A new critical analysis of “If We Must Die” reveals the sonnet to be of the Petrarchian or Italian form. Metaphor, or a comparison between two, unlike things that does not use “like” or “as” is also present in the text. McKay constructs the poem as the speaker's address to his allies, and the many first person plural pronouns (us, we, our) create a sense of fellowship between the speaker and his allies. Claude McKay Discusses "If We Must Die" As a result, it has served as an inspiration to a wide variety of oppressed people around the globe as they fight for their rights and freedom. He encourages them to stand up and meet their “common foe” together. Though the poem has most often been read as a call to resist anti-black racism, it does not limit its call for resistance to a specific kind of oppression. Though far outnumbered let us show us brave, This is traditionally where the turn in Petrarchan or Italian sonnets is. McKay's speaker in "If We Must Die" focuses a great deal on nobility, bravery, and honor – stereotypically masculine features. About The Author. So that our precious blood may not be shed Making their mock at our accursèd lot. In the case of ‘If We Must Die’ the turn transition in altered, it occurs between the first eight lines and the concluding six. While round us bark the mad and hungry dogs, ANALYSIS OF THE POEM "IF WE MUST DIE." Supposedly hogs (a.k.a. The phrase “If we must die” actually appears word for word twice in the poem. If We Must Die study guide contains a biography of Claude McKay, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Alliteration occurs when words are used in succession, or at least appear close together, and begin with the same letter. The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. 837 Words 4 Pages. Detailed and full of I let them know that Shakespeare's sonnets have a very specific form, which the poet Claude McKay borrowed in "If We Must Die." 8 Shall be constrained to honor us though dead! McKay is known for his poetry based around the lives of the Black community, both in New York, particularly Harlem and in Jamaica. Ads are what helps us bring you premium content! Even though they are going to die, the kinsmen can choose how they die. In the second quatrains, the speaker reuses the phrase “If we must die”. TPCASTT Poem Analysis If We Must Die Claude McKay 1919 If we must die—let it not be like hogs Hunted and penned in an inglorious spot, While round us bark the mad and hungry dogs, Making their mock at our accursed lot. “We” must stand up and fight back so that when “our” blood is on the ground it is not in vain. This poem is one of many that delves into the complexities of resistance, power, and social justice/injustice. The speaker pleads with his listeners to die with dignity. Another important technique commonly used in poetry is enjambment. The Red Summer of 1919 Poetry Analysis Essay: Claude McKay’s “If We Must Die” In the poem, “If We Must Die” written by Claude McKay, the author was inspired to compose this piece of writing because of the brutality and race riots against the African American society that the United States experienced in 1919. McKay is saying that even in the bleakest of times, we can find an opportunity to live with … Subscribe to our mailing list and get new poetry analysis updates straight to your inbox. It was created at a time when blacks were highly discriminated and segregation was common. They often bring with them a turn or volta in the poem. The title and the repeated clauses drive home the desperation of the situation. Subscribe to our mailing list to get the latest and greatest poetry updates. O kinsmen! — A detailed biography of poet Claude McKay from the Poetry Foundation. It is important that they fight back against what is clearly a metaphor for oppression. "If We Must Die" Read Aloud We respect your privacy and take protecting it seriously. Oh, Kinsmen! Claude McKay is known as a great writer because he wrote from his heart. If We Must Die Analysis Can I please have a line-by-line analysis of the poem "If We Must Die" by Claude McKay? The installation showcases two unique sculptural works by the Jamaican-born artist — the "of 72 project" and selections from "Invisible Presence: Bling Memories" — installed together for the first time. The final section of the poem is six lines long. Death is obligatory for all of us, no matter whether we think of it or not. When it first came out, "If We Must Die" was seen as inflammatory and censored by the US Justice Department. To begin an analysis of the rhetorical and stylistic choices in "If We Must Die" by Claude McKay, it's important to first gain a brief understanding of its context. The clause "If we must die" is repeated twice in the poem, so it's a natural choice for a title. It occurs when a line is cut off before its natural stopping point. Hunted and penned in an inglorious spot. — Claude McKay himself talks writing this poem. Whether he was writing about his love for his Jamaican homeland or the injustices he saw as a black man in the United States, his use of passionate language is what made his writings resonate with readers from all backgrounds. Then, that the monsters that killed, or want to kill, they feel as though they should “honor us though dead!”