Poem- "If We Must Die" by Claude McKay

[Ms. Knarr]

If We Must Die By Claude McKay 1889–1948



If we must die, let it not be like hogs

Hunted and penned in an inglorious spot,

While round us bark the mad and hungry dogs,

Making their mock at our accursèd lot.

If we must die, O let us nobly die,

So that our precious blood may not be shed

In vain; then even the monsters we defy

Shall be constrained to honor us though dead!

O kinsmen! we must meet the common foe!

Though far outnumbered let us show us brave,

And for their thousand blows deal one death-blow!

What though before us lies the open grave?

Like men we’ll face the murderous, cowardly pack,

Pressed to the wall, dying, but fighting back!

[karlpreisner]

To me, this poem depicts a group of ferocious warriors in the field of battle. The poem could very much be telling the story of the 300 Spartans that fought off Xerxes' army "Though far outnumbered let us show us brave" This line tells of the 300 Spartan warriors' bravery as they fought back the 7000+ men on the narrow pass of Thermopylae.
The last three lines of the poem, "What though ... but fighting back!" shows the Spartans' realization that there is no possible way for them to win the battle. Yet they still want to make their mark and fight to the death, taking away as many of the cowardly enemies as they can. The Rhyme scheme to the poem is ABABCDCDEFEFGG.

I loved this poem. It made me feel tremendously proud to be a Spartan at IHS. The fact that we are named after the bravest warriors of the Greek era, makes me want to be the best Spartan that I can and carry on their legend of bravery and never giving up. Being that this story is early African American literature, this poem expressed the new pride is black racial identity.

Does anyone else have any other ideas on what this poem might mean? Does it have anything to do with warriors or fighting? When Claude McKay wrote this poem, was there anything historically going on that resembles what this poem is saying? How does the title connect to the piece? What lines in the poem directly connect to the title? In the 4th line, why does accursed have an e with a ` on it?
-Karl Preisner

[clareaker]

3. In my opinion, this poem is saying that we should live a noble life and become well respected people, so that when we die, we can die with pride. I agree wit Karl that this poem has some referance to a battle. I belive the author is saying that the most well respected people, are the people that fight for their country. I think the author means that we all must fight back and not let ourselves be put down in order to be noble.
2. I didn't really care for this poem because i found it to be confusing. There are so many possible meanings that this poem could have. I don't feel that the author had one story he was referring to. However, I do think that the author got his point across about dying a noble death by fighting for something we believe me.
3. Karl, to answer your last question, I think that th fifth line directly conects to the title. It not only contains the title in it, it also contains the entire point of this poem, which is to die nobly.
Q: Does the author specifically refer to any battles or warriors in this poem?

[mattstyczynski]

1. I agree with both Clare's and Karl's interpretations about what the poem might mean. I first thought that it relates to people who are in the army. However, later I thought of the poem was talking about how people should live a bold and noble life. The poem talks about how a person should not be cowardly and dull, but to be keen and valiant when life becomes threatening. It goes on to say that if a person dies, let it be courageously rather than a feeble death.

2. After reading this poem I understood the author's message clearly. I agreed with what McKay was saying, about dying courageously rather than cowardly. I feel this way because if you die with bravery, that is how you will be remembered. If you die cowardly your legacy will be tarnished with that single moment of fear. Overall I had a positive feeling after reading this poem and gained a better sense of dying with bravery like the author was saying.

3. (answering question 2) I do think this poem has to do with war or any other type of fighting. The poem seems to feel like it is an address to soldiers before they go out to battle the enemy. (my question) Do you think Claude McKay believed in what he wrote in his poem?

[dougrybczynski]

1. I believe the poem is about the literature of their time. Those who would publish African Americans and those who bought the work pushed the writers to create works about their 'former lives' and would push them to do so. I think this is a poem about the pressures put upon those writers and their struggle to come to terms with the literary world they lived in.

