Dignity and respect are things that all people have a right to.  The unknown poet of "If we
must die" makes this point very well.  Everyone has a right to their dignity and respect,
even if it means dying to get it.

     The poet uses imagery to help make his/her point about dignity and respect.  The poet
says, "...while round us bark the mad and hungry dogs.."  This statement gives one the
impression that the poet is trapped and surrounded by the angry dogs.  The poet also
makes a comparison.  The comparison, "If we must die, let it not be like hogs.." is used
by the poet to show the point of the poem.  He is saying that he does not care if he dies,
so long as he has his dignity.  Another imagery statement is, "If we must die, let us die
nobly, so that our precious blood may not be shed in vain."  This makes an impact on the
reader.  One can picture the people of whom the poet speaks, dying, but dying nobly,
fighting their oppressors.

     The poet also uses sound to help make his point.  The sentence, "...while round us
bark the mad and hungry dogs..." is and example of this.  After reading that sentence one
can feel themselves in the place the poet speaks of, trapped by the madly barking dogs. 
Another example is, "O kinsmen, we must meet the common foe!!"  This reminds me of
a military officer rallying his troops for battle.  I think the poet is rallying his people to
fight off the oppression.

     Another thing the poet uses to make his point is, symbolism.  One thing that I think is
a symbol is the "mad and angry dogs".  I think that these are more than just barking dogs. 
I think that they symbolize the whole of the oppression felt by the poet and his people. 
Another symbol is the "inglorious spot" which the poet says that he and his people have
been penned in.  I think that the "inglorious spot" is also a symbol for the oppression felt
by the black people.

     Respect and dignity is thing that EVERYONE is entitled to.  "If we must die" is a plea
for people to recognize that.  By using imagery, sound, and symbols, the poet is better
able to express the urgent point of the poem.  We are all equal, we should all have
dignity.