Explication of We Wear Our Mask Essay example

In Semester One of the 2014-2015 school year, our Jr. Honors English class has read many texts that have a simple meaning, and some that can mean more when read deeper than just the surface. Three of my favorite texts from Semester One are Paul Dunbar’s “We Wear a Mask,” Edwin Robinson’s “Richard Cory,” and Edgar Masters’ “Lucinda Matlock.” “We Wear a Mask” is one of my favorite texts from the beginning of our school year because it means to show that the racial differences weren’t settled for a long time even after the American Civil War. I enjoy “Richard Cory” because its meaning is the base of the saying, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” “Lucinda Matlock” is another one of my favorites because it reminds me of the fact that all I do is

The negative emotions in this poem have always been a component of black America’s struggle. In "We Wear The Mask,” The writer describes how people purposely change their external appearances and how this can be both detrimental and helpful. This is seen through his expertise use of metaphors and hyperboles. The poem is also about the mask, humans wear to disguise pain, sadness, or turmoil when in the company of others. The speaker opens with the title of the poem so that readers know that the “mask” (1) is really important. Dunbar gives the mask human characteristics because the people have allowed the mask to go from being temporarily on their face to permanent. It is ironic that the people wear the mask to conceal their suffering, but it causes them to suffer more.The use of hyperbole to express how serious the mask is and exaggerate it's power is seen in line (4) which states " With torn and bleeding hearts we smile". The hyperbole spotlights how the mask is powerful because it feeds off the peoples insecurities and negative emotions. Dunbar uses metaphors to exaggerate the emotions in the poems. He uses metaphor when the poem says "In counting all our tears and sigh " (7). It is impractical to count tears and sighs, henceforth the poet means that the world is unable to understand blacks' sufferings. Hyperbole and metaphors used in the poem links to how everyone wears a mask once in the while and has the

He uses end rhymes to make it have more of a rhythm. To make it sound like a lyrical song and give pleasure. In the first stanza the main in the poem is talking about how he has been planted seeds throughout his entire life and

Secondly, the speaker of the poem can be described as underprivileged, and this is shown throughout the entire poem. For example, line 1 of the poem it states "some are teethed on a silver spoon” and line 5 it states "some are swaddled in silk and down”. This shows that the speaker is not the same as the person who is teethed on a silver spoon or cared for very carefully. This inclusion also shows that the speaker was not born into a wealthy family and so the speaker must fight for what they need pertaining to themselves and the family.

The “mask” in both Dunbar’s poem “We Wear the Mask” (1897) and Maya Angelou’s version “The Mask”, is a metaphor for the face they would present to avoid consequences of how they truly felt about racial injustice. However, these versions of the poem were written in different time periods with different styles, but their theme is the same. Dunbar’s version was written in the late 1800’s after the Civil War. This period was turbulent for African Americans, although they were free, they were socially repressed and kept from economic advancement. Whereas Angelou, wrote her version in modern day, with a lyrical style.

The way some of the African-Americans spoke is very well seen and expressed in some of their poems. In document D, it is brung to the light by words like “de” meaning “the,” “ma” meaning “my,” and “an’” meaning “and.” This shows racial pride by showing what they grew up saying and their

Dunbar, in his third stanza, juxtaposes the fact that the mask wearers are“sing[ing] despite the “vile” clay “beneath [their] feet”, exemplifying that although the mask wearers’ are struggling the mask still gives them a joyful facade. This shows that while the world is unconcerned with their struggles, the mask wearers still hide behind their joyful, misleading mask in order to protect themselves from the apathetic world. Dunbar then continues this metaphor by hopelessly juxtaposing that while the mask wears must take a “long” journey while walking on unpleasant dirt, the apathetic “world dreams otherwise,” showing that the uncaring world is ignorant and turns a blind eye to the mask wearers struggles. This further exemplifies that the mask wearers should hide behind the misleading, joyful mask in order to protect themselves from the apathetic world. Dunbar further reiterates the simplicity of one hiding behind the guise of a joyful mask because the world is uncaring and unsympathetic to their struggles at any

In many of Hughes poems, he uses complex diction to communicate his thoughts on racism. For example, in Hughes poem You and your whole race he says “ And be ashamed that such supine poverty exists there,”. This superior word choice helps communicate that Hughes was in a difficult time where he was very impecunious.

