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We Wear The Mask

This document provides context and analysis for the poem "We Wear the Mask" by Paul Laurence Dunbar. It introduces Dunbar as one of the first African American authors to find national success. The document examines how Dunbar uses word choice and figurative language to convey the poem's meaning, focusing on similes and metaphors that reveal comparisons and messages within the poem. Footnotes further analyze specific lines and words within the poem.

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TreyLuke
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201 views

We Wear The Mask

This document provides context and analysis for the poem "We Wear the Mask" by Paul Laurence Dunbar. It introduces Dunbar as one of the first African American authors to find national success. The document examines how Dunbar uses word choice and figurative language to convey the poem's meaning, focusing on similes and metaphors that reveal comparisons and messages within the poem. Footnotes further analyze specific lines and words within the poem.

Uploaded by

TreyLuke
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Name: Class:

We Wear the Mask


By Paul Laurence Dunbar
1896

Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872-1906) was one of the first African American authors to reach a national and
international audience. Best known as a poet, Dunbar published his first poems at age 16. Skills Focus: In
this lesson, you’ll analyze how the author uses word choice and figurative language to develop the meaning
of a poem. In this lesson, you’ll practice analyzing an author’s use of figurative language. This means paying
attention to similes and metaphors. As you read, take note of the comparisons and the message they reveal.

[1] We wear the mask that grins and lies,


It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes, —
1 2
This debt we pay to human guile;
With torn and bleeding hearts we smile,
3
[5] And mouth with myriad subtleties.

Why should the world be over-wise,


In counting all our tears and sighs?
Nay, let them only see us, while
We wear the mask.

[10] We smile, but, oh great Christ, our cries


To thee from tortured souls arise. "Untitled" by Nick Owuor (astro.nic.visuals) is licensed under CC0.
4
We sing, but, oh, the clay is vile
Beneath our feet, and long the mile;
But let the world dream otherwise,
[15] We wear the mask!

“We Wear the Mask” by Paul Laurence Dunbar (1896) is in the public domain.

Unless otherwise noted, this content is licensed under the CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license

1. Here, having a debt to pay means having an obligation, or something one must do.
2. Guile (noun) clever but sometimes dishonest behavior that one uses to deceive others
3. “Mouth with myriad subtleties” may refer to the many expectations for “respectful” speech, such as calling someone
sir or ma’am.
4. Vile (adjective) disgusting

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