We are going to have an online discussion of the poem, "We Real Cool," instead
of analyzing it aloud in class. You need to respond, thoughtfully and
at a higher level, at least 3 times for each category. You may not repeat a fact or idea that someone else has posted. You must post ONE new idea and then respond to TWO other student's posts for EACH category.
For the paragraphs PRIOR to completing this blog, you need to follow the 3 paragraph instructions that you usually do PLUS write ONE paragraph (a 4th one) giving information about the author. Find "dirt" about the author, not the usual facts i.e. where she was born, what her husband's name was, etc.
Here is the poem below:
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.
Gwendolyn Brooks
The categories are
listed below:
Tone
Theme
Literary Terms
Information about the author
Post 1 new idea relating to literary terms as a reply to this post. Then reply 2 separate times to other people's posts.
ReplyDeleteThere is not a use of complete senteces to show that the people in the poem where too cool for school. Jacob Bolek
DeleteI agree with this. The short simple minded sentences refer to the lack of education that the group of people received from leaving school.
DeleteI agree with Jacob, Gwendolyn Brooks tries to show with lack of education comes hardships and a life of crime
DeleteRhyme scheme used to show irony between words.
DeleteThe use of the terms lurk and strike could be used as both gang words and just normal words within the pool industry and game.
DeleteThe author utilizes "We" to unify all the collective African Americans in the U.S.
DeleteI agree with Jacob Bolek but I wonder if they were also worrying about the pressures in the rest of their lives to not care about school
DeleteThe only form of punctuation used in the poem is the period. There are no exclamation points or question marks. This suggests that the lifestyle being described is stale and unsatisfying.
DeleteI agree with Mitchell and also see that it could be combined into an overlook on the poverty of America
DeleteThroughout the poem we find alliteration with words such as 'strike straight', 'sing sin', and 'jazz june'. Alliteration gives poems rhythm and rhyme. (the flow of the poem)
DeleteI agree with Mitch when she uses the word We to show the whole african american
DeleteI agree with Jacob, obviously they weren't too cool for school if they can't use complete thoughts or sentences.
DeleteI think the use of "We" is more to represent the pool players' desire to be defined by their rebellion through identifying themselves as a group of rebellious teens.
Delete-Raine
I agree with Claire because life for Blacks would not be as satisfying as those for whites
DeleteI also agree with Yaylin. the poem flows well.
DeleteI agree with Yaylin, the alliteration gives the piece a percussive feel, and at the time of this piece, Blues were big in Chicago. Brooks's utilization of this helps her piece present the image of Chicago's afternoon.
Delete-Raine
I noticed that the repetition of the word, "we" represents that a gang is formed. The word "we" is said in an up-beat tone throughout the piece until the last line, where it says "We die soon." I believe "we" is said in a disappointing tone in the last line, because the gang begins to fall apart.
DeleteI agree with Mitch when he said "We" refers to the whole African American community, however I believe Brooks is trying to demonstrate that the pool players are a clique or group because the poem comes from their point of view, and the writing continuously refers to the group as "We."
DeleteI disagree with Claire in that the poem has a stale and dissatisfying feeling through the punctuation, I feel that the piece actually presents the idea that freedom is self-created and we can only take it as far as we allow ourselves to, but the pool players choose to live with their life in dissatisfaction.
