Analysis of a Poem “We wear the mask”

Amber Davis prof Quirk Lit periodture 101 February 28, 2013 We snap off the Mask The lyric verse We arrogate the entomb by Paul Laurence Dunbar is a metrical composition virtually the Afri bear American race, and how they had to c erstwhileal their unhappiness and anger from whites. This poem was written in 1895, which is around the era when hard workerry was abolished. Dunbar, living in this clock time period, was up to(p) to experience the gruesome takingss of racism, hatred and prejudice against blacks at its worst.Using literary techniques such as completelyiteration, metaphor, persona, cacophony, apostrophe and paradox, Paul Dunbars poem suggests blacks of his time wore conceals of smiling faces to treat their authoritative feelings. In the first stanza, he starts off with the title of the poem stating, we tear the mask that grins and lies (1). In the first song he utilizations a metaphor to pardon the mask that is wander on to visual aspect grins. Of cou rse there is no authentic mask, but the mask can be a representation of a spirt personality that is happy or blissful.It could be said that the reason for this mask is to hold on their tormentors from starting any controversy. Dunbar in like manner roles new(prenominal) metaphor, This debt we pay to hu homo guile (3). app atomic number 18ntly he does non mean that there is a debt to human guile that he is paying with money, but rather since blacks lead always been hold inn as deceptive since slave times, they must forever live in it. Since slave times blacks select non been respected. Even after blacks received the take hold up to vote and own land, the federal arranging still made it hard for blacks to make a break with.The procedure of metaphor is use to describe the overwhelming struggles blacks had to go through in a white mans human race. Through the use of metaphors, Dunbar implies the feelings the blacks once had to fake in order to not bunk into any poth er. The second stanza, especi in ally, emphasizes the poems paradox and alliteration. This stanza really goes into the mind of the person speaking, and the nameination is a part of the reason wherefore they develop masks. The poem reads, Why should the adult male be over-wise,/ In counting all our tears and sighs? / Nay, let them only cover s, while/ We wear our masks (6-9). Essentially, the person of this poem is asking wherefore should the world get the right to know wherefore they be truly upset, and potentially use it against them instead, expect pride, hold your head up high, and put on your mask. In doing so, the literary term paradox comes into play. This poem is about the true feelings of blacks being hidden behind masks, when also the poem itself hides the fundamental issue of racism from even being mentioned that alone is a paradox because the poem has a mask on as well.This poem can also be seen as a paradox because this so called we is supposed to be wearing a mask when in fact they ar expressing their feelings and becoming vulnerable, aka no more mask. Although apiece stanza has a turning of alliteration, the second stanza is the most dominant. Dunbar writes, Why should the world be over-wise,/ In counting all our tears and sighs? / Nay, let them only see us, while/ We wear our masks (6-9). The alliteration in this stanza is used heavily with the letter w. With the use of this alliteration, it creates a sense of flow that helps the loudspeaker system get his point across more smoothly. Although the poem is more cacophonic, and harsh, rather than euphonic, and harmonious, the use of alliteration helps highlight the importance of this stanzas sayings. The alliteration aspect of this stanza really helps tell on why the blacks continue to keep a mask up since they do not want others to know their weakness. The final stanza is a plea to God, or in other words an apostrophe.Dunbar writes, We smile, but, O great Christ, our cries/ To thee from hagridden souls arise (10-11). In writing this, Dunbar makes an apostrophe to the get rid of Christ since Christ is not soon present in the poem. This verse brings about an emotional side of the speaker that we have not seen in the play, which is the essential effect of apostrophe. In a sense, the speaker is able to take the focus from masks to addressing the fact that they are being tortured the fact that they are being tortured is exactly why they wear the masks they do, to show they are not intimidated.Through the use of apostrophe, Dunbar is able to express the emotions of the reader, which ties into why masks need to be warn. Overall, the speakers awareness of putting on a fake facade to avoid trouble is apparent through literary devices such as alliteration, metaphors, and apostrophe. Author Dunbar creates a just about cacophonic feel to the poem to give the hurt of these people who must wear masks. Dunbar also uses demolition rhyme in all of his ersus. The fir st and second, and also the terzetto and fourth of each line use the long I sound for end rhyme except for the last lines of each stanza. Through the use of many literary devices Dunbar is able to capture the true nub behind the mask, which is a disguise that camouflages the demonstrable emotions of the mask wearer. Even though the mask is a grinning mask, the face below it is broken and frustrated, but the mask wearer allow for never show it.