So, essentially, it hides the truth. In regards to meter, the lines follow a pattern of iambic tetrameter. Ads are what helps us bring you premium content! Paul Laurence Dunbar writes these two very different in meaning poems. Paul Laurence Dunbar’s famous poem, We Wear the Mask, is a sentimental and symbolic poem that refers to the times individuals hide behind masks for various reasons. He mocks the world to remain blindfolded as the blacks suffer without a complaint, in silence and deceit. 6789 Quail Hill Pkwy, Suite 211 Irvine CA 92603. We Wear the Mask By Paul Laurence Dunbar About this Poet Paul Laurence Dunbar was born on June 27, 1872 to freed slaves from Kentucky. They consist of an unstressed and stressed syllable. That being said, Dunbar is well-known as a pioneer of the Harlem Renaissance. Born in Dayton, Ohio, Dunbar penned a large body of dialect poems, standard English poems, essays, novels and short stories before he died at the age of 33. We hope you are enjoying Penlighten! I believe Mr Dunbar's parents were former slaves so it was vital to put on a happy face to survive. Having said all of these, the poet goes back to the initial phase, that is to keep wearing the mask of happiness and smile, so that the world doesn’t get a cue of their sufferings and believes that they are really happy people, which in reality is a complete antithesis of reality. It chooses to remain blind to the most astounding of situations and still remain calm. The poet describes that these suffering slaves not only smile in pain but also sing. This is truly an enthralling question which still seeks for an answer. On a broader note, the poem states the impact of sufferings inflicted on the minority on grounds of racial divide. ‘Debt’ and ‘guile’ are again two strong words that personify human action and deceit. It uses its discretion to use its wisdom. "We Wear the Mask" was written by African American poet and novelist Paul Laurence Dunbar in 1895. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Both of Paul Laurence Dunbar’s parents were slaves, and he was born less than a decade after slavery became illegal. On one hand, we have "Douglass," which is a poem about Dunbar calling on to Frederick Douglass, a prominent figure in the freeing of the slaves, asking for him to come and save them … It hides the teary eyes and also the tears flowing from the cheeks. Reading . Thus these lines hint towards the poet’s mocking intention. The word ‘clay’ perhaps refers to the world, the earth, our home. The word, ‘tortured souls’ proclaimed their state of deep suffering. MayaAngelou.com. Citations. It is posed to make one consider the state of the world and perhaps further the question themselves. In this case the pattern is, aabba aabc aabac. We wear them and others use them to ignore the problems that exist in modern society. In such formidable conditions, they narrated poems and sang songs that could motivate them to bear that kind of inhuman treatment. 1. In this fifteen-line poem, Dunbar points to the suffering of black individuals and the need to hold happy deminors in order to survive. The stooped condition of the Afro-Americans of the time kindled his wits to pen down this wonderful poetry which upheld the multiple shades of human nature. Thank you! The word ‘myriad’ means many or infinite. The lives of many Africans changed for they were elevated to a new level in the societal race. 6 Critically Acclaimed Female Authors You Should Read Before You Die, These Favorite Children’s Book Quotes Will Take You Back In Time, Good Fiction Books to Read: 3 Classics to Add to your Bookshelf, Classic Science Fiction Books: 3 Essentials to Read Now, Historical Fiction Picture Books: 3 Classics to Read Today, Best Non Fiction Books: 3 Modern Classics You Need to Read. All people are among those who “wear mask[s].”. It causes hearts to bleed and tear. The poem continues on to sarcastically ask why humankind should put out the effort to see behind the masks. We have to take into consideration the racism that dominated that era. The poet says that the oppressed are paying a debt by wearing a mask and hiding their true feelings. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Thus talking about wearing the mask yet again. The mask that is posing ‘grins,’ it is uttering ‘lies’. The rhyme scheme of this piece is repetitive, oriented around a refrain. The final stanza of this piece contains six lines. It veils the reality and creates an impression of something that is unreal in order to hide the reality. It is quite impactful at this point as no one should be willing to “dream” through the pain experienced by others. This is an overwhelming human trait. Let them not see the true sufferings that they are living. They were left to their fate, unattended, left to suffer to the extreme, alone for centuries, with no one to cease the pain. The African slaves were granted freedom, following the bloody Civil War, which is remembered for the ghastly instances that occurred during the war. Paul Laurence Dunbar’s poem, “We Wear The Mask” cleverly talks of the black condition in a language so universal that it could apply to any race of people that tries to hide their emotions from the world in order to survive. Our site includes quite a bit of content, so if you're having an issue finding what you're looking for, go on ahead and use that search feature