We Real Cool
The Pool Players.
Seven at the Golden Shovel.
We real cool. We
Left school. We
Lurk late. We
Strike straight. We
Sing sin. We
Thin gin. We
Jazz June. We
Die soon.
To talk about how the poem is put together, you’ll use these terms. They help you see why it’s shaped the way it is and what that shape means.
1. Structure - What it means: The way a poem is organized, like how its lines and parts are set up. - Why it matters: In "We Real Cool," the structure is short and follows a pattern. It’s only eight lines, and they’re arranged in a way that feels fast and bold. This word helps you explain how that setup matches the pool players’ lives. - Example: The poem’s structure chops each line in half, making it quick and sharp, like the players’ attitude.
2. Closed Form - What it means: A poem with a fixed pattern, like set rhythms or rhymes that don’t change much. - Why it matters: "We Real Cool" has a steady beat—every line ends with "We" and rhymes with the one before it, like "cool" with "school." This term shows how the poem stays tight and predictable, almost like a song. - Example: The closed form feels like the players chanting together, but then the last line surprises you.
3. Rhyme - What it means: When words at the end of lines sound alike, like "day" and "play." - Why it matters: The poem rhymes all the way through—"late" with "straight," "sin" with "gin." This makes it fun to read at first, but it also leads to the serious "Die soon." This word helps you talk about how sound adds to the poem’s feel. - Example: The rhyme keeps things light and cool until the end hits hard.
4. Enjambment - What it means: When a sentence doesn’t stop at the end of a line but jumps to the next one.
- Why it matters: In "We Real Cool," lines break before "We," like "We real cool. We / Left school." It makes the poem race along, just like the players’ fast lives. This word lets you explain that rushing energy. - Example: Enjambment speeds you up, showing how the players don’t stop—until they have to. These words help you figure out how the poem’s shape tells part of the story. It’s not just random—it’s built to show something about the pool players.
Words for Understanding the Poem’s Pictures
Next, you’ll need words to talk about the pictures the poem creates in your head. These terms help you explain what those pictures do and why they matter.
1. Imagery - What it means: Words that make you see, hear, or feel something, like a snapshot or a sound.
- Why it matters: In "We Real Cool," words like "Lurk late" or "Thin gin" draw a picture of the players’ wild nights. This word helps you discuss how those pictures build the poem’s mood. - Example: The imagery of "Sing sin" makes you hear them laughing and breaking the rules.
2. Sensory - What it means: Anything that connects to your senses—sight, sound, touch, taste, or smell.
- Why it matters: The poem’s pictures are sensory—you can hear "Jazz June" like loud music or see "Strike straight" like a pool shot. This word shows how the poem pulls you in. - Example: "Thin gin" is sensory—it’s the taste and feel of their drinking.
3. Tone - What it means: The feeling or attitude the poem expresses, like proud, sad, or playful.
- Why it matters: The pictures set the tone—starting with "We real cool," which sounds tough and fun, then turning dark with "Die soon." This word helps you connect the pictures to the poem’s vibe. - Example: The tone feels brave initially, but the last line makes it heavy.
4. Verb - What it means: A word that shows action, like "jump" or "dance."
- Why it matters: The poem’s pictures come from verbs like "Lurk," "Strike," "Sing," "Thin," and "Jazz." These actions show what the players do, making the poem move. This word helps you spot how the energy comes alive.
- Example: "Jazz June" is a verb that feels wild, like they’re shaking up everything. These words let you discuss how the poem paints a picture and makes you feel the players’ world.