2. This poem was interesting, sounding almost like a rally to power more than a poem. I agree with Matt that the point was understood clearly and also think that what was said in the poem was definitely the truth and a good way to look at living your life.

3. (Matt's question) I do think that Claude McKay believed in what he wrote, considering he lived these feelings out not only through literature but in everyday living.

[dougrybczynski]

I forgot a question: Was this meant as a sort of call to battle in McKay's mind?

[jimmymahoney]

1. I believe the tensions shown between the dogs and the hogs may be racial. The blacks are trapped in their communities, unable to press their opinions and ideas into the rest of society. The rest of society, the dogs, have them surrounded, and could take them down at any time. McKay just wants to be able to go down on his own terms.

2. I felt like McKay is, instead of accepting the defeat of his people, creating a call to arms to take a stand and fight the idea of racial superiority.

3. To answer Doug's question, the battle that McKay wants is a battle of the minds, a battle of ideas. He wants to stop the thoughts that white is better than black or better than anything. My question is, does McKay believe that his side can win the battle he wants?

[hugozazzarini]

1. I agree with both Clare and Karl. I believe that this poem is about living nobly and being able to die with pride, in this case I see the speaker caught in a battle that he knows he can't win, yet instead of giving in easily he decides to fight until death or capture takes him in order to leave his mark and not die in vain.
2. Personally, I really liked this poem and so far it has been my favorite because it kept my attention throughout the whole time I read it. I also liked it because it shows that despite being an underdog facing a much stronger opponent, one can still make an impact and leave their mark behind no matter what.
3. (Karl's last question) The first and fifth line connect directly to the poem's title, repeating it in both lines. The other connection is showing not to give in and die cowardly, but to go forward into battle and fight bravely.
Q. What do you think McKay means by "defying monsters" in line 7.

[paulabatoon]

1. I agree that this poem is about a battle and that it is about dying nobly and with pride. Basically the author is saying, "Don't go down without a fight." When reading this poem, I imagine a general saying these words to his troops. The general empowers and motivates them. Overall, this poem is sort of a call to arms, and that it says that even though you could die in the upcoming battle, you should die nobly and not go down without a fight.

2. I liked this poem because it's very empowering and motivating. It's the typical "never give up and don't go down without a fight" piece, but the author uses great wording and diction. Like I said earlier, it's as if a general is rallying his troops and calling them to arms.

3. (In response to Jimmy's question) I don't think that McKay is 100% sure that he is going to win the battle. However, he is certainly going to try, despite the fact that he is far outnumbered. He's not going to go down without a fight.
My question: What is the meaning of the line, "And for their thousand blows deal one death-blow?"

[abigaildolan]

1) I certainly agree that the poem is about fighting and a battle but the battle does not seem to be taking place yet. Instead the poem is almost like a leader addressing his men before a battle, a battle that will most likely leave most of them is not all dead. It is empowering and seems to say that though we may die we did not die cowering or giving up. We died fighting, and fighting honorably. The man seems to hold honor and valor in very high regard, and does not wish to survive the battle by cheating even if it may save his life. This is a man who is a truly noble warrior and reminds me of Hector from the Iliad who fought despite knowing he would die for his people. He died not in vain but protecting his city bravely and with the honor of a warrior.

2) I really liked this poem. It was, as I said, empowering. It quite literally made me want to go defend something. There was great valiance in the words and an honor that we do not see in wars or battles today. It seems to speak of courage and that we must face our foes however horrible and evil they are with a respect befitting of a comrade. It spoke of war, but it spoke of dignity in war and I think that we have greatly lost that in war today. The poem was very inspiring. Also it flowed, and I enjoyed the fact that it almost had a beat to it when I read it. Almost like a march, like the words were moving in time with mens feet.

