The Explication Of Gwendolyn Brook's Poetry

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Rebeca Pierre Professor Carosone English 102 13 April 2011 Tile Of Yor Essay When examining the poem “We Real Cool” by Gwendolyn Brooks, many people may believe that it only speaks of pool players having a great time enjoying their lives. However, this poem has more meaning then just that, the poem brings out a life of individual teenagers who are nonchalant. The teens prefer to live their lives to the fullest even though they know it will soon come to an end. Gwendolyn Brooks exemplifies the spirit of troubled teenagers who will ultimately experience the unfortunate likelihood that life brings forth for an individual if they prolong the lifestyle of the streets. I found this poem interest me in that it brings out diction, symbols, sound, sense, and repetition; hence, the purpose of this essay is to explicate the poem “We Real Cool” in a line-by-line structure. In the poem Gwendolyn Brooks uses multiple meanings in simple words by using slang. One example of this is when the teens mention in line one “We Real Cool” As we all may know this is an incorrect vocabulary, for “we real cool” is not proper English but street talk. Case in point, the word “we” comes up within the line this shows that there is more than one person; the poet is insinuating that there is a group, or gang. Also, by the words “real cool” this shows how arrogant the young men are, it even points out how the individuals themselves place themselves higher than others. Further, when examining the poem, line two reveals that the individuals do not like school. To illustrate in the poem the individuals relate that “We left school” this shows that the gang could care less about their education; they are not responsive of the meaning of education which will quickly become their devastation. Also, when the gang refers to leaving “school” this proves that they no longer attend school but skip

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