Countee Cullen's Incident

In the poem “Incident” by Countee Cullen, imagery is used to create a stronger mood. One example of this is the lines “And so I smiled, but he poked out / His tough, and called me, ‘Nigger’”. This quote paints the image in the reader's head of a young black boy smiling at another white boy, who responds by calling him a “nigger”. This allows the reader to see an emotionally crushed boy and first-hand experience the effects of racism. By allowing the reader to experience racism, especially within a young age group, it helps create a stronger mood. Irony is used in the poem “Incident” to create a stronger mood. The poem’s title, “Incident”, is ironic in itself. An incident is usually thought of as a small problem. In the poem, however, it leaves