Delete-Raine
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteThe We then the long pause // indent was made on purpose, Brooks did it so the reader could think about what they read during the pause. It's noticed a lot in the way Brooks herself read it aloud
DeleteMadi Goen: I think that the placing 'we' where the author does not only emphasizes the importance the teens see in themselves, but their dependence on the image of being cool, for the placement of we makes each stanza dependent on the next one
DeleteGwendolyn Brooks’s “We Real Cool” opens with a depiction of seven boys playing pool in a pool hall dubbed the Golden Shovel. She utilizes the associations of a pool house’s bar like environment alongside the oxymoron of the name of said establishment. The wealth and prosperity typical of golden accessories such as furnishings, a car, or jewelry remains contradictory to the image of a shovel’s associations. Used as a tool of the dirt and filth Brooks prods forth the idea of a gilded tool. Thus, developing a sort of facade, as the richest of men does not dig with a golden shovel unless breaking ground, and those of lower status, the gardeners and the farmers, those actually using a shovel could never afford such a commodity. Regardless of expense a shovel made from gold could never perform on the same level as one of steel, hence the golden shovel is pointless; the very idea of a substance so valuable utilized for a task so menial remains a counterintuitive notion at its core. The shovel also serves as to draw through the theme of the grave from the beginning of the poem to “die soon” at its finish. Brooks thus portrays an image of a relatively dingy and unsavory establishment, wherein the boys activities, their breaking of ground if you will, remain a pointless waste of such valuable a resource, in their race to death.
DeleteI agree with Claire and Raine's comment on Claire- the periods do show a stale and dissatisfactory life but not with the freedom of leaving school but the way the group spends this time. The group is not finding in this life what mob mentality suggests they should.
DeleteI agree with Jake with that the group is not completely educated, but I think the author is using this not to make fun of the fact that they think they're too cool for school, but to show the lack of opportunity for the group to get the education needed, whether through society norms or unequal opportunity for African Americans.
DeleteThe poem is full of negatively connotated words and phrases for the poem's diction. For example "lurk" "strike" "die soon" and "skip school" all have negative connotations . These negative connotations connect with one of the poem's themes that misbehavior and willingness to misbehave will lead to consequence because the words give the poem a negative and harsh tone.
DeleteI really like what Jacob Bolek mentioned how the sentences aren't complete because the boys believe they are too cool for school. I completely agree with him because the moral of this story is to show the negative effects that not going to school can have on someone. These boys tried to support their family by participating in illegal activities.
DeleteI agree with Yaylin because Brooks' use of alliteration provides rhythm to the poem and provides flow to the reading of the nation. I believe this can connect to Brooks' term of "Jazz June" and I believe rhythm connects to the consistent misbehavior enacted by the pool players.
DeleteI also agree with what Claire said. With the only punctuation being a period, I believe that it does show the unsatisfying lifestyle that these boys have. To me, it shows the depression and soft side that these guys have, I believe they don't enjoy doing bad things, but in order to support themselves, they have to commit them.
DeleteThroughout the poem the author uses words to rhyme for example "cool" and "school", "sin" and "gin". This helps give off a melody through the poem.
DeleteI agree with Adam, there are many different words that Brooks could of used. Maybe to even enlighten the poem instead of making it dark. But yet she does use the words like "lurk" and "strike" and "die". All showing darker sides and the negativeness within the poem.
DeleteI disagree with Claire. It's not that life was stale or unsatisfying it is that Brooks wanted to leave the poem as simple. She wanted it to almost seem as a strike where they say one small thing aloud and then they stop and then they say the next, that is what I picture.
DeleteThe author places the word 'We' after the boys' actions. This signifies that the boys place their 'cool' actions above their own well being.
Delete-Dylann Hodgkinson
I agree with Yaylin the alliteration creates rhythm and keeps the audience attentive.
Delete-Dylann Hodgkinson
I agree with Jacob when he writes that the author was showing the boys were uneducated. I also believe that the author was trying to show this as an assumption that all blacks were uneducated.
Delete-Dylann Hodgkinson
The use of alliterations only in a few lines and not throughout the entire poem allows certain lines to stand out and appear odd and contradictory to the parts that do contain alliterations.
DeleteI agree with Dyllan the use of We after the action show the boys thoughts of how cool they appear to see themselves, almost as if it is the most important thing, even above themselves.
DeleteI agree with Adam, by using certain diction within the poem the author is able to comment on a darker more serious, and somewhat hidden negativity.
DeleteThe word shovel in the name of the pool hall represents the digging of their own grave, the more they spend there, the more they come closer to death, of themselves and their education.
