I’m studying for my English class and need an explanation.
read three short but intense and very popular poems: “Not Waving but Drowning,” “We Real Cool,” and “Harlem,”
After having explored these poems thoroughly–by reading them and then listening to them being read on YouTube–please read over the discussion questions
First, which poem did you like the best? Why?
What is “Not Waving but Drowning” about? If you watched the Youtube video did this help at all?
In “We Real Cool” Brooks is writing about an attitude. What is the attitude she is writing about?
Can you find that attitude today? Where?
Are there words in Brooks’ poem you might have to look up?
“Harlem” has always been a very popular poem.
What is the mood conveyed by the poem?
Do the words or images help create that mood?
Are the poem’s similes vivid? Do these similes convey images or ideas or both?
