How has the act of “deferring” his own dreams impacted Troy's life? Make connections between Hughes’ poem and Troy's life. >>In what ways do we see evidence that postponing his dreams has “festered” in Troy?Made him bitter or resentful? >>That it “weighs” on him (“sags like a heavy load”)? Makes him sad or depressed? >>That it “explodes”?Causes violence/destruction? (Consider harm done to others and to the individual)

1, 4, and 5 are all conflicts

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21 balloons is the story of professor william sherman's travels.

in 1883, he set off from san francisco for a balloon ride over the pacific and was found a month later floating with 21 balloons in the atlantic ocean. this seemed an astounding feat and everyone wanted to know what had happened.    

professor sherman was loyal, however, and said he would tell his tale first to the western american explorers club in san francisco, of which he was a member. this built up suspense for several chapters before he began to tell of the wonders of his adventures and the amazing island of krakatoa, an island which had just been blown up by a volcano.  

the residents of krakatoa are all millionaires who live under a "gourmet government" of their own devising. we get to see all the incredible adventures that creative people with unlimited resources would create according to the author.