Langston Hughes' poem "Dreams" uses metaphors to describe dreams. It tells the reader to hold on to their dreams or their dreams will disappear. In this poem he uses two metaphors. One of them is "For if dreams die, Life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly." He is telling us that dreams and goals guide you throughout your life. Another metaphor that Hughes uses is "For when dreams go, life is a barren field frozen with snow." Hughes is telling us that if we don't hold onto our dreams and let them disappear, our lives will go nowhere.
             Ethan Frome, by Edith Wharton has many parallels to the poem "Dreams." One parallel is the line in the poem that states "For if dreams die, Life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly." One could compare it to the ending of Ethan Frome. Ethan's dreams have died because of his inability to face the consequences of his decisions; he chooses to attempt to escape the consequences of all decisions with his failed attempt at suicide. It was a foolish decision, and now Ethan has to pay the consequences. Since he didn't stay with his dreams, Ethan's chances at happiness have been taken away once again. It forced Mattie to stay with the Fromes after the accident, and it has led to all of them ending life as stunted, hateful people without any dreams or any guidance on what will happen for the rest of their lives. Ethan must live on, continuing to live on his farm's poor soil. The three people are trapped together for the rest of their lives. Ethan will stay at the farm because he has no choice; he is as trapped and lifeless as his ancestors in the Frome burial ground just like the broken-winged bird.
             "For when dreams go, Life is a barren field frozen with snow" is another line from "Dreams". This relates to Ethan's lost potential because of Starkfield, his home. Starkfield is a very small community in New Englan...