there! But notice and care for them was far from truth. The words ‘torn’ and ‘bleeding’ are referring to the ample pain that they are living every moment. He does no expect to receive an answer. However, many critics think that this poem only applies to individuals who suffered from slavery. It describes the tragicomic double life black Americans were forced to live in … It very well used the concept of symbolic inferences, in its usage of the ‘mask’ as a symbol of scripted reality. We provide informative and helpful articles about the newest fiction and nonfiction books on the market that you can come back to again and again when you have the urge for a new book to dig into. After logging in you can close it and return to this page. They appeared content and satisfied with their state of slavery, with their fateful existence. We Wear the Mask “We Wear the Mask” is a short poem written by Paul Laurence Dunbar in 1895. Not only these heroic acts were brought to pass, but there are legends stating how people used these rhymes, slogans, and poems to carry on tasks that were very demanding. The speaker goes on to attribute the masks to being the product of “human guile.” In this context guile refers to a general deceitfulness. The poem presents readers with a speaker who speaks in first-person plural, as we and never simply I. We Wear the Mask meaning Emma graduated from East Carolina University with a BA in English, minor in Creative Writing, BFA in Fine Art, and BA in Art Histories. ‘We Wear the Mask’ happens to be one of the most critically appreciated poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar, and is studied in different educational domains. We Wear the Mask Upon the first reading of “We Wear the Mask,” one is immediately convinced of the universality with which Paul Laurence Dunbar speaks of peoples’ hypocrisies. 1: Spoken-word poem adapted from “We Wear the Mask” by Paul Laurence Dunbar (1896). One’s mouth contains a smile but also a “myriad,” or a great variety of, “subtleties.”. They in the true nature of deceiving are wearing a deceitful smile, hiding the extremely agonized heart behind it. But let the world dream otherwise, We wear the mask! It is also the line which later became the title of the poem. Ha! Positivity and optimism can only last so long on a faulty foundation. To a Captious Critic by Paul Laurence Dunbar, Harriet Beecher Stowe by Paul Laurence Dunbar. Dunbar was one of the first to create a more objective perspective of what was going on in American culture. The meaning of the poem "Sympathy" by Paul Laurence Dunbar is that, as an African American man, the poet empathizes with the bird locked in a cage and the lack of freedom he feels as he views the outside world. Dunbar uses “we” as a general […] We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. These cookies do not store any personal information. It becomes a strain on those who do not have to deal with them in their everyday lives. They do ardently believe that it is Lord alone who can sympathize with them and make better their wretched conditions. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of We Wear the Mask by Paul Laurence Dunbar. It does not take much skill to take in the”tears and sighs” of the world. Paul Laurence Dunbar, “We Wear the Mask” and W.E.B Dubois Soul of Black Folks December 9, 2014 / shannahbrown “We Wear the Mask” is one of Paul Laurence Dunbar’s most recognized works as it explores the complex emotions of being African American in a … Sarcastic towards the world’s indifference and melancholic about the sad state of affairs. Let’s read further. The word ‘mile’ refers to the long stretches of time that still need to pass. “We Wear the Mask” is a rondeau, a verse form typical of medieval and Renaissance French poetry. He sets up a second contrast in the next lines with a comparison between the “sing[ing]” that “We” participate in and the ground on which “We” stand. Paul Laurence Dunbar [1872-1906] was the first African-American poet to garner national critical acclaim. Copyright © Penlighten & Buzzle.com, Inc. We are mere puppets at the hands of the Almighty. These symbols show the struggle that black Americans have to live with in society, and the hardships they face on a daily basis. In “We Wear the Mask” and “Sympathy,” Paul Laurence Dunbar depicts the harmful effects of racism through the use of symbolism, violent imagery, and a gloomy mood to develop the theme that oppression by society causes a desire for freedom among minorities. Both Sympathy and We Wear the Mask were written by Paul Laurence Dunbar. They fooled the world about their true feelings by smiling at all times. Paul Laurence Dunbar was an Afro-American poet who held humanity above all societal dogmas. The poem begins with the speaker stating that “We,” a reference to all of humankind, but specifically black Americans, put on masks. It's an amazing poem. A mask hides. Like much of Dunbar's work, "We Wear the Mask" is a reaction to the experience of being black in America in the late 19th century, following the Civil War—a period when life seemed to have improved for black Americans yet in reality was still marked by intense racism and hardship. We Wear the Mask essays are academic essays for citation. This likely means that the “We” is geared more towards black Americans. They were no longer ‘slaves’, but were Afro-Americans. This