McKay’s poem‚ If We Must Die‚ is a poem about racial inequality and persecution with a very angry tone. The words of this poem exude with the poet’s rage against the injustices done to his race. His hatred of the inequality is evident in his harsh descriptions of his persecutors. However‚ the reader can also feel the emotions of triumph because "If We Must Die" is also a poem of strength‚ rally and hope for the African American race. In the opening line‚ McKay urges his people not to die like hogs.
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If we must die : A summary At the beginning when I started reading the poem “If we must die” I spent a long time thinking what does this poem mean and then I had to read it a couple of times to understand every sense of each word. Various question started running in my mind I became more interested in the poem as well as the writer. I tried to find out more information about the writer and different meanings for the poem. Indirectly‚ the poem clarify how black people were suffering from the way they were treated and how
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order to make that change. In the poem “If We Must Die‚” Claude McKay calls for racial pride against white oppression through his use of similes‚ metaphors‚ contradictions‚ and biblical allusions. McKay uses a simile to introduce his trope of blacks being hogs trapped in the city. He also establishes that being a hog is not something that he likes and that he wants to change. The simile is found in the first line of the poem when McKay states‚ “If we must die‚ let it not be like hogs.” Here‚ McKay is
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In rhyme and meter‚ Claude McKay’s “If We Must Die” generally conforms to the conventions of a Shakespearean sonnet‚ but at several moments throughout the poem‚ McKay also strays from the rules of the English sonnet. In composing his poem in the style of the traditional Shakespearean sonnet‚ McKay creates a clear narrative that is both easy to follow and equally artistic. However‚ in deviating from this conventional style‚ McKay draws attention to specific phrases that contribute greatly to the contrasting
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white lynch mob that targeted blacks in Washington. There were 28 public lynchings in the first half of the year‚ and the following summer and fall came to be known as "The Red Summer" of 1919. The Red Summer was the motivation behind McKay’s "If We Must Die." However‚ even without the history behind it‚ Mckay’s poem is still a powerful message‚ universal enough to relate to any person facing their own destruction. The poem start with the speaker establishing that he and his allies are under attack
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Charles Bailey “If We Must Die” by Claude McKay‚ we must fight!! The poem “If We Must Die‚ by Claude McKay” is about a certain group of people who are hated and hunted by another group of others. I believe that the poet has made this poem to speak to his fellow African-Americans‚ who are being mistreated by the white slave owners. The speaker tells his people not to go easily‚ but rather fight as long as possible and don’t ever give up before they are killed. The poet believes that the worst things
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Racism had always been a problem in certain parts of the United States around the 1930s‚ but that sparked many movements‚ one especially was the Harlem Renaissance. In the poem “If We Must Die” by Claude McKay uses key phrases to show how colored people are being treated during the time of the Harlem Renaissance and how they should be able to overcome the racism and violence because he himself was colored and experienced some of the racism himself and was able to stand strong against it. One of the
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Read the poem‚ If We Must Die‚ by Claude McKay Answer the questions: 1. What theme or conflict is being dramatized in the poem? The main theme is honor‚ no matter the toughest of times we can always find the way to live with dignity and respect. 2. Can the poetic speaker be identified? The poet‚ Mr. McKay‚ is the speaker. 3. Who is the poetic speaker speaking to? The reader 4. What is the poetic speaker’s motivation? Fight the toughest situations with pride and dignity. 5. What type of poem is it
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offensive?” Is it possible to declare assertion without being offensive? These are just a few questions which developed while reading the profile of Claude McKay in addition to a few of his publications‚ in particular‚ “To the White Fiends” and “If We Must Die”. According to history‚ even other prolific writers of the Harlem Renaissance such as Alain Locke and W.E.B. Du Bois believed McKay’s literary works to be outwardly aggressive and distasteful.
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poem is primarily about the racism Africans face in the world. Africans should not be treated as though they are inferior; they deserve respect and honor. No matter what others say‚ Africans are ready to fight for their rights. In this poem‚ ‘If We Must Die’‚ his use of imagery and word choice contributes to the overall theme of justice for minorities.At first glance‚ this poem may seem as though it will preach about seizing the day and achieving what you want in life. However‚ once the poem is read
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