The Mask Poem

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Intro:“This life is yours. Take the power to choose what you want to do and do it well. Take the power to love what you want in life and love it honestly. Take the power to walk in the forest and be a part of nature. Take the power to control your own life. No one else can do it for you. Take the power to make your life happy.” Susan Polis Schutz. Power over one’s life is something everyone deserves to have, but what happens if you don’t? In the two stories “We wear the mask” Paul Laurence Dunbar and “Still I rise” by Maya Angelou.In “we wear the mask” this poem was written right after the Civil War life was somewhat better than being a slave yet but african americans did not share the same privileges.. In the poem “still I rise” by Maya Angelou
He explains the severity of their pain and sorrow. And how no one would care even if they’re circumstances are terrible. We get a sense that the mask aren’t doing a very good job at covering up their feelings. We get a sense of that the masks aren’t doing a very good job of covering up their feelings. “This debt we pay to human guile; With torn and bleeding hearts we smile,”Those hearts are not just torn but also bleeding which means they haven’t really done anything to patch up the wound, which means they are enduring treatment in order to avoid an even worse consequence.”Why should the world be overwise”. He is led to the conclusion that the world is too ignorant to accept the truth of the situation”.Nay, let them only see us, while
She than rises above the hatred, letting the racism make her a stronger human being. In “Still I rise” explores the sarcastic, defiant, anger, and self assured affirmations to feel entitled and feel more in control of her life. She tries to challenge the thinking of the oppressors and making her feel more powerful. She declares that nothing can suppress her, and knows the way the people of America have painted her race as “bitter twisted lies but still like dust I'll rise”.Bitter” conotes difficult or distasteful for something to accept. Twisted conotes unfairness in a circumstance. Dirt conotes worthlessness or information that embarasses or accused of moral corruption.”You may write me down in history with your bitter, twisted lies, You may trod me in the very dirt, but still like dust I rise” To explain, she felt as if she tries to feel less powerless by taking responsibility of her situation stating no matter what you do to me I will always rise. Her self confidence and sarcasm, made it seem like she might as well have oil pumps in her back ground. “Cause I laugh like I’ve oil wells pumping in my room” Oil conotes valuableness and luxury , she is so what you say to her do not affect her because she already has whatever she wants.Maya Angelou using sarcasm, and challenges her oppressors saying to them no matter how much you try to undermine her rights, she

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