DeleteI respectfully disagree with adam as i see there are also positively connoated words in here such as cool, jazz, and sing.
DeleteI agree with Jacob, the poor grammar and short, stilted sentences show that the boys have not become 'too cool for school', the author is showing the benefits of going to school, and the consequences of not attending.
DeleteI can see what stephen is saying and I agree with it. The shovel along with the negative words throughout the piece show that they are throwing their lives away.
DeleteI disagree with yaylin, the short triplets of words do not allow the poem to flow, instead it is jagged and cannot flow well, regardless of the words.
DeleteI agree with Steven the poem has no rhythm
DeleteI think jacob is also right the shovel helps describe how they ruin their lives
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteThe author structures his sentences with spaces in order to emphasize the pause between the different ideas.
DeleteThe rhyme scheme in the poem occurs among words: cool and school, late and straight, sin and gin, and June and soon. This compliments the theme of the poem since it is directed to the young audience.
DeleteI agree with Jacob Bolek, the incomplete sentences within the poem make it seem that the characters feel they are 'too cool' to go to school. It shows how they have little or no care of their education and future. Which relates to how they waste their lives by doing other careless things.
DeleteI agree with Dylann about the author's placement of the word "We". The characters make such foolish mistakes by trying to act 'cool' rather than realizing they are harming themselves and their futures. By placing the actions before "We" relates to their priorities. 'Cool' first, then their own well-being.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteSome of the lines, such as "We lurk late" are pretty straightforward, but lines such as "We sing sin" and "We thin gin" could be interpreted to mean they brag about their sins and drink gin. Brooks hints at some of the more explicit acts that these kids perform, without explicitly stating them, leaving them open for the reader's mind to imagine
DeleteI agree with Christina on the rhyme scheme, and I connected it to those people who hang out on the streets and blare rap music, which also uses rhymes and melody and talks about dropping out and about drinking and acting out.
DeleteI agree with Stephen's comment on Yaylin's post, the poem feels very disjointed and jagged, rough like the kids it is talking about
DeletePost 1 new idea relating to tone as a reply to this post. Then reply 2 separate times to other people's posts.
ReplyDeletethe tone is critical becuase the author is critical of the people in the school system who maybe should not be
DeleteGwendolyn Brooks uses a critical tone as she finds the faults in the "cool kids" and their lack of education.
DeleteBrooks tries to bring out the darker side of the city through the thoughts on the surface of the young people's brains throughout the poem.
DeleteI feel as if it is more of a dissappointed tone as they have wasted their lives goofing around rather than pursuing an educations.
DeleteI agree with Jacob when he said that it is disappointing. The kids don't have much lives if they are two busy partying
DeleteBrooks uses a cynical tone.
DeleteI think the tone is very distant. The lifestyle being described seems separate from the "we" subject in the poem. The length of the poem and the word choice is dry, like the author has no emotional connection whatsoever.
DeleteI agree with Eva when she says darker side because Chicago is known for the racism and the mobs
DeleteThe piece takes on more of a curious tone, Brooks seems more to wonder what possesses the boys to leave school rather than actually criticizing their actions.
Delete-Raine
Brooks conveys a sense of carefree attitude due to her lack of effort placed forth in school, also involved in drinking and sneaking out at night
DeleteI agree with Jacob. Th author shows how people have aimlessly done things without a purpose and now suffer the consequences of death. SO the author leads with the tone of regret.
DeleteJacob, I completely forgot about the mobs. It brings back the mentality that it is a group effort within the community. Good things you brought that to light too.
DeleteI believe that evas thoughts on the piece showing the darkness of a city. I agree that it is dark because of the evil things mentioned such as death.
DeleteJacob, I can see the disappointed tone too and I agree with it since the people seem to be more disappointed in themselves as the poem continues.
