# Brer Rabbit, You’s de Cutes’ of ’Em All explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by James Weldon Johnson.

## What happens

The animals of the wilderness hold a meeting to decide who is the greatest among them. Judge Owl declares Brer Rabbit the cutest, sparking chaos and conflict. As the others fight, Brer Rabbit slyly takes the prize and escapes.

## Themes in this chapter

### Resilience and Hope

Brer Rabbit's cunning and ability to outwit stronger opponents illustrates resilience and clever survival in a hostile environment.

### Social Critique and Justice

The contest and ensuing chaos among the animals satirizes social hierarchies and the arbitrary nature of power and recognition.

## Character check-ins

### Brer Rabbit

Declared the cutest by Judge Owl; slyly exploits the others' fighting to seize the prize.

### Brudder Possum

Present at the meeting, considered 'kinder small' by Judge Owl.

### Brer Wolf

Described as 'mighty cunnin''; participates in the dispute.

### Brer Lion

Described as 'mighty vicious'; nearly tears Brer B'ar in two during the fight.

## Key lines

> Brer Rabbit, you’s de cutes’ of ’em all.

Brer Rabbit, you are the cutest of them all.

_Judge Owl's verdict that sparks the conflict among the animals._

> W’en dey was all so tiahd dat dey couldn’t catch der bref Brer Rabbit he jes’ grabbed de prize an’ flew.

When they were all so tired that they couldn't catch their breath, Brer Rabbit just grabbed the prize and fled.

_Brer Rabbit's clever escape after the other animals exhaust themselves fighting._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters/brer-rabbit-you-s-de-cutes-of-em-all
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_13_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_13_se/chapters