Question #62be8
1 Answer
C.
Explanation:
The poem is about the anger and frustration of the African American people. A person's face does show a person's emotions and feelings D. but this is only part of the poem. It doesn't deal with the pain expressed in words like torn and bleeding hearts, tortured souls, so D can not be the best answer.
s.
A. the eyes are often called the mirror of the soul. But in this poem the eyes are not reflecting the true feelings of the person observed.
The mask shades the eyes so that the true feelings can not be observed. So orA can not be the best answer.
B. The cheeks might be a physical sign of anger, muscle tics reveal the tension felt, But in the poem a mask hides the cheeks so these physical signs are hidden So B can not be the best answer.
C. In traditional African Culture Masks are used to portray a role. Sometimes of an ancestor, or of the spirit of an animal. The animistic culture believes that there is a spirit in everything. Masks are used to symbolize these spirits. The mask in this poem is used to show a lie a false front. The oppressed African Americans had to pretend that they were "happy" with their state, The oppressers needed to feel that the African Americans were content with their state so a mask showing a spirit of compliance with the oppression prevented further pain and punishment.
C is the correct answer the mask was worn to hide the anger, resentment and suffering of the African American people.