DeleteI agree. Groups who do bad things with each other can end in the result of death. 'Mob mentality'
DeleteI view the tone as rebellious because in the poem is quotes “sing sin” and sin refers to not doing the correct thing and even having temptation of wrong things to do.. Also it relates to it because rebelling is very common in the teenage stage of lives.
DeleteI agree that the author has a disappointed tone in the young men who are all making bad decisions together.
DeleteI think that the poet has a sardonic outlook on the pool players by mocking their thought of themselves as cool because they left school.
DeleteI agree with Mitch in that the piece grants a care free attitude because the pool players are trying for the carefree, "cool" image that they want to be labeled with.
Delete-Raine
I agree with Steph, the "mob mentality" is a great analysis that never really occured to me. The pool players in their group decided to achieve "cool", and so together they left school and tried to create their image.
Delete-Raine
I think the author has a tone of apprehension for the teens because when ending the poem with 'die soon' the death is referring to their real selves dying rather than the projected cool self. The apprehensive tone comes from the author believing that if the gang continues the way they are their real selves will die.
DeleteI feel that the tone is very up-beat and serious throughout the poem. However, the tone shifts at the last line. When the speaker reveals that they die, the tone shifts to a more depressing tone. However, I also believe that the author attempts to inspire the audience to learn that it's more beneficial to stay in school, because if you don't go to school you are more likely to create a gang and get in trouble.
DeleteGoing off of what Eva said when she mentioned that the author brings out the darker side of the city, I believe the reason she brings out the darker side of the city is to encourage young people to stay in school, this tone reveals the negative effects of not attending school.
DeleteI kind of agree with what Madi metioned about the tone of apprehension, but I believe that this tone shows that the boys really do die. I believe that because of the illegal activities that they participate in, they hurt themselves and die.
DeleteI believe that Brooks is very distant with her tone. She tries to leave things plain and simple and have the readers try to 'guess' what she is talking about.
Delete@Brendan I do not feel that the tone was up beat, but it did have a decent rhyme pattern. But I do think it is serious and it does try to talk to more younger readers and keep them in school instead of getting in trouble.
Delete@Eva that's exactly what I think! I agree with you. I believe this is more targeted towards younger people. I think that it shows the darker side of gangs and she does not really want that.
DeleteI believe the tone of the poem is resentful. Not only is the author resentful towards the assumptions of all blacks, but she does not agree with the boys' actions.
Delete-Dylann Hodgkinson
I agree with Madi, the author constantly doubts the boys' actions and motives. In addition, she predicts their misfortune from the first line of the poem by including words of negative connotation.
Delete-Dylann Hodgkinson
I agree with Christina. The author describes their actions very plainly with words of great meaning. This allows the audience to understand her opinions yet create some of their own.
Delete-Dylann Hodgkinson
I think the tone within is almost judgemental and disappointed as the author explains how "cool" the boys appear to see themselves while the author almost quietly judges and makes comments.
DeleteI agree with Madi's thoughts of apprehension because the author seems to have short limited sentences almost as if he is apprehensive to even say what he thinks
DeleteI agree with Christina, the ordinary descriptions and works allow the author to easily explain what is happening while still leaving room for personal interpretations
DeleteI agree with Dylann. The author feels as if the past of the group from the poem is not favorable, and they have thrown their lives away rather than improving them.
DeleteI agree with Brendan. The tone seems very monotone and plain. There is no real uplifting to the piece.
DeleteThe tone of the poem appears to be one of despair, as the author recognizes the opportunity the boys have in education, and instead they throw it away in order to have a fun short term life.
DeleteI agree with Dylann, the author is disappointed that the boys are reinforcing the assumptions that people have of blacks.
DeleteI agree with Madi. The author conveys a tone of warning, stating that if other teens follow the actions of these boys they will die young because of their reckless lifestyle.
DeleteI agree with Dylann because using words like "strike" makes the poem have more negative connotations than positive.
DeleteI agree with Raine because the author never really scolds the group but rather waits until the last line to almost apologetically tell them natural consequences that she can't help.
