1. By: Thomas Barter Andrew Norimatsu
We Wear the Mask
By:
Thomas Barter
Andrew Norimatsu

2. “With torn and bleedings
Thesis
We mask our true feelings because we don’t want people to see our sorrow and pain
“With torn and bleedings
hearts we smile”

3. Tone and Attitude Tone: Sad tone throughout the entire poem
“In counting all our tears and sighs?”
Attitude: He seems to accept the fact that they wear the mask
“But let the world dream otherwise, We wear the mask!”

4. Purpose
To show the people how they act untrue to their real desire and emotions because they don’t others to see their troubles
“We smile, but, O great Christ, our cries to thee from tortured souls arise.”

5. Audience
He is speaking to everyone because he refers to us as a whole when he says “we”
“We wear the mask!”

6. Evidence
Some hide their feelings because they don’t want to be pitied or looked down upon
We hide our feelings because we don’t want to be embarrassed about our personal problems
“Why should the world be over-wise, In counting all our tears and sighs?”

7. Appeals
Ethos: He shows the reader that it isn’t right to hide your true feelings and mask yourself
“We wear the masks that grins and lies”
Pathos: The reader discovers the torture and pain that we all put ourselves through by wearing the mask
“To thee from tortured souls arise”

8. “It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes”
Assumptions
Dunbar assumes that everyone masks their true selves
“It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes”
He assumes that it also deteriorates everyone’s mind and soul

9. Style He uses rhyme to emphasize a sense of feeling
“We sing, but oh the clay is vile
Beneath our feet, and long mile”
No concrete stanza structure
Descriptive imagery and metaphors
“With torn and bleeding hearts we smile,
and mouth with myriad subtleties”