Analysis Of Still I Rise By Maya Angelou

While Sandra Cookson claims that the poem is about "the survival of black women despite every kind of humiliation, deploys most of these forces, as it celebrates black women while simultaneously challenging the stereotypes to which America has subjected them since the days of slavery"(Cookson). I agree, because Angelou endured several injustices such as sexism, racism and criticism. Although Angelou faced these injustices, she triumphs over each one of them with pride. In addition, the 70s, many African-American feminists argued that black women were oppressed, not only because of their gender but because of their race. For example, in the fourth stanza, Angelou states, “Did you want to see me broken? /Bowed head and lowered eyes? /Shoulders falling down like teardrops. /Weakened by my soulful cries?” (Angelou 13-16). Here, the poet says how her

Maya Angelou’s poem “Still I Rise” was published in 1978 at one of the most productive and successful periods of Angelou’s career. “Still I Rise” tells about bouncing back and rising up past oppression and hate. The speaker in Angelou’s poem talks to a direct audience, asking them questions, announcing to them that no matter what they do, she will always rise back up. The poem is broken up into quatrains, although the last two stanzas use the repetition of the phrase “I rise” between the complete lines. The author uses figurative language in every stanza of her poem and uses similes and metaphors to create imagery and to get the tone and the theme of the poem across to the reader. Angelou uses figurative language to convey the message of resilience and succeeding even through hatred.

Angelou, in the first stanza, she talks about being characterized very negatively. This can be the effect of the history during the time that Angelou grew up, back when segregation was allowed in the United States. The “bitter” and “twisted lies” can represent the racist and negative comments that people made and thought during this time. Line three may illustrate the hate crimes that

‘Still I Rise’ was written by an Afro-American poet Maya Angelou and consists of a mixture of tones, such as: playful, angry, comical and bitter. Slavery was long abolished but Angelou saw its effects on society and black people. In this poem she declares that no hatefulness of society will determine her success. In the poem ‘Still I Rise’ she is not only proclaiming her triumph but also calls others to stand up for themselves and live against society’s expectations.

Maya Angelou’s poem “Still I Rise,” written in 1978, acknowledges the racism and segregation during the Civil Rights Movement. During this time, although no longer slaves, the African Americans have been given little rights and opportunity in America. Maya Angelou wrote this poem to prove to other American citizens that she is unfazed by their hate, while she strengthens her people’s motive to reach equality. Angelou utilizes metaphor, imagery and repetition to reveal how proud she is of her minority’s strength.

In stanza four Maya Angelou asks a series of rhetorical questions in lines thirteen and fourteen. She knows that people want to see her broken, weak and crying from the criticism and hateful words that have been said to her. She not only had to deal with criticism from being an African-American in a time when whites did not accept them into their society but also dealing with the fact that she was an African-American woman. During the fifties women were expected to marry and be a helping hand around the house. They were not expected to be in the working field. Just imagine how hard it had to be to make as an African-American women trying to achieve her goals. But she refuses to show how difficult it was through her emotion she just rises above it.

In the poem ‘Still I Rise’ by Maya Angelou, the poet uses repetition, metaphors and similes to express to her audience about how she has overcome racism in her life through demonstrating a strong, proud and defiant attitude to inspire others.

Maya Angelou, an African-American woman, wrote the poem, “Still I Rise,” in 1978 when racism was still prominent. Maya Angelou was reaching out to a racist community to prove oppression will not bring her down. Angelou brings up topics of what she and every other African-American person has to endure when living in their communities, and how they feel. She also brings up topics of oppression and marginalization throughout this speech to state that she will continue to rise up above it. Maya Angelou utilizes rhetorical questions, hateful diction, as well as, similes and metaphors to prove to others that she, and other African-American’s will rise against the racism and oppression they face.

She compares herself to a "black ocean, leaping and wide," an indication of the infinite power of her resilience. She closes the poem claiming that she is the "dream and the hope of the slave" followed by the thrice repeated phrase, "I rise." “Angelou captures the both the repression and the progress of the African American people over the course of history.” (Bouchard 1) I will use this essay in my final paper to analyze and determine the importance of simile in this poem and how it deeply affects the way in which the poem is meant to be

“Still I Rise”, written by African-American writer Maya Angelou, includes a character who rises “Up from a past that’s rooted in pain.” No matter what words are said against her, lies are told about her, threats are made towards her, or words are written against her, she takes the past and uses it to fuel her confidence. The way she writes creates a deep sense of pride and feeling, while giving the poem life and helping the audience realise that they, too can rise. The diction, literary devices, and theme help the speaker portray her feelings about the topic of oppression in her experience.

In the last two lines of this stanza she uses enjambment instead of ending the lines with periods like she did in the stanza before. Angelou does this to keep the idea about perseverance through difficult times, such as times when "food is gone, the rent is due"—one may "curse and cry" but they must "then jump two" (7-8) she doesn’t want to cut each idea short so she lets them flow into each other by not adding periods. There’s also alliteration is the last line to empathizes “curse and cry” because sometimes you will break down, but you have to keep going to continue

The poem “Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou, addresses White people who discriminate African Americans. During this period of time, Black people were not being treated equally, with this poem Angelou wants to defend African Americans. As a civil rights activist it is her job to fight for people's rights. By employing simile, imagery, and repetition, Angelou defends African Americans against their oppressors and shows that people have to be confident and strong, and not feel put down but rise above their problems.

The 2016 documentary, Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise, directed by Bob Hercules and Coburn Whack, is a captivating and touching film about poet and civil rights activist Maya Angelou’s life and influence on American history. Angelou’s story presents the audience with the idea that history is more than just a series of political events, it is about individual hardships that help to construct American society. Angelou’s biography depicts the overwhelming amount of discrimination towards African-American people and the personal effects it has on minorities. The documentary strips down to the core of what history is made of: humankind.

“Just like moons and like suns,/With the certainty of tides,/Just like hopes springing high,/Still I’ll rise (Angelou lines 9-12).” The similes used in these lines show certainty. She compares herself to the moon and sun in order to express that it does not matter what happens or has happened, she will rise, in the same way the sun and moon are certain to rise every day. Most people’s hopes are “high” ones, otherwise they are not really hopes. The speaker is saying that she may have been

At the end of every line Maya Angelou says that she will rise. The repetition is important in showing that no matter what comes against her she will still rise. She has learned to fight to stay happy. Even through all the adversity’s she faces she can still stay happy. The repetition of the phrase throughout the poem help signify its importance to the author. While saying that nothing can bring her down she is also saying that she will overcome adversities and rise