Broken Dreams: Wonderings and Doings

A compare and contrast between

“Broken Dreams” & “Harlem”

By:

Jeremiah Greer & Trent Ellis

“Harlem”What happens to a dream deferred?

Does is dry upLike a raisin in the sun?Or fester like a sore--And the run?Does it stink like rotten meat?Or crust and sugar over--Like a sugary sweet? Maybe it just staysLike a heavy load. Or does it explode? 

“Broken Dreams”What's that metronome I hear?

perhaps the end is drawing near,you never hear the shot that takes you down.

out of time, so say goodbye,what is yours, now is mine,and I dream broken dreams

I make them come true,I make them for you.

Bad dreams come true, I make them for youBad dreams come true, I make them for youBad dreams come true, I make them for youBad dreams come true, I make them for you

out of time, so say goodbye,what is yours, now is mine,and I dream broken dreams

I make them come true,I make them for you.

I make them for you.

Almost to the mountain topYou slip and fall just like a stone

Rolling ever faster to this nightmare you have sewn

You had it all right in your graspsbut in a breath your minute passed

now alas the end has come,

you are all alone.

out of time, so say goodbye,what is yours, now is mine,and I dream broken dreams

I make them come true,I make them for you.

I make them for you.

All my dreams are just dillusionsbecause nothing can confuse you.Don't you look behind the curtainNo more time the end is certain.

And I dream broken dreamsI make them come trueI make them for you.

I dream broken dreams,I make them come true

I make them for you

Bad dreams come true, I make them for youBad dreams come true, I make them for youBad dreams come true, I make them for you

Bad dreams come true

I make them for you.

Verse 1what's that metronome hear? perhaps the end is drawing near, you never hear the shot that takes you down.

Chorusout of time, so say goodbye, what is yours, now is mine, and I dream broken dreams I make them come true,I make them for you.

Bad dreams come true, I make them for you (x4)

ChorusOut of time, so say goodbye,what is yours now is mineand I dream broken dreams,I make them come true,I make them for you,I make them for you.

Verse 2Almost to the mountain topYou slip and fall just like a stoneRolling ever faster to this nightmare you have sewnYou had it all right in your graspsbut in a breath your minute passednow alas the end has come,you are all alone.

ChorusOut of time, So say goodbye. What is yours, Now is mine.And I dream broken dreams, I make them come true,I make them for you. I make them for you.

Verse 3All my dreams are just dillusionsbecause nothing can confuse you.Don't you look behind the curtainNo more time the end is certain.

ChorusAnd I dream broken dreamsI make them come trueI make them for you.

I dream broken dreams, I make them come trueI make them for you

Bad dreams come true, I make them for you(x4)

1. Based on line 1 of the poem “Harlem,” what can the readers infer about the poem’s persona?

A. The poem is about an individual who wonders what happens to a broken dream.

B. The poem is about a person who wants to destroy a dream.

C. The poem is about a person who asks questions about dreams.

D. The reader cannot infer anything based on line 1.

2. What point of view does the artist, Shaman’s Harvest, use throughout the majority of the song “Broken Dreams”?

A. The artist uses third person omniscient because he only knows one person’s thoughts.

B. The artist uses first person point of view because of the repetition of the word I throughout the poem.

C. The artist use third person objective because he knows nothing of anyone’s thoughts or feelings.

D. The artist use third person limited because he only knows one person’s thoughts

3. How does the tone change from “Broken Dreams” to “Harlem”?

A. The tone of “Broken Dreams” is awe-inspiring while the tone of “Harlem” is negative.

B. The tone of both the song and the poem is judgmental.

C. The tone of “Broken Dreams” is forceful while the tone of “Harlem” is wondrous.

D. The tone of both the song and the poem is teasing.

4. How does the theme change from “Broken Dreams” to “Harlem”? A. The theme in “Broken Dreams” is that all dreams

are meant to be broken while the theme in “Harlem” is dreams deferred confide in mystery.

B. The theme of both the song and the poem are that people have bad dreams.

C. The theme in “Broken Dreams” is bad dreams are made not dreamed while the theme in “Harlem” is dreams deferred can be many things.

D. Neither theme has anything to do with the other.

Persona“Harlem”

A man who wonders what happens to a broken dream.

“Broken Dreams”

An individual who intentionally tries to break the dreams of

other individuals.

Point of View“Harlem”

The author in this poem uses a third person objective point of view.

“Broken Dreams”

The artist of this song uses a first person

point of view.

Figurative Language“Harlem”

Uses similes such as, “Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?”

“Broken Dreams”

Uses idioms such as, “Rolling ever faster

to this nightmare you have sewn.”

Tone“Harlem”

The tone in the poem is wondrous.

“Broken Dreams”

The tone in the song is forceful

Theme“Harlem”

A dream deferred confides in mystery

“Broken Dreams”

All dreams are meant to be broken.

“The End”