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Read this excerpt from "We Wear the Mask" by Paul Laurence Dunbar and answer the question that follows:
We wear the mask that grins and lies,
It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes, -
This debt we pay to human guile;
With torn and bleeding hearts we smile,
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.
We smile, but, O great Christ, our cries
To thee from tortured souls arise.
We sing, but oh the clay is vile
Beneath our feet, and long the mile;
But let the world dream otherwise,
We wear the mask!
What effect does the poet achieve by repeating the phrase, "We wear the mask" throughout the poem? Complete the sentences to answer the question.
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 show that
. The first use of the phrase is matter-of-fact. In the second
stanza, the statement is followed by a period, which shows resignation. However, at the end of the poem, Dunbar almost shouts the phrase
defiantly. The mask seems to become something he wears proudly. Through this gradual emphasis on the phrase, Dunbar could be implying
that



Answer :

GinnyAnswer
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 show that there is a common experience shared by many individuals who conceal their true emotions and struggles behind a facade.

1. The first use of the phrase is matter-of-fact. It presents the idea that wearing a mask is a common practice without delving deeply into its implications.

2. In the second stanza, the statement is followed by a period, which shows resignation. This indicates a sense of acceptance or inevitability in wearing the mask to hide inner turmoil and present a false front to the world.

3. However, at the end of the poem, Dunbar almost shouts the phrase defiantly. This change in tone suggests a shift from resignation to defiance, where the act of wearing the mask is no longer just a necessity but a symbol of resistance against societal pressures and expectations.

Through this gradual emphasis on the phrase, Dunbar could be implying that the mask becomes a symbol of survival, resilience, and a form of silent protest against the societal norms that force individuals to hide their true selves. The repetition of "We wear the mask" reinforces the central theme of the poem, highlighting the complexities of human emotions and the masks people wear to navigate the challenges of society while silently longing for understanding and acceptance.