means that the world, their habitat itself is ugly. It begins with the speaker increasing the already dark nature of the piece. " We Wear the Mask" by Paul Laurence Dunbar is a 1895 poem about the act of concealing one's emotions from the rest of the world, as well as the cost of that concealment. But, giving in to their conditions, they accepted things as they were without qualms. These lines begin with the speaker asking a rhetorical question. The poet says that as the world is seemingly blind to the traumatic conditions of the blacks, then let them continue to do so. In the final lines the speaker explains that the “vile” clay stretches on far “Beneath our feet.” It lasts for miles on end. Throughout this essay I will discuss, describe and interpret Sympathy and We Wear the Mask. The poem begins with the speaker stating that “We,” a reference to all of humankind, but specifically black Americans, put on masks. The troubles of the world are so numerous they are too many to count. It is nearly impossible to get through modern life completely as ones self. Translation of 'We Wear the Mask' by Paul Laurence Dunbar from English to German (Version #2) We may pose many different things to the world, but we can’t hide anything from the divine. Their standard of living was at par or even lower than that of animals. ‘We Wear the Mask’ by Paul Laurence Dunbar describes the way that “We” put on, and accept the presence of masks. Please log in again. ‘We Wear the Mask’ by Paul Laurence Dunbar describes the way that “We” put on, and accept the presence of masks. Those tears resulted from deep anguish and distress they were subjected to. The mechanism being a mask to hide the bitter truth from the already blindfolded world. Every single person that visits PoemAnalysis.com has helped contribute, so thank you for your support. Subscribe to our mailing list and get new poetry analysis updates straight to your inbox. The world is selective about its vision. The mask is expanded from one’s face to their heart in the last two lines. 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. It is written in iambic tetrameter and has many symbols throughout its stanzas. The word ‘vile’ refers to something that is ugly and bad. His parents separated shortly after his birth, but Dunbar … Dunbar uses the pronoun "we" to express the collective sufferings of the black people of his time. Victoria Thomas, of Saint Pauls High School, recites "We Wear the Mask" by Paul Laurence Dunbar. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. ‘Face is the index of mind’, goes the saying. Ha! These are clear emotional expressions which are used here to represent the deepest of societal problems. As mentioned in the previous section of this article, the African slaves used to sing songs and rhymes, just to keep the spirits high and carry on with their lives of destitute. The magnitude of the sufferings was high. Singing can only go on for so long on a world built on a “vile” structure. The end sounds repeat throughout this piece, with the refrain, “We wear the mask” appearing at the end of the second and third stanza. Let them rather see the ‘masked’ faces of the blacks where they are smiling and creating the notion that they are happy and merry. Fahrenheit 451 Through the Lens of "We Wear the Mask" and "Barn Burning" Double Consciousness and the Harlem Renaissance Ha! Paul Laurence Dunbar (June 27, 1872 – February 9, 1906) was an American poet, novelist, and playwright of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It also creates hype over trivialities and brags about it. Paul Laurence Dunbars We Wear the Mask combines salient features of verse essay and poetic meditation as it examines the need for a special kind of social dissembling in the world in which the author lived at the end of the nineteenth century. Dunbar wrote about what it was like to be African American during the late 1800s and the pain experienced by the black community. Please continue to help us support the fight against dementia. We wear the mask that grins and lies, It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,— The speaker opens with the title of the poem, so we know this idea of wearing masks is mighty important since we've heard it twice already (once in the title and now in line 1). 'We Wear the Mask' happens to be one of the most critically appreciated poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar, and is studied in different educational domains. The title itself is the opening line of the poem, and also forms the concluding line of the second and the third stanzas respectively. The login page will open in a new tab. It is also one’s own emotional or moral state that changes from situation to situation. She liked to read his poetry to us when we were kids, including We Wear the Mask. Translation of 'We Wear the Mask' by Paul Laurence Dunbar from English to German Deutsch English Español Français Hungarian Italiano Nederlands Polski Português (Brasil) Română Svenska Türkçe Ελληνικά Български Русский Српски العربية 日本語 한국어 The fourth stanza of this piece is a quatrain, meaning it contains four lines. