Question

we smile, but, o great christ, our cries
to thee from tortured souls arise.
we sing, but oh the clay is vile
beneath our feet, and long the mile;
but let the world dream otherwise,
we wear the mask!

• \we wear the mask,\

paul laurence dunbar
how does the last stanza reinforce the speakers cynicism? choose three correct answers.
the speaker reveals
that the world doesnt
listen to his pleas.
the final exclamation
point adds emphasis to
the repeated message.
the repetition of \we
wear the mask\
suggests that nothing
will change.
the speaker evokes
religious imagery to
show the extent of the
suffering.

Explanation:

• First option: The line “But let the world dream otherwise” implies the world ignores their pleas, showing cynicism as the speaker believes no one listens.
• Second option: The exclamation “We wear the mask!” emphasizes the repeated message of hiding true selves, reinforcing the cynical view of having to keep up the facade.
• Third option: The repetition of “We wear the mask” suggests a cycle of pretense with no hope of change, which is a cynical outlook.

Answer:

• The speaker reveals that the world doesn’t listen to his pleas.
• The final exclamation point adds emphasis to the repeated message.
• The repetition of "We wear the mask" suggests that nothing will change.