Harlem’s Beats

Worksheet Description

This worksheet directs students to read the poem “Harlem” by Langston Hughes and identify the lines that utilize enjambment. It goes a step further by asking students to discuss the effect of enjambment in each instance they identify within the poem. The lines provided on the worksheet offer space for students to write down the enjambed lines and their thoughts on how this literary device influences the poem’s reading and interpretation. This exercise aims to deepen the students’ engagement with the text through close reading and analysis.

The worksheet teaches students to not only spot enjambment but also to consider its purpose and impact in poetry. By examining “Harlem,” a poem rich in vivid imagery and emotion, students learn how enjambment can control pacing, build suspense, or enhance a poem’s thematic expression. The task encourages students to think about the way enjambment affects their personal experience of the poem and its broader narrative flow. This critical analysis skill is vital for appreciating the nuances of poetic form and the poet’s craft.