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. This means that each line contains four sets of two beats, or iambs. The mouth in this context is symbolic, and stands for the act of speaking. The use of the word “counting” emphasizes this fact. The tone used in the description is certainly sarcastic and melancholic. Join the conversation by. The central theme of the poem is to speak about the turbulent times and the atrocities meted out to the blacks at the hands of the whites. Related Content. The opening stanza of the poem indicates th… This clearly indicates that the speaker should be regarded as representing a particular or special segment of society. In conclusion the speaker describes the unsteady foundation on which “We” sing. There were so many occasions when poems and slogans were written to boost up the morale of the masses so that they could man against their oppressors and wage a war against them for attaining freedom. “We Wear the Mask” was published in 1896. This poem perhaps was written in the light of the sufferings of the African blacks, but can we in the current times save ourselves from the shadows of such social paradoxes. They were living in traumatic times. Paul Laurence Dunbar used vivid, descriptive and symbolic language to portray images in his poetry of the senseless prejudices and racism that African Americans faced in America. Sign up to receive the latest and greatest articles from our site automatically each week (give or take)...right to your inbox. They have a deep impact on our understanding of ourselves and others. Born on June 27, 1872, Paul Laurence Dunbar was one of the first African American poets to gain national recognition. It spoke for itself. Hence, the poem highlights the mechanism adopted by the slaves to deal with their state of servitude. Let’s understand the lines in the light of the Afro-Americans. This three-stanza poem is worth a million words, in its fashion to state the hardships of the Afro-Americans of his time. But at the end of the day, when they prayed to the Lord, they know that He alone can see their tears behind the smile. The war is also responsible for bringing about the revolutionary freedom that was so sought for. It’s easier to let the world know about happiness. One is only able to overcome an unsteady and dangerous situation for a limited period of time. Ha! Hearts are changed through tearing and mouths contain endless expressions. The slaves always wore a smile on their faces. Such is the power of words. This form is defined by having 10-15 lines and being organized into three stanzas. Lies, for when one needs to pretend to be something they aren’t, and grins for getting by in uncomfortable situations. And mouth with myriad subtleties,… Paul Laurence Dunbar is one of my mom’s favorite poets. I understand their meaning, It could an did derive From living on the edge of death They kept my race alive By wearing the mask! This Penlighten article summarizes and analyzes the poem in detail. It’s an art to fake happiness at the times of hardship. The reason behind this is the human nature of deceiving others. This Penlighten article summarizes and analyzes the poem in detail. Please support this website by adding us to your whitelist in your ad blocker. Rather than the world taking a very small amount of time to consider the truth behind the mask, they “only see” the surface. And Langston Hughes belonged to the Harlem Renaissance, the period characterized by the rebirth of the culture of the black, that aimed to uplift the race and gain equality. It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,—, In the first stanza of this piece the speaker begins by utilizing the refrain. The whites deemed themselves respectable, and thus demanded respect. The Afro-Americans were the slaves and therefore expected to be overtly respectful towards the former, failing which called for stern punishment. Paul Laurence Dunbar’s poem “We Wear the Mask” is a well-known work that highlights his ability to create emotionally moving standard English poems. What's your thoughts? He is using the word “We” to allow the reader to include themselves in the text. Mask is an epitome of disguise, falsity, camouflage, and secrecy. “We Wear the Mask” was published by Paul Laurence Dunbar in 1895. Paul Laurence Dunbar, born in 1872 and the author of numerous collections of poetry and prose, was one of the first African American poets to gain national recognition. Fast forward to now, the words become even more relevant - we all have a mask of one kind or another. The poet ultimately conveys that since we cannot be true to ourselves we can’t expect the more from the world than lies. It is so clear that we should take the time, but the world does not seem willing to. The Meaning "We Wear the Mask" focuses mainly on the issue of racism faced by many African-Americans like the poet himself. He explains how “We smile” but no matter what the “cries” come out from “tortured souls.” They “arise” from behind the mask and into the real, knowable world. So, putting on a mask hides the eyes and the cheeks. Subscribe to our mailing list to get the latest and greatest poetry updates. Writing is one of the supreme modes of expression; perhaps, this is reason enough to proclaim that ‘a pen is mightier than the sword.’ It is a well-known fact that there are numerous pieces of write-ups in different forms which were influential enough to start several revolutionary movements in the past. This is due to a general ignorance but also a choice. