Summary Of We Real Cool By Gwendolyn Brooks

Gwendolyn Brooks' poem "We Real Cool" addresses the theme of mortality, especially in the context of destructive behaviors. While other topics present themselves, the varying crafts included in the essay point to the fast-burning flame of the speakers. Using identifying phrases with multiple interpretations, a short and to-the-point meter, and lyrical alliteration and assonance, Brooks tells a compelling tale of seven ill-fated youth. Gwendolyn Brooks, an African-American poet, likely wrote "We Real Cool" about young African-American boys. This is evident from the verse "Jazz June. We" (Line 9), but more importantly the use of African American Vernacular English (AAVE) in "We real cool. We" (Line 3). AAVE traditionally excludes the word 'are' in places where Standard English would contract it with the pronoun. Looked at innocently, the poem could be seen as a telling of the short lives of rebellious teenagers, but when one looks closer, Brooks also identifies the speakers as criminal. Pool

These two literary devices improve readability and different sections of a piece together. After the first two couplets, Brooks begins to experiment with diction and alliteration. "Lurk late…" (Line 5) is very consonant heavy and repeats the 'l' sound while the next line, "Strike straight…" is similarly consonant heavy and repeats the 'str' sound. This same coupling appears with "Sing sin. We / Thin gin. We" (Lines 7-8) in which the 'ih' assonance is present in both verses. These groupings enhance the couplet structure, allowing both a listener and reader to notice the pairings, the first of which references either playing pool or street fighting and the second of which references immoral behavior. These references further solidify the speakers' identities and their motives in order to contribute to the overall flow of the poem and the presentation of its