3) Responding to Hugo's question. I think the monsters the Author may be referring to are the monsters of evil and of cowardice. Not physical monsters, but the monsters one faces in the test of battle. He speaks of defying them, to say the refusal to give in to such ideas of being underhanded and unsportsmanlike in battle. It is easy to speak of honor when you are under no duress, but one has to be very strong and noble to uphold his beliefs of honor when a sword is at your throat. To die nobly and preserve that nobility even in death you must fight with courage and not give into the temptation. If you defy these monsters you are truly a hero.

My Question - In battle it is easy to forget ones humanity and simply resort to animal instinct. The Author seems to suggest this when he likens men to 'hogs' and 'dog'. The question, do you believe in war that people can become animals if they forget their honor?

[connorjmckeon]

1. I believe this poem is about going down with a fight. The author is speaking to the black community and saying that they shouldn't accept the cruelty of society. If we're all going to die, then why should we suffer unfairly while we're alive. The author urges blacks to fight nobly for equality. He says enough with being cornered like hogs, and on with pushing back. From line 9 and on, the author is trying to unite his "kinsmen", fellow blacks, against the "foe", society who discriminates, and fight to their death if needed. If they die while fighting back, it's okay because death is inevitable.

2. I like the message of the poem. I think it is sort of a foreshadowing to the Civil Rights Movement as well. Those who took part in the movement lived by what McKay was saying here. Many people probably read this and either didn't want to push back, or wanted to but didn't do anything. The people who united and fought in the 1960's put these words into action and those who died did so with dignity and honor.

3. To answer Abigail's question: I think it's very easy for people to become animals in battle. When fighting, they become very focused on the task of defeating the enemy that they lose touch with their humanity. Animals naturally fight and so when we do, we become like them.
My question: Do you think the first four lines could reference the days of slavery?

[seanpalen]

1. I agree with what Connor said. I also believe the poem explains that we must die fighting for that is the only true way to live. I see how the poem relates to the African American people of his time and how they were oppressed by the whites and fought for their rights. I really liked the last two lines of the poem because it truly summed up its message, we must fight to live and not die easily, for the only way to truly live is to fight to survive.

2. The poem tries to show that although it may seem bleak and that we will all someday die we must fight to live because if we do not fight, we will not of lived at all. I really liked this message. It is truly a possibly life-changing and extremely powerful message with many references to slavery and possibly foreshadowing the civil rights act.

3. Connor's Question: I do think that the first 4 lines do have a strong reference to slavery because of the authors use of words like penned and hunted and comparing men to hogs and dogs.
My Question: Is it better to live without honor and as a coward or live courageously with honor?

[adamzaha]

1. I think this poem means that the narrator would rather die fighting for his freedom then die a slave. He mentions feeling like he's being surrounded and hunted and that even though he probably won't win he'll try to fight to the best of his ability. I can also see this relating to escaping and how he is willing to take the gamble because he rather die trying then not try at all. Also, he mentions that if he can withstand the beatings he'll be able to make it across the border to the North. A literary device that is used is end rhyme.

2. I liked this poem a lot because of the strength and the power behind it. I also liked because i could relate to what he is saying about trying something rather then not doing anything about it. I believe that life is about fighting for what you believe in no matter what the possible consequences are because otherwise other people are going to get what they want and you won't .

3. Answering Sean- Obviously i think it s better to live courageously with honor the as a coward because life would be very hard and painful if you let other people walk over you.
my question- Do you think this poem was meant to start a revolution against slavery?

[seanpalen]

1. I really like what Adam said about the poem. I see that McKay was really talking about how dying free is much better than dying as a slave. I also see how this may relate to making it across the canadian border. Yet , I believe this poem does not just apply to slaves but all people as well. We must all die fighting if we are truly to live.

2. Adam's Question: I think that one of the reasons behind writing this poem was definately slavery. It is clear McKay was opposed to it and he could of attempted to swing public opinion by writing this piece. Yet, I do not think that was the entire reason he wrote the poem. This poem can relate to just people in general and may just be the way McKay thinks life should be lived.
My Question: Do you think this poem could also relate well to the victims of the Holocaust?