Poem Analysis Of Gwendolyn Brooks 'Truth'

“Truth” by Gwendolyn Brooks was an honor to read and analyze because the poem made one think about the love-hate relationship that he or she may have with the truth. The entire poem goes through the notion that people always wish for the truth. But, if one were actually given the truth, he or she might not want to know it anymore. This might seem slightly confusing, but it is the sad reality when dealing with truthfulness. The layout of the work seems to be in the speaker’s train of thought. He or she questions what reaction the truth will pull out from someone, if after all that waiting and wanting one might not actually wish for the truth anymore, and if being unaware is easier and more adored. It brings across the thought that some may choose

It seems that with each word and image the speaker’s mood or view of the topic is shown. “Truth” accurately depicts the speaker’s mind through the questions and thoughts that are stated. For instance, the first line says “And if sun comes/ How shall we greet him?” (1-2). These words clearly reveal that the speaker is questioning what he or she may do when greeted with this “him”. The question creates an image of the sun, it becomes a person that someone might not want to greet or speak to. The speaker seems very nervous and anxious through these lines. Lines four through six state “Shall we not fear him/ After so lengthy a/ Session with shade?” which continues the speaker’s questions and brings in the image of “a session of shade”. This continuous questioning is brought together with the continuous time of darkness or a period of time without truth. The word choice makes the speaker seem curious and slightly angry at the fact that the truth hurts. The rapid fire of questions leads one to believe there is an aggressive shot, directed at the painful side of the “perfect” truth. Stanza two shows the speaker in a more personal way with the inclusion of the words, “Though we have wept for him,/ Though we have prayed/ All through the night-years—“ (7-9). This is more of a sad tone, which leads the reader into the speaker’s mindset. The image shows that the speaker feels he or she wasted time or energy wanting the truth. It depicts the speaker praying on his or her knees, crying and begging for the truth. The inclusion of the word “him” lets one see this almost as a let down from an actual person. The stanza moves on and says “[We] Hear the fierce hammering/ Of his firm knuckles/ Hard on the door?” (11-13). This image is such a great glance into the speaker’s brain. It uses words such as “fierce”, “hammering”, “firm”, and “hard” which provoke a thought that the truth is a danger. The