T.P.C.A.S.T.T.truth
By: Gwendolyn Brooks Title: Honesty, Lies, insecurity, trust, and anxiety Paraphrase: And if sun comes How shall we greet him? Shall we not dread him, Shall we not fear him, After so lengthy a Session with shade? Though we have wept for him, Though we have prayed All through the night-years- What if we wake one shimmering morning to Hear the fierce hammering Of his firm knuckles Hard on the door? Shall we not shudder?- Shall we not flee Into the shelter, the dear thick shelter Of the familiar Propitious haze? Sweet is it, sweet is it To sleep in the coolness Of snug unawareness. The dark hangs heavily Over the eyes. |
And if the bright light appears How will we welcome him? Should we be frightened by him, Should we be scared of him, Following an extended Time with covering? We have cried for him, We have yearned Throughout the dark times- What if rise one glimmering dawn to Perceive the savage pounding Of his callous hands Vigorously on the entrance Should we not shake? Should we not run? Towards our hiding place, the soothing impenetrable hiding place That is recognizable Favorable fog? It is cherished, It is cherished To rest in the serenity Of cozy ignorance. The absence of light weighs massively Above the eyeball |
Connations:
Title:
The title, “truth”, is not capitalized breaking the general convention that titles are capitalized. Also, it emphasizes the unimportance of the truth. In our society, truth and honesty are valued traits in a person and are revered in a person. However, Brooks emphasizes that the revealing of a truth is always unsettling, because the person revealing the secret is inadvertently or intentionally altering their audience’s view of the world.
Line 1-2: “And if sun comes”
The sun is an archetype traditionally used throughout literature to symbolize enlightenment and the incarnation of time, since it controls the days. Similarly in “Truth”, Brooks uses the sun to symbolize the revealing of the truth itself, as well as using personification to either transform the sun in to a friend or an enemy. This also causes the reader ponder how this new information should be received.
Line 2-3: “Shall we not dread… Shall we not fear”
Brooks uses anaphora to emphasize the frightening nature of enlightenment. It is unsettling at first when the truth is revealed, because the audience feels deceived and betrayed by the fact that this was hidden from them in the first place and that they were not important enough to that person to be informed. The truth is a Pandora’s box provokes varying responses from different individuals.
Line 4-5: “After so lengthy a session with shade?”
These lines end the stanza with a rhetorical question. It begs the essential question, is it better to live in fear of the truth or is it better to boldly embrace the truth no matter the consequences. This question is the subject of this piece and is repeated throughout the poem which sparks the development of the theme.
Lines 6-7: “Though we have … Though we have”
These lines also exhibit anaphora, emphasizing the often misguided zeal with which people seek the truth. People tend to uproot and destroy their lives in search of sometimes unessential truth to which they are not privy to. This in turn can also bear often detrimental repercussions like the destruction of families, relationships, and even lives.
Lines 8-10: “All through… door?”
After being in the darkness or ignorance for so long it is hard to ignore the truth that is clawing at you furiously. This internal impetus sparks the search for the truth and often the destruction as well.
Lines 11-15: “Shall we not shudder… haze?”
This section once again recalls the question of which response should people have towards the truth. However, this section adds another dimension. It adds that the darkness is a shelter that protects but also blinds. It is comfortable, but still unsettling. It illustrates the duality of ignorance. It has the ability to protect but also put those they love the most, even yourself in danger.
Line 16-20: “Sweet is it… eyes”
This section solidifies the theme and ties it everything. It creates an enticing view of ignorance. Ignorance is often despised and rejected, but Brooks portrays a picture in which it is “sweet” as seen through the repetition of the phrase, “sweet is it”. Brooks also calls this sense of unawareness “snug”, intimating that it is more comfortable to be ignorant. Thus relaying the theme that the Truth, any truth, unsettling by nature and in order to maintain some resemblance of happiness, sometimes it is better to live in ignorance.
