We Wear the Mask: Identity Comes from What We Do

Directions: Read the poem below and answer the questions that follow.

Paul Laurence Dunbar – “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 countless 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 ground is vile

Beneath our feet, and long the mile;

But let the world dream otherwise,

We wear the mask!

#2 The people in the poem use a masquerade to

• tell a lie

• disguise their pain

• torture their friends

• pretend to be wise

Directions: Read the poem below and answer the questions that follow.

Paul Laurence Dunbar – “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 countless 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 ground is vile

Beneath our feet, and long the mile;

But let the world dream otherwise,

We wear the mask!

#4 Why does the author include line 4 in the poem?

• To show how a broken heart can make us smile

• To show how much a torn and bleeding heart can hurt

• To show how a broken heart doesn't really hurt

• To show how our emotions can act as a mask

Which word indicates that the speaker omits specific identifiers?

• "we"

• "wear"

• "masks"

The people in the poem use a masquerade to...

• tell a lie

• disguise their pain

• torture their friends

• pretend to be wise

Why is it important that the mask "hides cheeks and shades eyes" instead of nose, teeth, ears, etc?

• They are randomly chosen by the author
• These parts of the face are vital for making expressions of emotion
• Those are his favorite parts
• Those are the only parts that maska cover

We Wear the Mask

Which of the following best describes a central theme of the text?

• Identity comes from what we do and are, not what we look like.

• Silence allows people to stay strong in difficult situations, even though it does have consequences.

• Tragedy should be openly mourned and not hidden away.

• Social pressure can turn independent people into just faces in a crowd.

Which of the following quotes best supports the theme?

• “Why should the world be over-wise, / In counting all our tears and sighs?” (Lines 6-7)

• This debt we pay to human guile” (Line 3)

• “O great Christ, our cries / To thee from tortured souls arise.” (Lines 10-11)

• “We sing, but oh the clay is vile / Beneath our feet, and long the mile” (Lines 12-13

Why must the people (the “we” mentioned) wear the mask?

• The people wear the mask to protect their faces and themselves.

• The people wear the mask because they are told to by the larger society.

• The people wear the mask to keep their identities a secret.

• The people wear the mask to hide their suffering.

What is the mask a likely metaphor for?

• A safeguard

• A necessary tool

• A forced way of life

• People's feelings

RL.4

How does the poet use figurative language to develop the theme in “We Wear the Mask”? in other words, how does the poet doesn't directly tell the readers what he means. Use text evidence, and interpret the line you chose as an example. You can use your notes!