. It was during these years that riots related to race were experienced in the United States of America. They will, “Like men,” face the “murderous, cowardly pack” and face the “open grave”. You can read the full poem If We Must Die here. Monson spoke to us from the Michigan Department of Corrections in Freeland, Michigan. He hopes, that this will lead them to a victory as well. If We Must Die by: Claude Mckay (Analysis Paper) 1084 Words | 5 Pages. If we must die—oh, let us nobly die, So that our precious blood may not be shed In vain; then even the monsters we defy Shall be constrained to honor us though dead! / If we LitCharts Teacher Editions. — A history of the Harlem Renaissance from the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History. The words are listed in the order in which they appear in the poem. Please support this website by adding us to your whitelist in your ad blocker. 10Though far outnumbered let us show us brave. Please continue to help us support the fight against dementia. At a first glance, "If We Must Die" does not have a positive tone because it is about dying, but the more it is analyzed, the more it seems to own the inspirational tone McKay gave it. Making their mock at our accursed lot. They must die. It is through their numbers and unity that they are going to show their bravery ad determination. O kinsmen! 3While round us bark the mad and hungry dogs, 6So that our precious blood may not be shed. In a fight losing or winning, all you have is your name that we were born to carried as our very exist before death comes. Pressed to the wall, dying, but fighting back! However how to die is a very different point. If we must die, O let us nobly die, These include alliteration, enjambment, metaphor, and repetition. If we must die, O let us nobly die, Criticism: Some argue that his poem is actually sexist, by only referencing males (Like men we'll face the murderous, cowardly pack) McKay implies that he sees this battle as only involving men. Summer Morn in New Hampshire by Claude McKay. The nobility of his chosen form reaffirmed the conventions of dignity and the structures of address to which the poem's personae aspire. Literature is one of her greatest passions which she pursues through analysing poetry on Poem Analysis. In vain; then even the monsters we defy Claude McKay. If we must die, let it not be like hogs. Struggling with distance learning? What though before us lies the open grave? While round us bark the mad and hungry dogs, If we must die, let it not be like hogs / Hunted and penned in an inglorious spot, / While round us bark the mad and hungry dogs, / Making their mock at our accursèd lot. As is common in Shakespeare’s poems, the last two lines are a rhyming pair, known as a couplet. It made up of three quatrains, or sets of four lines, and one concluding couplet or set of two rhyming lines. Shaymeon Robertson AP English Literature If We Must Die By: Claude McKay If We Must Die, by Claude McKay is a sonnet written during the Harlem Renaissance period; a period where there was a flowering of African-American literature and art, (1919- mid 1930s). we must meet the common foe! What though before us lies the open grave? What's your thoughts? — A history of the Harlem Renaissance from the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History. It is a poem of political resistance: it calls for oppressed people to resist their oppressors, violently and bravely—even if they die in the struggle. At the beginning of lines one and five, marking the starts of the two quatrains. It is a call to action, encouraging the listeners, whoever they may be, to avoid cowardly actions and techniques of avoidance that might in the end only benefit their oppressors. If we must die, let it not be like hogs Shall be constrained to honor us though dead! Blood can't be precious. — A detailed biography of poet Claude McKay from the Poetry Foundation. If We Must Die Literary Elements Speaker or Narrator, and Point of View The speaker is an unidentified person, implied to be male, facing death from a savage foe. I have chosen this poem because of the magnificent aspiration for honor, valor, and bravery, which fulfills the whole text of it. If We Must Die study guide contains a biography of Claude McKay, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. “If We Must Die” is a Shakespearean sonnet written by the Jamaican poet Claude McKay in 1919. The poem “If We Must Die” is written by American author, Claude McKay. The latter, repetition, is the use and reuse of a specific technique, word, tone, or phrase within a poem. Making their mock at our accursèd lot. Thanks. In vain; then even the monsters we defy The scenario is furthered through the introduction of hungry dogs” that “bark” and “mock at our accursed lot”. There is no choice for the speaker and his kinsmen. This poem also shows how these protesters were mistreated and treated like wild animals when fighting for their rights. ‘If We Must Die’ by Claude McKay is a fourteen-line Shakespearean sonnet that is structured in the form which has come to be synonymous with the poet’s name. The Snow Fairy