern American life?

4. Is this theme universal? Can it be applied to all humans or is it still specifically a theme of African Americans?

5. Understanding the common themes of the Harlem Renaissance will help you understand the themes of our next reading selection, A Raisin in the Sun, by Lorraine Hansberry. The title of the play comes from a line of a poem by Langston Hughes called "A Dream Deferred." What themes or issues might you expect to see in this play based on your knowledge of the common themes of the Harlem Renaissance?

Read the entire poem here.

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/dream-deferred/

This enrichment activity is due next class and is worth 25 points.