DeleteThe author uses plain tone to emphasize the lack of care the youth have
DeleteI agree with Jake Bolek, the author is critical of the youth
DeleteI also agree wit steven, the author highlights the despair within them
DeleteI strongly agree with Raine that the tone is more curious and filled with wonder about these people. I feel the author is not quite looking down on them, but wonders why they dropped out of school and why they make the decisions they make.
DeleteI feel that the tone is neither upset or judgemental. It is written straightforward and describes the actions as they are. The characters make foolish choices so Brooks just describes that without judgement or anger. I feel she does this so that the readers can draw their own conclusions and opinions to the people the poem regards.
DeleteI agree with Madi that the "we die soon" does not literally mean they die, but that their cool phase and title will die out. The more upbeat beginning of the poem drains out to be the dreaded truth. Their 'cool' lives will not get them far and it will come back to bite them later in their lives.
DeleteI agree with Claire's comment on tone, in that it seems like the author distances herself from the piece, but I disagree with the dryness, because while it comes off as dry in reading, it seems like it was meant to be just short-simple, slang-filled sentences, nothing too complicated, as kids who drop out of school may not be considered as articulate and thoughtful in their words
DeleteI agree with Kyle, as the poem does convey a feeling of arrogance and not caring what the reader thinks
DeleteThe cut-off sentences and the mention of death in the final line give the poem a sense of arrogance, and end it with a depressing note
DeletePost 1 new idea relating to theme as a reply to this post. Then reply 2 separate times to other people's posts.
ReplyDeleteThe theme is that of kids constantly dropping out of school because most kids find school useless.
DeleteIT talks about the inevitable work of death as almost a haven for the people having to look to death at the end to take them out of whatever situation they have put themselves in
DeleteI agree with Eva. Gwendolyn uses death as an out for the cool kids so they can forget about their poor choices
DeleteTheme is that even though people think they LOOK cool does not mean they ARE cool
DeleteI think this poem is like a warning and the theme is that consequences come with unruly behavior. These people are unsatisfied in the poem and the author is using them as exhibit A, kind of like a "stay in school, don't do drugs" sort of thing
DeleteThe poem displays the injustice of racial stereotypes by stating that how black citizens would often give up upon their dreams of education because of the lack of hope for their near future
DeleteI view the theme as the characters trying to have fun and show their youthfulness throughout the poem. But through all the recklessness that they do it also causes consequences.
DeleteI agree with Steph when because looks are everything to some people
DeleteI agree with Claire, I believe that the author wanted to show that with bad behavior and following the "cool group" can lead to consequences.
DeleteI agree with Mitch because racial stereotypes give advantages to some people and not others
DeleteAgreeing with Steph, I believe that because people 'act' and 'look' cool, they honestly might not be all that cool. It's funny because of the fact that the author states, "We real cool" many times. Meaning that the characters in the poem 'think' they are all that but they really are not.
DeleteI agree with mitch, basically because this poem was written in the early 1900's and racial stereotype was at an all time high
DeleteI believe the theme is the evil and unruliness within people with drinking and sinning and then turning into death as a consequence.
DeleteI believe that the theme is identity and image, the pool players want their identity as a group to be "cool" and carefree, though they believe that they are cool by skipping school, they merely look cool.
Delete-Raine
I agree with Raine and how they want to look cool. YOu can also see that through the setup of the poem and how it wants to try to look cool throughout it and look confusing.
DeleteI agree with Steph, the pool players are trying to be cool, but only achieve the "look" of it because they choose to turn to materialistic ideas of what "cool" is rather than viewing each other as "cool" for who they are.
Delete-Raine
Frankie, I don't know if death is a consequence. I can see it as they just know it is going to happen and they just accept it because they can't do anything to stop it.
DeleteThough I can see what Frankie is saying based on the sin spoke of in the piece, I disagree that this poem is discussing evil and unruliness. I believe that the poem is more trying to display the desire to appear rebellious, without actually taking to seriously harmful actions
Delete-Raine
I see a theme of false securities in the poem. The group spends the novel hiding in the security of looking and acting cool, but the last stanza proves that this way of life isn't safe or sheltering.