by Claude McKay. If We Must Die Ironically constructed in the form of a Shakespearean love sonnet, “If We Must Die” is a political protest against racial oppression. McKay composed the poem in response to the outburst of racial violence in the summer of 1919, dubbed "The Red Summer" because of … For example, in the first quatrains, the speaker uses trapped hogs as a metaphor for oppression, a state he doesn’t want “us” to get trapped in. Like men we’ll face the murderous, cowardly pack, — Claude McKay himself talks writing this poem. I Know My Soul by Claude Mckay. They’ll deal a “death-blow” to the foe that is oppression. S.O.A.P.S Tone Analysis Purpose The purpose is to encourage the audience to go against the enemy, and motivate them to get what is wanted The audience is direted towards the allies who agree that there is some form of injustice The occasion is a sort of injustice in society that If We Must Die By Claude Mckay 1665 Words | 7 Pages. No choice about it; no question about it. Pressed to the wall, dying, but fighting back! "If we must die," was a sign of repetition. In the first eight lines—the octave—the poet appealing to blacks to be courageous to get up and fight strongly to defend themselves if they are attacked. Written in 1919, in the wake of the Red Scare and the Red Summer of race riots throughout the urban centers of the United States, "If We Must Die" is McKay's bold statement of a masculine, racial strategy. Patterson is acclaimed for her ability to ascribe meaning to adornment. Your analysis are always very incisive and revelatory of the poem. If we must die—oh, let us nobly die, So that our precious blood may not be shed In vain; then even the monsters we defy Shall be constrained to honor us though dead! — Listen to the poem read by the poet himself. Jack Limebear More from this Author . From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. 12What though before us lies the open grave? 8Shall be constrained to honor us though dead! — Listen to the poem read by the poet himself. While round us bark the mad and angry dogs. When using this technique a poet is saying that one thing is another thing, they aren’t just similar. (Claude McKay) by Samson Mwita. 5 If we must die, O let us nobly die, 6 So that our precious blood may not be shed. The poem begins with the speaker addressing his “kinsmen,” telling them they need to avoid the fate of hogs. Teachers and parents! The clause "If we must die" is repeated twice in the poem, so it's a natural choice for a title. The speaker does not want his listeners to be hunted and penned up ingloriously. Will they allow themselves to be slaughtered and controlled like hogs? The login page will open in a new tab. In the first quatrain of ‘If We Must Die’ the speaker begins by telling the listeners, his kinsmen (aka, the Black community which McKay played an important role in) that they should not be “be like hogs”. A New African American Identity: The Harlem Renaissance "If We Must Die" is writer Claude McKay's most famous poem, showing his deft use of the form most associated with his work, the sonnet. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. Lastly, I remind my students that many writers and artists lived in Harlem in the 1920s and 1930s and were part of a creative community that found its voice in what they all should know as the Harlem Renaissance . If we must die, o let us nobly die. And for their thousand blows deal one death-blow! — A history of 1919's so-called "Red Summer," from the Equal Justice Initiative. One has to move forward in order to comfortably resolve a phrase or sentence. They are going to protest the historical and contemporary racial and social injustices and fight for a better life for themselves. The Poem “If We Must Die”, by Claude Mckay portrays the deep feelings felt during the conflict between blacks and whites in America in the early 20th century. Hunted and penned in an inglorious spot, 13Like men we’ll face the murderous, cowardly pack. Please log in again. Jack is undertaking a degree in World Literature and joined the Poem Analysis team in 2019. A Biography of Claude McKay Hunted and penned in an inglorious spot, ‘If We Must Die’ by Claude McKay is a rousing poem addressed to the black community advocating for courage and the will to fight back against oppression. Analysis Of Claude Mckay 's If We Must Die 1141 Words | 5 Pages. Literary Analysis: If We Must Die By Claude Mckay. Like men we’ll face the murderous, cowardly pack, And for their thousand blows deal one death-blow! McKay makes use of several poetic techniques in If We Must Die. There are a few examples in ‘If We Must Die,’ such as the transitions between lines six and seven as well as seven and eight. 