The poems We Wear the Mask by Paul Dunbar and Harlem by Langston Hughes have similarities. In my mind, the use of figurative language resides in both thinkers conceive of being a person of color in America. For Dunbar, the use of the “mask” is designed to conceal the pain of being Black in America. The mask is to hide the struggle and frustration that speaks opportunity, but delivers another reality. The use of figurative language is designed to present that a dual consciousness plagues people of color for one part of their identity seeks to believe the promises and possibilities of America while another fully understands the despair and denial within it. The mask is employed as a metaphor to convey both experiences.

The Voice of Hope From Paul Laurence Dunbar “I hope there is something worthy in my writings and not merely the novelty of a black face associated with the power to rhyme that has attracted attention,” (Paul Laurence Dunbar). Paul Laurence Dunbar was a nationally and critically acclaimed african-american poet that was driven to inspire people. He had a love for writing that drove him to make something out of his words. He has not only given a voice to the people around him through his imagery and lyrical poems but has inspired people who before him could have not stood up on their own. He has shown integrity and strength in his poems which has given hope to others that they as well can stand up for what they believe in.

The mask I wear is one that sings and smiles about all things. My mask covers many of my downfalls and scars from past time that wish could go a far. It’s like a veil or curtain that hides the actor or the bride before they put on a show. My mask is happiness but I do not wear it all the time. I try to hide struggle-some bind and think that everything is okay so I can go on and live another day. Mainly because the speedbumps and struggle will just get in my way. I like to think of myself as happy inside but most of the time I just want to lay back and cry. But when the mask is on I cannot run or hide because off my face I would have to pry. Like a poor little caged bird just wanting to fly. Maya Angelou said in “Caged Bird” “The caged bird sing with fearful trill of things unknown but longed for still” I feel like with the mask I can seek after “thrill” but not have to face the problems I feel.

The author uses syntax to create a uniform rhyming scheme. There are eight feet in each line of the poem that are consistent until the end of the poem. Words such as “flow’d” and “scream’d” are used in order to keep balance in the beats; therefore, creating rhythm. The poem is organized into stanzas, each stanza having the first line rhyme with the second and the third line rhyme with the fourth. For example, the first stanza reads: “No stir in the air, no stir in the sea; the ship was still as she could be; her sails from heaven received no motion; her keel was steady in the ocean.” (Lines 1-4) The syntax used by the author helps in the meaning of the poem by setting the tone. By setting the tone of the story, one is able to see the meaning behind

In the poem “We Wear the Mask” there is a specific rhyme scheme and every line rhymes with another except for the lines “We wear the mask (9, 15).” The patterned rhyme scheme makes the lines quoted before stand out more to the speaker. The lines that disrupt the flow of speaking are then emphasized for the listeners. The specific rhyme scheme reveals that the poet wanted people to notice those lines more, leading to the conclusion that the poem is revealing to everyone that African Americans indeed have to hide themselves from others and wear a “mask”. When the reader or listener finally focus on the fact that African Americans have to hide their true feelings and selves, it reveals the true meaning of the poem which is that while many seem

Insecurity takes on many forms, usually resulting in some type of over-compensation. Whatever it is we are lacking, we try to make up for it in other areas, often hiding who we truly are. Both Paul Laurence Dunbar and A.K. Ramanujan support this idea by demonstrating how we hide our emotions, pretend to be something that we are not, and see ourselves from the perspective of others.

As long as black people are marginalized this poem will continue to be relevant to any generation of black folk. Langston Hughes wrote this poem about giving heed to the world that someday black people would not continue to take demands from the oppressor. “Sweet and docile, Meek, humble and kind:” In this narrative element, Hughes is characterizing the personality of a slave outward behavior while in forced servitude. (Langston Hughes) Having a full understanding what kind of position black folk were in during the times of slavery, black people tried their best to put on their best behavior in fear of losing their lives.