We wear the mask that grins and lies,
It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,;
This debt we pay to human guile;
With torn and bleeding hearts we smile,
And mouth with myriad subtleties.

(Excerpt from "We Wear the Mask" by Paul Laurence Dunbar)

The use of words like "lies," "hides," "torn," and "bleeding" seem to indicate the poem will most likely have

a. a happy tone.
b. a negative tone.
c. a positive tone.
d. an angry tone.

I think its b, am i right?

Question

We wear the mask that grins and lies,
It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,;
This debt we pay to human guile;
With torn and bleeding hearts we smile,
And mouth with myriad subtleties.

(Excerpt from "We Wear the Mask" by Paul Laurence Dunbar)

The use of words like "lies," "hides," "torn," and "bleeding" seem to indicate the poem will most likely have

a. a happy tone.
    b. a negative tone.
    c. a positive tone.
    d. an angry tone.

I think its b, am i right?

liliakarina · Answer

b

anonymous · Answer

Yep! Generally "bleeding" and "torn" equal a very negative or dark tone.