Question

what can be inferred about the world in the highlighted section of \we wear the mask\ by paul laurence dunbar?

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.

why should the world be over-wise,
in counting all our tears and sighs?

options:

• the world should understand their suffering.
• the world cant understand their suffering.
• the world can see their suffering.

Explanation:

Analyze the highlighted text

The highlighted section of the poem "We Wear the Mask" by Paul Laurence Dunbar reads:
"Why should the world be over-wise,
In counting all our tears and sighs?"

This rhetorical question asks why the outside world should be overly curious or deeply concerned with counting or knowing about the speakers' private pain ("tears and sighs").

Connect to the concept of textual evidence

Using the Textual Evidence knowledge point, we analyze the implication of the rhetorical question. By asking "Why should the world be over-wise...", the speaker suggests that there is no reason or need for the world to know or understand their deep suffering. The mask is worn specifically to keep this pain hidden from an uncaring or uncomprehending world.

Evaluate the multiple-choice options

• "The world should understand their suffering": This contradicts the tone of the highlighted lines, which question why the world should be privy to their pain.
• "The world can't understand their suffering": This aligns with the theme of the poem and the rhetorical question. The speaker implies that the world does not need to, or is unable to, truly comprehend or count their tears and sighs, hence they keep them hidden behind the mask.
• "The world can see their suffering": This is incorrect because the entire premise of wearing the mask is to hide their suffering so that the world cannot see it.

Answer:

• The world should understand their suffering.
• The world can't understand their suffering. (Correct answer)
• The world can see their suffering.