Claude McKay's work is an authentic depiction of the Harlem Renaissance and the struggles against racism and prejudice in the 1920s. poem "If We Must Die", written by McKay in 1919, demonstrates the theme of fighting against oppression using the symbolism of war and how those who are oppressed must fight for their rights in society. This theme is supported by the literary devices used in the poem such as diction, imagery and overall structure, McKay's biography and historical context of this poem, as well as references to McKay's other works such as "America ". Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay "If We Must Die" at first glance without any context by Claude McKay and his writings could be interpreted as describing a group at war, which is seen through McKay's use of diction and language. imagery. McKay uses diction to support this statement, such as line 9: “O parents! We must face the common enemy! » where the words “relatives” and “enemies” allude to the terms of war. Another significant use of diction includes the term "cursed", which is defined as a strong dislike or anger towards a group. This represents the discrimination and hatred that the enemy imposes on the group depicted in the poem. The imagery throughout the poem focuses on a small group fighting a large enemy and how the group must "die nobly", despite the struggles they face. Images are also visible in the first two lines stating: "If we must die, let it not be like pigs / Hunted and penned in an inglorious place." » This creates images of slain warriors but comparing them to animals (pigs). This imagery also represents the need to die honorably, instead of being hunted, and that they must not die without fighting the enemy head on. On first reading, this poem also has a meaningful structure, for example that it contains elements of an English sonnet. Indeed, the poem has 14 lines and the standard rhyme scheme. However, there are no stanzas separated by three quatrains and a final couplet. The typical use for a sonnet would be to write to a single person, usually about a common theme: romance or problem solving. The use of a sonnet may have been a deliberate strategy on McKay's part to represent unity to support the theme as the speaker expresses words of motivation to those who are fighting. However, the motivating war songs in this poem have a much deeper meaning when examining the context of Claude McKay and the times of this poem, revealing insight into who is fighting in this war. Understanding Claude McKay's impact on the Harlem Renaissance and the events following the Red Summer after World War I reveal the deeper message behind McKay's words of unity and struggle in the war. McKay's biography has a great influence on his work, based on his life's transitions, including leaving Jamaica, where his African heritage was cherished, for America, where the fight for racial equality is evident throughout society. McKay's background and ambitions to defend the rights of black individuals give more meaning to his words in lines disguised as war words. His words in this poem reflect the underlying meaning of resistance in lines such as lines 13 and 14: "As men we will face the murderous and cowardly pack, /..