Examine the role of condescension in Gwendolyn Brooks’s poem “The Lovers of the Poor.” Pay close attention
to body language and other visual clues. How do these suburban women betray their charitable impulses?
Where is Brooks’s poetic language most effective in exposing their hypocrisy?
Because the response is so brief, there’s no room for a full introduction of conclusion. But try to enter the
discussion with authority and try to conclude your findings with a brief summation of why your argument
matters. All three paragraphs should aim to quote or paraphrase textual passages so that you can articulate
your points with precision and proof.