Attitude: Throughout the poem, Brooks establishes a introspective tone towards the idea of enlightenment. She claims that although many people seek enlightenment, most do not find it and those who do regret their discovery. Brooks suggests that it is a difficult and strenuous process to unearth hidden truths and that it is more comfortable to remain in the darkness.’
Shift: The shift is in line 19 when she stops questioning about truth. Then mocks how ignorance is bliss.
Title: unsettling, fear, ignorance, uncomfortable, discovery
Theme: The search for Truth and the Truth itself has the power to destroy lives and should be abhorred rather than craved. Therefore, it is more beneficial to remain in the darkness rather than seeking the light.
Title:
The title, “truth”, is not capitalized breaking the general convention that titles are capitalized. Also, it emphasizes the unimportance of the truth. In our society, truth and honesty are valued traits in a person and are revered in a person. However, Brooks emphasizes that the revealing of a truth is always unsettling, because the person revealing the secret is inadvertently or intentionally altering their audience’s view of the world.
Line 1-2: “And if sun comes”
The sun is an archetype traditionally used throughout literature to symbolize enlightenment and the incarnation of time, since it controls the days. Similarly in “Truth”, Brooks uses the sun to symbolize the revealing of the truth itself, as well as using personification to either transform the sun in to a friend or an enemy. This also causes the reader ponder how this new information should be received.
Line 2-3: “Shall we not dread… Shall we not fear”
Brooks uses anaphora to emphasize the frightening nature of enlightenment. It is unsettling at first when the truth is revealed, because the audience feels deceived and betrayed by the fact that this was hidden from them in the first place and that they were not important enough to that person to be informed. The truth is a Pandora’s box provokes varying responses from different individuals.
Line 4-5: “After so lengthy a session with shade?”
These lines end the stanza with a rhetorical question. It begs the essential question, is it better to live in fear of the truth or is it better to boldly embrace the truth no matter the consequences. This question is the subject of this piece and is repeated throughout the poem which sparks the development of the theme.
Lines 6-7: “Though we have … Though we have”
These lines also exhibit anaphora, emphasizing the often misguided zeal with which people seek the truth. People tend to uproot and destroy their lives in search of sometimes unessential truth to which they are not privy to. This in turn can also bear often detrimental repercussions like the destruction of families, relationships, and even lives.
Lines 8-10: “All through… door?”
After being in the darkness or ignorance for so long it is hard to ignore the truth that is clawing at you furiously. This internal impetus sparks the search for the truth and often the destruction as well.
Lines 11-15: “Shall we not shudder… haze?”
This section once again recalls the question of which response should people have towards the truth. However, this section adds another dimension. It adds that the darkness is a shelter that protects but also blinds. It is comfortable, but still unsettling. It illustrates the duality of ignorance. It has the ability to protect but also put those they love the most, even yourself in danger.
Line 16-20: “Sweet is it… eyes”
This section solidifies the theme and ties it everything. It creates an enticing view of ignorance. Ignorance is often despised and rejected, but Brooks portrays a picture in which it is “sweet” as seen through the repetition of the phrase, “sweet is it”. Brooks also calls this sense of unawareness “snug”, intimating that it is more comfortable to be ignorant. Thus relaying the theme that the Truth, any truth, unsettling by nature and in order to maintain some resemblance of happiness, sometimes it is better to live in ignorance.
Attitude: Throughout the poem, Brooks establishes a introspective tone towards the idea of enlightenment. She claims that although many people seek enlightenment, most do not find it and those who do regret their discovery. Brooks suggests that it is a difficult and strenuous process to unearth hidden truths and that it is more comfortable to remain in the darkness.’
Shift: The shift is in line 19 when she stops questioning about truth. Then mocks how ignorance is bliss.
Title: unsettling, fear, ignorance, uncomfortable, discovery
Theme: The search for Truth and the Truth itself has the power to destroy lives and should be abhorred rather than craved. Therefore, it is more beneficial to remain in the darkness rather than seeking the light.