Question

He Had His Dream
by Paul Laurence Dunbar

He had his dream, and all through life,
Worked up to it through toil and strife.
Afloat fore’er before his eyes,
It colored for him all his skies:
The storm–cloud dark
Above his bark,
The calm and listless vault of blue
Took on its hopeful hue,
It tinctured every passing beam—
He had his dream.

He labored hard and failed at last,
His sails too weak to bear the blast,
The raging tempests tore away
And sent his beating bark astray.
But what cared he
For wind or sea!
He said, “The tempest will be short,
My bark will come to port.”
He saw through every cloud a gleam—
He had his dream.

10
Select the correct answer.
What theme is expressed in this poem?

A.
Determination can help you overcome the hardships of life.
B.
Dreams are not always worth fighting for.
C.
It is important to have dreams throughout your life.
D.
The hardships of life can be defeating.

Answer 1

The theme expressed in the poem "He Had His Dream" by Paul Laurence Dunbar is best captured by:

**A. Determination can help you overcome the hardships of life.**

The poem illustrates the protagonist's relentless pursuit of his dream despite facing challenges and setbacks. His determination and hope ultimately overshadow the difficulties he encounters.