DeleteI believe that the overall theme of this poem is to never give up on something. The author tries to tell the audience to make good decisions, and stay in school.
DeleteI agree with Madi. The pool players are hiding behind their cool as a shelter.
DeleteI also agree with Raine. The poem does not discuss evil but rebelious nature in young people that gets them into trouble.
DeleteI agree with Claire. The theme has to do with consequences coming with illegal behavior. These kids constantly are violent and do other terrible things, and in result, they die. Stay in school!
DeleteGoing off what Madi said about false securities, I believe that these boys act all hard and cool doing bad things. But the last line reveals that they were soft and that doing bad things hurt them and didn't make the boys stronger.
DeleteI believe the theme of the poem has to do with pride and the satisfaction of their identity and what their reputation is.
DeleteThe poem alludes to many messages, overall encrypting the effects of irresponsibility. The author illuminates the shallowness of those who drink as well as the importance of remaining in school.
Delete-Dylann Hodgkinson
Yaylin- I fully agree! The boys are only worried about how 'cool' they look and what their peers think of them.
Delete-Dylann Hodgkinson
Madi! I didn't think about that, but once I read your post I really agree. Deep down the boys must have insecurities which have shaped them.
Delete-Dylann Hodgkinson
I think the poem reflects on immaturity within kids. Explaining their inability to realize how something may affect them in the long run.
DeleteI agree Dyllan, I think the author definitely highlghts the importance of staying in school
DeleteI agree with Madi's ideas of false securities, it appears almost as if the boys feel superior when they are in that false security.
DeleteThe theme strikes me not as someone who has ruined their life. But maybe advice from someone who has mad bad choices and tries to warn another of their wrong doings to give them a better direction in the life.
DeleteI agree with Kara as the piece does seem very imature by the choices they make.
I have to diagree with Yaylin because I feel that the choices refered to can onyl bring unfavorable result in the event that they are made by someone.
I believe that the theme of the poem is that of yearning for the youth, especially the black youth to overcome peer pressure and do what is best for them, not their social standing.
DeleteI agree with Kara in that the author shows the immaturity within all teens. These teens are shown to not be able to grasp the importance of education and as such, are viewed immaturely by the readers.
DeleteI agree with Mitch's idea that the poem takes a stance on racial injustice because of both the time this poem was written and the fact that Brooks often wrote about politics that promoted black civil rights.
DeleteI think you're quite right Raine! The poem is about an image they're projecting and further I think they're projecting it because of both mob mentality and the security it gives them.
DeleteI think the poem almost shows pride within the kids, they think they're cool for their reckless behaviors
DeleteSteven is right, as it makes the teens seem immature
DeleteI agree with Brendan, the author attempts to portray hope later in the piece
DeleteI think the overall theme is that although certain decisions may create a moment of satisfaction, in the long run intelligence and longevity are what create a happy successful life.
DeleteI agree with Kara, the poem talks about high school dropouts rather than adults to show their immaturity and stupidity of the 'cool' title they feel they have. Choosing to talk about teens instead of adults may show how high up teens feel they are for that feeling of dropping out of school. But the poem does not talk about the adults because the adults who dropped out probably don't have that excitement and rebellious feel since they later in life realized they made a huge mistake.
DeleteI agree with Yaylin, the teeagers feel a sense of pride for breaking away from school and what they are expected of. They act out in a rebellious manner to keep their pride and feeling of 'coolness'.
DeleteThe poem seems to center around a group of presumably teenage kids who have dropped out of school. It carries the theme that pleasures are short lived when you're lazy.
DeleteI agree with Kristen, the shortness of the poem along with the shortness of the sentences, and the fact that death is mentioned to end the poem emphasize this theme. It almost feels rushed, as though it is building up and then when death is mentioned it suddenly drops, like crashing from a high
DeletePost 1 new idea relating to author "dirt" as a reply to this post. Then reply 2 separate times to other people's posts.
