Answer:
The main theme of the poem by Paul Laurence Dunbar is that people often hide their true selves and their identity. More specifically, racism remains a problem that still forces African Americans to hide their pain and difficulties.
Explanation:
The most important use of figurative language is the mask itself, as a symbol of African Americans hiding their pain in a society that still discriminates againts them.
Furthermore, the line "We wear the mask that grins and lies" uses personification as the mask is provided of human behavior: it grins and lies.
The same figurative language is used here: "But let the world dream otherwise, We wear the masks," because the world as an inanimate object is incapable of dreaming.
A hyperbole is used in: "With torn and bleeding hearts we smile", as the bleeding hearts are an exaggeration.
The central premise of Paul Laurence Dunbar's poem is that people frequently conceal their true selves and identities. Racism, in particular, continues to be a problem that causes African Americans to hide their suffering and hardships.
The poet has utilized the extended metaphor of ",ask" to depict the false persona that people put on to disguise their genuine feelings and emotions from others. "Torn and bleeding hearts"," we smile," and "Beneath our feet"are examples of the poet's visual imagery.
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https://brainly.com/question/9450408
