Gwendolyn Brooks 'We Real Cool?'

?We Real Cool? Poetry Essay Assignment 5. Analyze a poem using a structure that will include a paraphrase of the poem, interpretation of the poem, and the theme of the poem.

Professor We Real Cool The Pool Players.

Seven at the Golden Shovel.

We Real Cool. We Left school. We Lurk Late. We Strike straight. We Sing sin. We Thin gin. We Jazz June. We Die soon. (Brooks 782) ?We Real Cool? was written by Gwendolyn Brooks in 1960. This poem is short but powerful. ?It gives the reader an idea about how Brooks feels about young pool players.? (Rubinstein) She uses diction, sound, characterization and form to present a deeper meaning in her work. She also effectively utilizes literary techniques such as rhythm, alliteration, and imaging that contribute to the overall theme.

The speaker of this poem associates
The poem is written in first person, presenting only one character?s point of view. The title is ironic. "We Real Cool" (3) is contradicting the last line, "We Die soon." (10) Every detail in her work is deliberate. The italicized introduction "The Pool Players. Seven at the Golden Shovel" (1,2) evokes a figurative meaning. The number seven, for example, signifies luck as pool players; while golden implies perfection. However, shovel reminds the reader of death. ?Brooks reveals the ignorance of the players in their speech. "We real cool," is missing the verb "are," so it is no surprise when the speaker says, "We Left School."(4) (Rubinstein) With these few words she uses language and rhythm to shows the players mental demeanor. As an example "we" is at the end of each line rather than at the beginning of the line; therefore emphasizing each one of the monosyllabic. That symbolizes the pool players lack the ability to communicate with words