1 If we must die, let it not be like hogs. Figurative Language Summary At first, McKay talks about how if he and his allies are to die, they will not go down like animals, they will fight until It is through advertising that we are able to contribute to charity. (including. It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oil Crushed. For example, “must meet” in line nine and “deal,” “death-blow” in line eleven. The speaker addresses his “kinsmen” clearly in the first line. The SCAD Museum of Art presents "If We Must Die…," a solo exhibition by Ebony G. Patterson. — A history of 1919's so-called "Red Summer," from the Equal Justice Initiative. This time though, he adds that if they are going to die, he hopes they’ll die “nobly” with honor. This means that each line contains five sets of two beats, known as metrical feet. Get the entire guide to “If We Must Die” as a printable PDF. We'll make guides for February's winners by March 31st—guaranteed. The poem begins with the speaker addressing his “kinsmen,” telling them they need to avoid the fate of hogs. He hopes that through “our” efforts to be seen and heard, and respected. Lines 2-3 The poem also uses Iambic Pentameter.Personification also took place in line 6, saying that their blood is precious. After logging in you can close it and return to this page. 14Pressed to the wall, dying, but fighting back! Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. So, as these people are "knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door," they only have control over how they are going to die. The title and the repeated clauses drive home the desperation of the situation. Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site. Thank you! If we must die—let it not be like hogs Hunted and penned in an inglorious spot, While round us bark the mad and hungry dogs, Making their mock at our accursed lot. They do not want to spend the rest of their short lives in a pen, waiting to be slaughtered at any moment. The poem “If We Must Die” is written by African American author, Claude McKay. Though far outnumbered let us show us brave, Shall be constrained to honor us though dead! In this week’s episode, Bennett and Monson get into literary ancestors, Monson’s top 5 rappers of all time, and what the future of poetry in this country might look like (if we are brave enough to invest in our young people). “If We Must Die” was written just a few decades after slavery was abolished. Join the conversation by. Have a specific question about this poem? The speaker is seeking out a way to fight back against this fate. The mood is rousing and inspirational. It can be seen in phrases likes “If we must die, O let us nobly die,” in which the word, and imagery around the world, “die” is repeated. 2 Hunted and penned in an inglorious spot, 3 While round us bark the mad and hungry dogs, 4 Making their mock at our accursèd lot. A poem stirred by extreme race riots, it serves as an appealing anthem characteristic of an entire culture. Show More. ‘If We Must Die’ – Poem by Claude McKay. But then again, there is. 7 In vain; then even the monsters we defy. Or will they turn, stand together and demand a better life? Select any word below to get its definition in the context of the poem. If We Must Die by Claude McKay. (read the full definition & explanation with examples), Read the full text of “If We Must Die”, A New African American Identity: The Harlem Renaissance. castrated, male pigs) do not die well. This is a self-made student assignment for my Composition II class. Every single person that visits PoemAnalysis.com has helped contribute, so thank you for your support. McKay wrote this poem as a call to action for his neighbors and other african americans to stand up for the freedom they deserved. Instant downloads of all 1406 LitChart PDFs They’re sometimes used to answer a question posed in the previous twelve lines, shift the perspective, or even change speakers. Our honor outweighs our senses of pride to the point we would take our … This metaphor is a complex one, but it alludes to oppression, control and injustice. It sounds something like da-DUM, da-DUM. If We Must Die Questions and Answers - Discover the eNotes.com community of teachers, mentors and students just like you that can answer any question you might have on If We Must Die IF WE MUST DIE. One in which, the speaker likely hopes, they won’t have to keep fighting. The first is unstressed and the second stressed. "If We Must Die" by Claude McKay Theme When facing opposition or hardship, never surrender, even if you know you cannot prevail. Die” erupts thoughtful and persuasive moods in any who reads it. If we must die, let it not be like hogs The poem follows a consistent rhyme scheme that conforms to the pattern of ABAB CDCD EFEF GG and it is written in iambic pentameter. The poem " If We Must Die " is a poem written by Claude McKay, and set in the 1920's. So that our precious blood may not be shed They can’t accomplish this feat if they are trapped like hogs. we must meet the common foe! 2Hunted and penned in an inglorious spot. Emma graduated from East Carolina University with a BA in English, minor in Creative Writing, BFA in Fine Art, and BA in Art Histories. To put it plainly: "we" are going to die. 11And for their thousand blows deal one death-blow! Enjambment forces a reader down to the next line, and the next, quickly. This is because they are dying for a noble reason, which is to face the cause of their … He, along with the rest of the Black community he’s speaking to, are not going to let themselves be torn down. These things are inevitable, what’s left is to determine how they’re going to fight back.