ReplyDeleteGwendolyn Brooks wrote “We Real Cool” in the midst of the civil rights movement when desegregation was slowly beginning to move across America, yet African American children were struggling with where they belonged. Conflicting views over the place of an African American individual in society led some children to believe that they did not belong in the educational system. Brooks says, “I wrote ['We Real Cool'] because I was passing by a pool hall in my community one afternoon during school time, and I saw, therein, a little bunch of boys – I say here in this poem, seven – and they were shooting pool. But instead of asking myself, 'Why aren't they in school?' I asked myself, 'I wonder how they feel about themselves?'(Source).”
Delete-Dominic
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteYou can clearly see the author spends late nights out at bars because he refers to them spinning gin, and lurking late.
DeleteBrooks grew up in downtown Chicago so she had witnessed some of these gatherings of young people within the area of the city.
DeleteThe author died of Cancer which may imply that she smoked
DeleteI agree with Eva that she was in the thick of things in Chicago.
DeleteI agree with Dominic when he says that the kids would just act cool cause they are white and have a higher education
DeleteBrooks witnessed young men playing pool on a school day in Chicago and she wrote this poem in a critical tone.
DeleteJust cause she died from cancer doesn't mean necesarily she smoked
DeleteShe was the first black woman to win the Pulitzer Prize signifying that she had to overcome obstacles due to her race. This poem she wrote is about overcoming a lifestyle that inflicts so many people. Her focus is on the consequences so as to counteract when people glorify it.
DeleteBrooks would often disobey her parents and dropped out of school because of her lack of faith for her future because white citizens were viewed as significantly better
DeleteI agree with steph because I can also see the critical tone throughout the poem
DeleteI don't know if I can see how much these people overcame obstacles since the poem ends with them looking at death and knowing they would die soon enough.
DeleteBrooks was named Poet Laureate in 1968 for Illinois, and she was the poetry consultant in 1985-1986 for the Library of Congress. This also demonstrates her ability to overcome obstacles in order to find great reward.
Delete-Raine
I agree with Claire in that not only did Brooks but also the pool players in her poem overcame obstacles holding them back. The pool players believed that school was holding them back from being "cool", so they left. They overcame their obstacle. Not necessarily in the best way, but they did nonetheless.
Delete-Raine
I also agree with Eva in the poem ending with looking at death and knowing they would die soon, but I don't believe this stopped them from overcoming their obstacles. I think it's more to symbolize the consequences to the obstacles they overcome.
Delete-Raine
I found that Brooks often writes with a political conscience, and I think this would mean that Brooks in "We Real Cool" was writing about the politics of racial discrimination in the suburbs, not just the choice to skip school in itself.
DeleteThe author constantly was encouraged by her parents to stay in school and go to college, instead of not going to school, because her parents feared she'd get in a lot of trouble since she lived in Chicago.
DeleteI agree with Raine. They left school because it prevented them from being cool but they did do something they believed in.
DeleteI think Mitch's comment is interesting because of Brooks' tone of the poem is so critical. Which makes her a hypocrite.
DeleteI agree with Raine in this case because the boys did not go to school, because they thought they would be cooler if they did bad things. However, I believe that since the author was born and raised in Chicago, I believe that this could be one reason why it was hard for these boys behave well. I believe her personal life contributes majorly to this poem.
Delete@Jacob
DeleteWhat kind of cancer did she have? I disagree with what you're saying, just because she has cancer does not mean it was from her smoking.
I never thought about what Madi was saying, I really agreee with that now that I think of it. This poem very well could have to do with racial discrimination in the suburbs. I believe that could be a legit reason as to why they didn't attend school.
DeleteThe time period was back when segregation was starting to become very prominent in the era. Therefore, I believe that the pool players were kids who thought they were so cool so they started doing whatever they want because they though they could.
