We Real Cool

First (Silent) Reading Questions

• What is the Structure of this poem?

- This poem is in couplets and rhymes

• What are some key words/patterns you notice as you scan/skim the poem?

- Each sentence starts with “We”

• New vocabulary words and definitions?

- Lurk- be or remain hidden so as to wait in ambush for someone

Second Reading (Oral)

• What is happening in this poem? Answer with as many verbs as are applicable.

- left, lurk, die, strike, sing

• Who is the literary speaker? What is his or her attitude?

- The literary speaker is someone in a group of bad people. This speaker does not really care about his or her life and what they do in it.

• What are the dominant images/appeals to the five senses? What emotions do the images evoke?

- This poem evokes emotions of fear and terror. Singing has to do with the sense of hearing

Third Reading (Oral)

• What is the poet’s attitude towards his or her subject?

- I think that the poet’s attitude toward this subject is that she does not really know what is going on in life and does not really care what goes on in her life.

• How does the author’s diction and employment of poetic devices convey his or her attitude?

- The author’s diction and employment of poetic devices conveys her attitude by showing that life is not such a big deal.