Perspective

Literary perspective

The poem “Merry-Go-Round” by Langston Hughes belongs to a literary movement named the Harlem Renaissance. The term refers to a cultural movement that originated in the neighborhood of Harlem, New York City, and was characterized by a revival of African American culture in literature, music, and art, and a focus on the black experience as pres…

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Textual perspective 

The poem “Harlem” was also written by Langston Hughes. “Harlem” takes the form of an initial question and a series of possible suggestions related to the fate of a dream that is postponed. The poem is a metaphor for the concept of the American Dream and the circumstances in which it applies to African Americans in the US.

It would also be useful to take a look at some of Langston Hughes’ short stories, which also deal with the condition of African Americans. For example, the short story “One Friday Morning” focuses on an African-American girl named Nancy, who wins an art competition but is not awarded the prize because she is black. The story also deals with the theme of injustice – present in “Merr…