Ian+B

"We Real Cool" By: Gwendolyn Brooks



[] TPCASTT of "We Real Cool"

**__ TPCASTT __**

** Title ** : The title “We Real Cool” tells the reader that the speaker is either talking about himself and individuals with relationships with him, or possibly talking about others. The title gives some crucial information by hinting that the speaker will most likely be sending a message about what he thinks is cool or possibly mocking what other individuals think is cool.

** Paraphrase ** : The first couple lines are implying that people think they are cool when ditching school and avoiding a good education. By the first two lines it can be implied that the speaker is trying to send a message to all these individuals who believe they are “cool”. The next two lines are talking about the typical actions of these individuals. The speaker is explaining that they often stay out late and attack society by not doing what is right. The speaker continues explicating about typical actions by telling the speaker that they would rather listen to music than doing what “most” kids do. The speaker goes on to point out that they believe they are cool by drinking. This underage inebriation is insinuating that the kids break the law just to think they are above everybody else. Finally, the speaker concludes by saying that they “Jazz June” which hints that they commit other sins, perhaps with dancing involved. The speaker concludes with the line “We Die Soon”, which gives the reader a sense of fear. At first the poem at a satirical tone and then the tone switches to be more serious.

** Connotation ** : The poem indefinitely possesses a meaning beyond the mere imagery of actions the speaker provides. The speaker is giving a message to those individuals who cause debauchery and do not utilize the education the society gives by saying that their lives will end before they know it. The word “Die” could not be completely literal. It could be representative of the possible fun the kids are having now, which will eventually end.

** Attitude ** : The attitude of the speaker towards this sense of rebellion is harsh. Although the speaker starts out by just jokingly talking about the activities of the typical people who fall under the category, the ending is extremely unforgiving. The speaker feels that these individuals do not contribute anything to society.

** Shifts ** : The speaker has an extreme mood shift on the final line. Just as the speaker is done explaining the actions of these “cool” people, the speaker has a tone of harshness and warning. He just explains that they will all die, and the actions will be the catalysts.

** Title ** : The title after reading the poem is even more significant. The sarcastic way the speaker portrays himself as “We”, even though he is mocking the “We”, is vital to how he explains the negative consequences of the actions.

** Theme ** : The theme of the poem is stressing hard work and mocking the typical individual who “rebels” or causes trouble to the establishment. The theme is reinforced at the very end with a stern statement of the consequence of these negative actions.

Script: “We Real Cool” definitely has a powerful message behind it. Brooks illustrates how troubled teenagers will eventually endure serious consequences if they continue their lifestyle of rebellion. The first line here “We Real Cool” shows how the teenagers do not really care for education. The grammar is also incorrect. They go every day living a happy-go-lucky lifestyle. This repetition of the word “We” suggests that these individuals have committed these actions multiple times. The tone of the poem is very upbeat; however the tone changes at the end when Brooks tells the reader the consequences of these actions. The sudden “We Die Soon” gives an immediate sense of scare to the reader. This changes the poem from behind upbeat to suddenly allowing the speaker to realize the consequences of their lifestyle is similar to that of the poem. The “We Die Soon” could also not be taken as literally. It could be more metaphorically representative of other consequences. The warnings of a rebellious attitude explain that this lifestyle will result in failure and this is the ultimate message that Brooks is trying to convey.

[] [] [] There are not many different literary criticisms of the poem because the message is clear. Everyone's view of the message being conveyed is concurring.
 * Literary Criticism of "We Real Cool" **