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There are so many things that the mask may symbolize depending on the context. In most cases, it is a representation of the skin color which causes racial discrimination.

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Silas Gibson

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βˆ™ 1y ago
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βˆ™ 1mo ago

The mask in Paul Dunbar's poem "We Wear the Mask" represents the façade or false persona that individuals put on to conceal their true emotions and struggles from the world. It symbolizes the societal expectations and pressures that force people to hide their pain and present a happy and composed exterior to the world.

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βˆ™ 12y ago

The story is only talk about the many faces people have to you or bosses or neighbors. See for your self.

We Wear the Mask

by Paul Laurence Dunbar

  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.
  6. Why should the world be over-wise,
  7. In counting all our tears and sighs?
  8. Nay, let them only see us, while
  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 other-wise,
  15. We wear the mask!
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Q: What does the mask in Paul Dunbar's poem we wear the mask represent?
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What is the poet's life on We Wear the Mask?

THE MASK I WEAR is the title of the poem. The author is unknown


What is the tone of We Wear the Mask?

The tone of "We Wear the Mask" by Paul Laurence Dunbar is introspective and somber. The poem reflects on the pain and oppression that individuals hide behind a mask of false happiness and cheerfulness.


Is Paul Laurence Dunbar the author of the poem How Did You Die?

No, Paul Laurence Dunbar did not write the poem "How Did You Die." The poem is written by Edmund Vance Cooke. Dunn wrote renowned poems like "We Wear the Mask" and "Sympathy."


In the poem We Wear the Mask Paul Laurence Dunbar voices his repressed anger and frustration toward American society. He repeats the title phrase three times in the poem using the words mask and we to?

In "We Wear the Mask," Dunbar communicates the idea of concealing true feelings for the sake of societal acceptance. The repetition of the phrase emphasizes the facade individuals put on to mask their true emotions and struggles, reflecting the theme of oppression and the pressure to conform to societal standards.


Pierced by the scream of shortened childhood poem?

This may refer to the poem "We Wear the Mask" by Paul Laurence Dunbar, which deals with the themes of hiding one's true feelings and struggles behind a mask of happiness. The phrase "pierced by the scream of shortened childhood" could represent the loss of innocence and joy that comes with growing up and facing harsh realities.


Who wrote the poem we wear the mask?

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Is there an example of regionalism or naturalism in the poem you Wear the Mask by Paul Dunbar?

Yes, "We Wear the Mask" by Paul Dunbar demonstrates naturalism through its depiction of the struggle and oppression faced by African Americans during the time. The use of regional dialect and themes of racial discrimination reflect the reality of societal injustice, presenting a naturalistic view of the experiences of the African American community.


What does the shot heard around the world by Paul Revere represent?

It represents the words written by Longfellow in his poem The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere written in 1861. This was 100 years AFTER the actual event and Paul Revere never finished the ride, but thanks to Longfellow everyone thinks he did. Longfellow wrote the poem on the eve of the civil war to tell people they needed to be more patriotic and not to report history.


Anybody find literary criticism for We Wear the Mask by Paul Laurence Dunbar?

Literary critics praise "We Wear the Mask" by Paul Laurence Dunbar for its powerful commentary on the African American experience and the masks individuals wear to hide their true emotions. Critics often focus on Dunbar's use of symbolism and metaphor to convey themes of oppression, resilience, and self-identity in the poem. Some critics also highlight the poem's universal message about the human experience of concealing pain and suffering behind a façade.


How does Paul die in the poem?

In the poem "Paul Revere's Ride" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Paul Revere does not die. The poem recounts his historic ride to warn American colonists of the approaching British troops during the American Revolutionary War.