1
1. We wear the mask that grins and lies,
2. It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,—
3. This debt we pay to human guile;
4. With torn and bleeding hearts we smile,
5. And mouth with myriad subtleties.
Author:
6. Why should the world be over-wise,
7. In counting all our tears and sighs? Dunbar was born in 1872 to parents who had been enslaved in
8. Nay, let them only see us, while Kentucky. His writing career began early, and his work began to get
9. We wear the mask. published when he was fourteen years old. He self-published his first
collection in 1893, and two years later, his work become popular and
10. We smile, but, O great Christ, our cries was printed in major publications. Dunbar's health began declining in
11. To thee from tortured souls arise. 1898, and he died in 1906, at the young age of thirty-three.
12. We sing, but oh the clay is vile
13. Beneath our feet, and long the mile;
14. But let the world dream otherwise,
15. We wear the mask!
We Wear The Mask’ is a poem written by Paul
Laurence Dunbar. It is a moving poem, an
outcry against the racism that prevails in
Structure: America against those who are coloured.
A three-stanza poem that is separated into one set of five lines, one of four,
and one of six. The poem is structured in the form of a rondeau. This form is
defined by having 10-15 lines and being organised into three stanzas.
The rhyme scheme of this piece is repetitive, oriented around a refrain. In this
case, the pattern is aabba aabc aabac. The end sounds repeat throughout Theme:
this piece, with the refrain, “We wear the mask” appearing at the end of the
second and third stanzas. The major theme of this poem is racism. Those
Each stanza there is a different mood and the rhyme scheme is a contributing who are coloured are oppressed in America
factor E.g.: the first stanza has a mysterious mood; the second stanza has a and them trying to hide themselves against this
sombre mood and the last stanza has a tormented sort of urgent mood. thus points to this theme. Towards the end of
the poem, Christianity can also be seen as a
@Juffrou_Ansie theme prevailing in the poem.
, 2
In your own words, explain what
wearing the mask represents in this
poem. @IMPAQ TASK 2024 In your own words, describe the
Masks function as a tool for speaker of this poem. @IMPAQ TASK 2024
deception. The members of the The speaker could be someone in our
speaker’s community all ‘wear the community / around us / ourselves
mask’ to conceal their pain and who constantly has to cover up how
suffering, thereby fooling the outside they/we feel. Their true feelings
world into the belief that they are in cannot be shown in public for some
fact just fine reason so they always appear happy,
etc. They hide their true feelings
1. We wear the mask that grins and lies, Vocabulary:
2. It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,—
3. This debt we pay to human guile; Line 3 – guile – cunning; sly; clever at
4. With torn and bleeding hearts we smile, tricking people
5. And mouth with myriad subtleties. Line 5 – myriad – very many
Line 5 – subtleties – clever and indirect
6. Why should the world be over-wise, methods
7. In counting all our tears and sighs? Line 12 – vile – extremely bad or
8. Nay, let them only see us, while unpleasant; morally bad; wicked
9. We wear the mask.
10. We smile, but, O great Christ, our cries
11. To thee from tortured souls arise.
12. We sing, but oh the clay is vile
13. Beneath our feet, and long the mile;
14. But let the world dream otherwise,
15. We wear the mask!
@Juffrou_Ansie
1. We wear the mask that grins and lies,
2. It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,—
3. This debt we pay to human guile;
4. With torn and bleeding hearts we smile,
5. And mouth with myriad subtleties.
Author:
6. Why should the world be over-wise,
7. In counting all our tears and sighs? Dunbar was born in 1872 to parents who had been enslaved in
8. Nay, let them only see us, while Kentucky. His writing career began early, and his work began to get
9. We wear the mask. published when he was fourteen years old. He self-published his first
collection in 1893, and two years later, his work become popular and
10. We smile, but, O great Christ, our cries was printed in major publications. Dunbar's health began declining in
11. To thee from tortured souls arise. 1898, and he died in 1906, at the young age of thirty-three.
12. We sing, but oh the clay is vile
13. Beneath our feet, and long the mile;
14. But let the world dream otherwise,
15. We wear the mask!
We Wear The Mask’ is a poem written by Paul
Laurence Dunbar. It is a moving poem, an
outcry against the racism that prevails in
Structure: America against those who are coloured.
A three-stanza poem that is separated into one set of five lines, one of four,
and one of six. The poem is structured in the form of a rondeau. This form is
defined by having 10-15 lines and being organised into three stanzas.
The rhyme scheme of this piece is repetitive, oriented around a refrain. In this
case, the pattern is aabba aabc aabac. The end sounds repeat throughout Theme:
this piece, with the refrain, “We wear the mask” appearing at the end of the
second and third stanzas. The major theme of this poem is racism. Those
Each stanza there is a different mood and the rhyme scheme is a contributing who are coloured are oppressed in America
factor E.g.: the first stanza has a mysterious mood; the second stanza has a and them trying to hide themselves against this
sombre mood and the last stanza has a tormented sort of urgent mood. thus points to this theme. Towards the end of
the poem, Christianity can also be seen as a
@Juffrou_Ansie theme prevailing in the poem.
, 2
In your own words, explain what
wearing the mask represents in this
poem. @IMPAQ TASK 2024 In your own words, describe the
Masks function as a tool for speaker of this poem. @IMPAQ TASK 2024
deception. The members of the The speaker could be someone in our
speaker’s community all ‘wear the community / around us / ourselves
mask’ to conceal their pain and who constantly has to cover up how
suffering, thereby fooling the outside they/we feel. Their true feelings
world into the belief that they are in cannot be shown in public for some
fact just fine reason so they always appear happy,
etc. They hide their true feelings
1. We wear the mask that grins and lies, Vocabulary:
2. It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,—
3. This debt we pay to human guile; Line 3 – guile – cunning; sly; clever at
4. With torn and bleeding hearts we smile, tricking people
5. And mouth with myriad subtleties. Line 5 – myriad – very many
Line 5 – subtleties – clever and indirect
6. Why should the world be over-wise, methods
7. In counting all our tears and sighs? Line 12 – vile – extremely bad or
8. Nay, let them only see us, while unpleasant; morally bad; wicked
9. We wear the mask.
10. We smile, but, O great Christ, our cries
11. To thee from tortured souls arise.
12. We sing, but oh the clay is vile
13. Beneath our feet, and long the mile;
14. But let the world dream otherwise,
15. We wear the mask!
@Juffrou_Ansie
