Literary Devices
This idiom means to spend time studying books.
What is "stick your nose inside a book"?
Booker T. believes African Americans should learn this.
What is a trade?
W.E.B. believes people have the right to cultivate this.
What is the brain
The poem presents a debate between these two leaders.
Who are Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois?
This leader would most likely agree with "Do not complain."
Who is Booker T. Washington?
This type of language appeals to the reader's senses.
What is imagery?
Booker T. believes people should do this instead of complaining.
What is work hard and save money?
W.E.B. supports fighting for this.
What is justice?
These repeated lines signal a shift in perspective
What are "It seems to me," said Booker T. and "I don't agree," said W.E.B.?
This leader would most likely agree with "Protest for civil rights.
Who is W.E.B. Du Bois?
"A rope's as tight, a fire as hot."
What is an example of imagery?
Booker T. does not think this is as important as practical skills.
What is higher education?
W.E.B. believes African Americans should be involved in this.
What is government/law-making?
Booker T. speaks informally while W.E.B. speaks formally to emphasize this debate.
What is the debate between practical skills and higher education?
According to the poem, economic participation helps achieve this.
What is equality?
"It seems to me" is an example of this literary technique
What is understatement?
According to Booker T., people should save and buy one of these.
What is a house?
W.E.B. believes people should pursue knowledge, including these two subjects.
What are chemistry and Greek?
The poet mainly uses this technique to present the leaders' views
What is contrast?
Unless African Americans help make laws, this could happen.
What is losing their property or rights?
"It shows a mighty lot of cheek."
What is informal diction?
Booker T. thinks civil rights activists have these.
What are misguided ideas?
The phrase "try your little plan" shows W.E.B.'s feeling of this toward Booker T.
What is disdain? (lack of respect or strong feeling of dislike)
The poem contrasts economic success with this larger goal.
What are civil rights and justice?
Explain the central disagreement between Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois.
What is that Booker T. emphasizes practical work, saving money, and economic advancement, while W.E.B. emphasizes higher education, political involvement, justice, and civil rights