Examkin

Question

Difficulty: EasySpeaker and Perspective

Read the following poem by Paul Laurence Dunbar (published in 1895) carefully:

(1) We wear the mask that grins and lies,
(2) It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,—
(3) This debt we pay to human guile;
(4) With torn and bleeding hearts we smile,
(5) And mouth with myriad subtleties.
(6) Why should the world be over-wise,
(7) In counting all our tears and sighs?
(8) Nay, let them only see us, while
(9) We wear the mask.
(10) We smile, but, O great Christ, our cries
(11) To thee from tortured souls arise.
(12) We sing, but oh the clay is vile
(13) Beneath our feet, and long the mile;
(14) But let the world dream otherwise,
(15) We wear the mask!

Based on the poem, which of the following best describes the speaker’s perspective regarding how the collective "we" should interact with the "world"?

  1. A
    purchase physical, material masks that will shade their eyes and cover their cheeks from public view.
  2. B
    discuss Paul Laurence Dunbar's own autobiographical struggles with late nineteenth-century society.
  3. conceal their internal suffering and emotional pain to prevent the world from witnessing their vulnerability.Answer
  4. D
    feel genuine happiness and satisfaction by focusing on singing and smiling during their travels.
  5. E
    employ a metaphor, which is a literary device that makes a comparison without using 'like' or 'as'.

Answer

conceal their internal suffering and emotional pain to prevent the world from witnessing their vulnerability
The correct answer is correct because the speaker states that the collective group smiles and sings while hiding 'torn and bleeding hearts' and 'tortured souls' behind a mask. By declaring that the world should not be 'over-wise' in counting their tears, the speaker expresses a clear perspective that they must hide their internal pain and vulnerability from public scrutiny.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the speaker's stance toward the 'world' in the second stanza.
The speaker asks 'Why should the world be over-wise, / In counting all our tears and sighs?' and concludes 'Nay, let them only see us, while / We wear the mask.'
This establishes that the speaker wants to hide their grief from the outside world.
2
Examine the contrast between external actions and internal emotions.
The speaker notes that they smile despite having 'torn and bleeding hearts' and sing while their souls are 'tortured.'
This shows that the smile and song are masks concealing deep internal pain.
3
Synthesize the findings to determine the speaker's overall perspective.
The speaker advocates for keeping their profound suffering hidden from the public gaze, maintaining a protective facade.
This aligns directly with the option stating that they conceal internal suffering to protect their vulnerability.

Key Concept

Analyzing how a speaker's perspective is revealed through the contrast between external appearance (the mask) and internal reality (suffering).
Rate this question

Topics

Speaker and Perspective

More questions from this topic