Faces Poem

Which of the following is an example of personification?

• "We wear the mask that grins and lies"
• "This debt we pay to human guile"
• "With torn and bleeding hearts we smile"
• "Nay, let them only see us while we/Wear the mask"

Which choice best represents the central idea of the poem?

• It's important to hide our emotions from the world
• It's important to know more than other people
• Our faces do not always show our real emotions
• Everybody wears some kind of mask

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

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

The mask that the author describes is an example of

• onomatopoiea

• alliteration

• symbolism

• simile

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!

#5 What is the mood of this poem?

• Agony

• Happiness

• Anger

• Peace

What is the impact of the author’s word choice on tone? (RL.2.4)

• The author’s word choice creates a bitter and cruel tone.

• The author’s word choice creates a sarcastic tone.

• The author’s word choice creates an optimistic tone.

• The author’s word choice creates a tortured and agonizing tone.

How is emphasis created in line 4? (RL.2.5)

"With torn and bleeding hearts we smile,"

• Through the use of alliteration.

• Through the use of imagery.

• Through the use of repetition.

• Through the use of comparisons.

What effect does the repetition of the phrase “We wear the mask” at the beginning of the poem and the end of each stanza have on the poem’s meaning? (RL.2.5)

• It develops the theme, “Continuous behavior will become habits that create resilience.”

• It develops the theme, “Presentation is more important than reality.”

• It develops the theme, “It is painful to falsely display smiles and happiness to others.”

• It develops the theme, “When the world seems happy, all will go well.”

Which is an example of hyperbole?

• "With torn and bleeding hearts we smile"
• "Why should the world be overwise"
• "We sing, but oh the clay is vile"
• "But let the world dream otherwise"