Reading Guide "If We Must Die"

Reading Guide | "If We Must Die" Before-Reading Activities Directions: Before you read Claude McKay's poem "If We Must Die," review the vocabulary and terms for this reading and answer the short-answer questions. Vocabulary Word inglorious (adj.) Definition not famous or renowned accursed (adj.) cursed or ill-fated defy (verb) openly resist or refuse to obey lot (noun) the portion of life assigned by fate kinsmen (noun) people of the same nationality or ethnic group speaker Example the narrative voice of a poem; it is similar to the narrator in a work of prose In the poem "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening," the speaker describes stopping in the woods on his way home one night. The speaker narrates the events using the first-person, or I, voice. simile Definition a figure of speech in which two unlike things are compared using the words like or as Her hair was as black as night. 1. What is an underdog? If you aren't sure, use a dictionary to look up the word. s`An underdog is a person, team, or group that is expected to lose in a competition, struggle, or conflict because they are perceived as being at a disadvantage compared to their opponents. 2. Describe a time that you saw an underdog win. It could be in real life or in a fictional story. One of the most iconic underdog victories in fiction is in the movie Rocky 3. What qualities do you think the underdog had that helped them achieve victory? Resilience,Support Systems Reading Guide | "If We Must Die" During-Reading Activities Directions: Read "If We Must Die." As you read, answer these questions. When you are finished, save your work and complete the rest of the lesson. 1. Identify the simile in the first two lines of the poem. In your own words, explain what this means. McKay uses the simile to convey the idea that if death is inevitable, it should be faced with courage and purpose rather than submission. The comparison emphasizes the importance of maintaining honor and resistance even in the face of oppression or violence. 2. Who do you think the "mad and hungry dogs" may be? it symbolize the oppressors or aggressors who threaten the speaker and their group. These "dogs" represent those who dehumanize, attack, and persecute others, often motivated by hatred, prejudice, or a desire to dominate. 3. How does the speaker say they should die? with honor, courage, and resistance, rather than passively or in humiliation. 4. What does the speaker say will happen if they die this way? they die with dignity, honor, and resistance, their deaths will have meaning and leave a lasting impact. 5. How can the speaker and his kinsmen accomplish this noble death? What do they need to do? standing together with courage, defiance, and dignity in the face of oppression. 6. In one to two sentences, summarize what this poem is about. If We Must Die is a poem about resisting oppression with courage and dignity, urging those facing persecution to fight back honorably rather than submit like victims. It calls for unity and bravery in the face of violence, ensuring that if death comes, it is. met with defiance and respect. 7. What themes do you notice in the poem? Identify at least two. The speaker stresses that one's death should be faced with dignity and pride, not in a dishonorable or dehumanized manner. 8. What message do you think the author wants to communicate to the reader through this poem? That even in the face of oppression and violence, one should stand firm with courage, dignity, and resistance. He urges the reader to reject passivity and submission, advocating instead for a bold, honorable fight against injustice.