Paul Laurence Dunbar We Wear The Mask Literary Devices

Katie Gutierrez
Mrs.Doherty
English 1&2 Honors
12/4/15

My poem is “We Wear the Mask” by Paul Laurence Dunbar. In the poem Dunbar uses literary device and theme to create a specific mood. Dunbar creates a tense and serious mood using literary devices such as repetition and imagery.

One of the main themes for “We Wear The Mask” is suffering. The type of suffering that Dunbar is talking about is caused when a person’s world is turned upside down, it makes you feel cold and alone. This suffering is shown in lines 6-7, “Why should the world be overwise, In counting all our tears and sighs?” The narrator feel so alone they think that sharing their feelings is not an option. In the time era Dunbar lived in it was common for his people to be treated cruelly. Knowing the historical background the reader is given more of an insight of how the narrator is feeling. In these lines the narrator tells us how important the mask are to them. The mask serve a a shield

so they would not have to deal with any of the emotions they are feeling. The author uses symbolism and other figurative language methods to create an overall theme of suffering.

The most distinct and important literary device used in the poem would be figurative language.

Dunbar uses many similes and metaphors in his poem. In the poem dunbar says, “With torn and bleeding hearts we smile,” What he is saying in this line is meant to represent the painful affect emotions may have on some people, although they endure this pain they choose to keep those emotions locked up. When he says ”smiling” Dunbar gives an example of how these emotions are “masked”. If Dunbar had chosen not to include metaphors like this one, the reader would have not had such a strong emotional connection to the poem. Dunbar also uses allusion in lines 12-13, “We sing, but oh the clay is vile” He uses the word “sing” as a reference to slavery. Since his parents were freed slaves he heard many stories of how they would sing while working in the fields. If figurative language would not have been present the reader would have a different interpretation, this also has an affect on how imagery is created throughout the

poem.

Paul Laurence Dunbar creates a very distinct theme throughout the poem, suffering. Figurative language also helps create a theme. Literary devices that give the poem meaning would be figurative language, metaphors,etc. Without theses Dunbar’s poem would not have the effect it does. In “We Wear The Mask” by Paul Laurence Dunbar, many different element come together to create a strong emotional connection with the audience showing how many people may feel overwhelmed by suffering and pain.