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. It is through advertising that we are able to contribute to charity. He speaks about the plight of the … We wear the mask that grins and lies, It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,— These lines are rhyming not only in recitation, but also in the communication of the message. This poem is in the public domain. After all, there are an infinite number of instances where people put up facades to hide their true feelings or circumstances. The changing times for betterment are yet to arrive that could liberate them from their agony. Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site. ‘We Wear the Mask’ by Paul Laurence Dunbar is a three stanza poem which is separated into one set of five lines, one of four, and one of six. We do as we have been destined to do. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. This means that the poet has affirmed the fact that mankind is double-faced. The first stanza holds up the myriad feelings that humans feel simultaneously. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Essays for We Wear the Mask. 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. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Eyes tell the untold and cheeks let the tears flow. These masks hide someone’s real “cheeks and…eyes.” It puts one at distance from their surroundings. They were conferred with the American citizenship after staying there for centuries. The Language of the Black Condition and All Conditions: Paul Laurence Dunbar’s “We Wear the Mask” 984 Words | 4 Pages. Let’s take a closer look. God is our Creator, He is our Savior. The type of masks that “We” wear include “grins and lies.” One readily puts on another face for any particular situation. Ha! Here the words that hold significance are ‘mouth’, ‘myriad’ and ‘subtleties’. The only time the pattern changes is in the refrain which only contains two sets of beats. The title is self-explanatory in the sense that ‘we’ refers to mankind, thus suggesting that people wear masks. Used with permission from Caged Bird Legacy, LLC. This does not mean the question lacks importance. The poet says that mankind is always in the tendency to conceal, to hide, and to create a notion that is utterly false. The above quoted lines shed light on the fact that, the world doesn’t need to be told about the plight and misery of the slaves of that time. The sarcasm is not yet over! On this note, it’s worth mentioning the case of the African slaves who were kept as bonded laborers and were treated lowly. In the final line the speaker brings back in the title of the poem, “We wear the mask.” This line is used as a reminder that not only are the troubles of the world obscured, they are purposefully hidden, at least to some extent. In other words, he kind of took a step back and looked at things in a less personal, less emotional way, making "We Wear the Mask" applicable to all sorts of people and circumstances. The poem is structured in the form of a rondeau. The extreme pain that they felt needed no special mention. This poem shows great wisdom and insight on many levels especially given the time period that it was written. Literature is one of her greatest passions which she pursues through analysing poetry on Poem Analysis. They tell the Lord about the hostilities they suffer from, because He is their lone confidant. Through this article we will attempt to comprehend the meaning of his much celebrated work, ‘We Wear The Mask’. Paul Dunbar was one of the black artists of that time, who spoke with no fear about the status of African Americans in society. He asks why the “world be over-wise” in its counting of “all our tears and sighs?” While this is a very serious question, it is clear the speaker finds something ironic about it. He concludes by utilizing another sarcastic statement. The poem “ We Wear the Mask” was written by Paul Laurence Dunbar .The poem is about the mask, humans wear to disguise pain, sadness, or turmoil when in the company of others. It sees only the things it wants to see. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. We respect your privacy and take protecting it seriously. Yet, they are hiding their state behind that wry smile. Anyone living in the world can see that these things are present and deeply problematic, even if they are obscured by masks. These lines are rhyming not only in recitation, but also in the communication of the message. Response on “We Wear the Mask” Paul Laurence Dunbar’s poem “We Wear the Mask” attempts to convey that all of humanity wears a mask for basic survival. It poses a mask over reality. But their trauma was hidden with a smile and lies behind the mask. Who Are The Most Romantic Literary Figures of All Time? The trailing two lines of the second stanza are again self-explanatory. Dunbar was likely referring to the struggle to achieve equal rights, overcome segregation and racial violence. ‘Subtleties’ means the minute refined behavior or mannerisms or gestures that are shown to respectable people. In the first two lines of the third stanza, the poet amplifies this thought. Now, to understand the reason behind the poet’s statement that mankind wears masks, we need to understand the poem line-by-line. We wear them and others use them to ignore the problems that exist in modern society. His parents Joshua and Matilda Murphy Dunbar were freed slaves from Kentucky.
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