Have a question? eNotes editors are standing by to help you.
What literary devices/strategies are used in the poem "We Real Cool" by Gwendolyn Brooks?
I mean devices/strategies such as anaphora, ellipsis, epistrophe. Anything will help out. I have to write a paper discussing all of the literary devices used within the poem.
here is a copy:
"We Real Cool"
We real cool. WeLeft school. We
Lurk late. We
Strike straight. We
Sing sin. We
Thin gin. We
Jazz June. We
Die soon.
Thanks so much
3 Answers | add yours
Epistrophy - "we" is the repeated word at the end of the successive clauses. It depends on how you look at it, but I see this as taking emphasis off the "we" and more emphasis...
(The entire answer is 206 words.)
This is an expert answer, written by an eNotes editor. To read the entire answer, please join eNotes.
Antithesis-Brooks uses irony that manages to both contradict the beginning (we real cool/we die soon), and make the poem parallel.
Ooops, I'm new.
Join for free to answer this question
Join a community of thousands of dedicated teachers and students.
Already a member? Sign in » JOIN eNOTES
Key We Real Cool Questions
See all »Top Tags in We Real Cool
See all »Related Questions
- What is the common theme for most of Gwendolyn Brooks writings. I am especially interested in "the mother" "we real cool" and "kitchenette building"
- In the poem "We Real Cool," by Gwendolynn Brooks, what do you think is the theme, or message?
- In the poem "We Real Cool," identify the speaker his or her situation. How does the rhythm of this poem reflect the innovations of Langston Hughes?
- What are the main themes in the story "We Real Cool"?
Following We Real Cool
See all »Editor Emeritus, Debater, Expert, Educator, Whitman, Poe, Dickens, The Bard
359,328 points
Distinguished Editor, Debater, Expert, Educator, Dickens, The Bard, Churchill, Einstein
630,508 points
Editor Emeritus, Scholar, Debater, Expert, Educator, Whitman, Dickens, The Bard
101,084 points






