Comparing Hughes And Maya Angelou's Still I Rise

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.

‘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.

Harlem Renaissance was undoubtedly a cultural and social-political movement for the African American race. The Renaissance was many things to people, but it is best described as a cultural movement in which the high level of black artistic cultural production, demanded and received recognition. Many African American writers, musicians, poets, and leaders were able to express their creativity in many ways in response to their social condition. Until the Harlem Renaissance, poetry and literature were dominated by the white people and were all about the white culture. One writer in particular, Langston Hughes, broke through those barriers that very few African-American artists had done before this

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.

Throughout this poem Hughes has placed many symbols in the readers mind to bring the image of the African American people to thought. He reminds African American readers of their origin and what they have been through by using the

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.

Majority of African American women get judged on the day to day basis. When scrolling through social media there will be large amounts of individuals who will bully or even belittle a colored female because of the natural kinks of her hair, her sense of fashion, the full shaped curves of her body, and the color of her skin . The poem “Still I Rise” by the well-known poet, Maya Angelou, specifically describes the reasons why she had so much confidence; even if she were to be judged by her appearances and mindset. This poem is about embracing females, but it mainly introduces similar life situations that many African American women have experienced. The symbols and point of view that Angelou specifically added in her poem made her readers realize that there are many meanings to this poem.

Within life people have felt left behind, belittled, and denied by the world and those who have tried to destroy the person that they are, the dreams they hope to achieve, the ambition that drives them forward and the miracles they believe can be made out of their lives. Still I Rise is a poem written by Maya Angelou and depicts the struggles that she has encountered and had to overcome in her life, but most importantly it depicts how she has learned how she must rise above all the negative things that bring her down and deny her and has decided to surpass her own limits and the ones that others try to put on her. Much like her human beings been affected by many negative things from their peers, family, and even those who haven’t taken the

“Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou has a feeling of  empowerment, of persistence, perseverance, and triumph. The speaker, which is the author, has a can do attitude. She is stating that no one can destroy her, “You may tread me in the very dirt/ But still, like dust, I'll rise” (3-4). Throughout this poem she gives situations like stated above in which people have or will try to tear her down but she continues to repeat ‘I rise’. Maya states ‘I rise’ ten times giving us a clue that this key terminology to her. She uses these two words to tell a story. A story of pain and hurt but also a story of triumph. Through all that she and other colored people had been though she rose up from the racism. Her story is her being beaten down but having the willpower

Maya Angelou’s 1978 poem, Still I Rise main themes are discrimination and self respect and it also talks about two different types of oppression; sexism and racial oppression, not just black women but also women in general can also. This poem contains a number of different tones and several other language devices, metaphor, simile, hyperbole, imagery and rhetorical questions, uses certain words to position the responders the way she wants The very first word of Still I Rise is ‘You’. This suggests that the poet is clearly addressing the person reading the poem and making them feel as if they are being spoken to directly and personally and making them think about whether or not they are someone that oppresses people in this way. Angelou uses words like: weakened, soulful cries, kill, hatefulness etc.

Poems speak wonders, shares tales and advice that only some many understand. Maya Angelou (1928-2014), a very famous African American poet demonstrates this course with a poem called, “Still I Rise”. The text sends chills running down your spin, as a young woman, the feeling of empowerment sprouts up. In “Still I Rise”, Maya Angelou packs the poem with similes, metaphors and repetition in areas to express the theme. There is also several switches between rhyme schemes. The main message of “Still I Rise”, concludes to no matter what a person is going threw, still rise above the challenges, struggles, and overcome the obstacles that are placed. “Still I Rise”, send hope that we all must carry with us.

African Americans have been oppressed for centuries. Despite this discrimination, people of this race have fought hard for their freedom and respect. This pursuit of equality is evident inMaya Angelou’s poem, “Still I Rise”. Angelou integrates numerous literary ideas such as various sounds, poetry forms, and key concepts.The poetic devices incorporated in Maya Angelou’s work, “Still I Rise”,heightens the overall effectiveness of the poem.