Delete@Brendan I find it interesting how she is writing about kids doing a 'reckless' things and she is a person who was encouraged to do good and 'be' good.
DeleteEven in her book A Street in Bronzeville, she focuses on the evolving of socializing and cultural events. What she writes is mainly based off of the South side of Chicago. We know she pays close attention to the actions of what others do in order to think they are cool and in order to maybe fit in.
DeleteBrooks started to write at a very young age, in addition she went to four different schools. I think that this greatly impacted her writing. In addition, she grew up in a harsh society which is reflected in her work with her hard judgements.
Delete-Dylann Hodgkinson
I find your comment very interesting Yaylin! I agree and think that was the case! Well done!
Delete-Dylann Hodgkinson
She moved during what was called the Great Migrations. I think maybe this affected the way she perceived her new home of Chicago.
DeleteChristina I think it's important to know the segregation problem within the time era.
DeleteMadi- I didn't think about that! Maybe that could imply a sarcastic tone? That is very interesting and unique! Good job!
Delete-Dylann Hodgkinson
I agree with mitch because earlier he mentioned segregation and the white skin brings more chances than being black does.
DeleteI Disagree with Madi as i see theere are no politcal aspects, and it does refers stright to his past school.
Brooks grew up while schools when becoming desegregated for the first time. Her people were allowed to go to school, however, she saw that some did not wish to go to schools as it wasn't 'cool' and that hurt her, as she saw potential being wasted.
DeleteI slightly agree with Christina in that the kids were being 'cool' because they had more rights. Brooks was 'not cool' by going to school and won a Pulitzer prize, so this poem speaks to her thoughts on being 'cool'
DeleteI disagree with Jacob W in that the author herself spent nights out in the pool hall. I believe she heard about it and may have glimpsed it and although she did not always follow the straight and narrow, she did not get led astray by this temptation, if she did, she would not be the poet she was.
DeleteI love what you said Claire! The fact that she had to overcome racial stereotypes and obstacles and succeeded shows both her sentiments for the group which is in the same situation but also dismay that they're not trying to overcome it like she did.
DeleteI agree with Eva because yes, these kids have not overcome any obstacles, and that is why Brooks is so critical of them.
DeleteBrooks tends to write about people who feel they do not fit in and can not obtain similar goals to the people around them. This is especially important during the time in which Brooks grew up when there was a great tension between whites and blacks. This clearly relates to the poem and possibly why the outcasted characters make the choices they do.
DeleteI like what Hanna said about the time period being a popular time for drinking and pool playing. I feel this slightly loosens the shock for teenagers to be making these choices. If they seen many other people around them doing it, they almost felt it would be somewhat okay for them to follow and do the same. Well now, these activities are not suited for teenagers which makes our reactions to the poem slightly different than how they would be interpreted back in the time period.
DeleteI agree with Steven about how this poem relates the time period of desegregation. Also with what Brendan said about the author's parents encouraging her to stay in school maybe relates to how some of the blacks didn't think it was 'cool' to be in school. Some of the first blacks to attend a school with whites felt outcasted which could be why some of the blacks did not want to attend school so they dropped out. The poem is Brooks reflecting back on this crowd who dropped out of school and the choices in which they made.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe poet lived in the time period of the 1940's which was a popular time for drinking and pool playing.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Eva about the poets influence of the youth in Chicago. I feel like cities attract a youthful crowd looking for more things in life than education.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Brendan on how her parents fostered her school. I think it influenced her critical outlook on the kids in the poem.
ReplyDeleteDyllan I agree that her childhood and moving affected her as a writer.
ReplyDeleteThe author was known to visit places with troubled teens, such a chicago. This helps the poem as she has hope for the youth
ReplyDeleteI agree with Brendans comment, the author was forced to grow up in a town full of people like this
ReplyDeleteI thought it was interesting when Jake Bolek pointed out she might have been a smoker, and maybe a part of this crowd
ReplyDelete