Still I Rise - Analysis - 639 Words

Still I Rise by Maya Angelou is a very moving ballad poem, and has a positive and strong tone throughout it. The main theme of this poem is discrimination. It portrays a strong woman living with confidence and a positive attitude. The reason why I chose to write my essay on Still I Rise is because it has a very powerful message. Although this poem was written in 1978, I feel as if anyone can relate to it even in this time period. Everybody experiences discrimination at some point in their lives, and this poem teaches readers to have pride and hope in their selves in order to overcome any obstacle that comes their way. There are quite a few poetic devices in the poem I will be focusing on such as similes, metaphors, repetition and†¦show more content†¦She feels free and open like the ocean, able to overcome any difficulty. The metaphor can also be described as cruelty or evil, and how things can occur unexpectedly. This could be how her life is full of horrific and unexpect ed events. The black ocean may also be referring to her race and it can inform readers that this poem is about racism. The metaphors used in the poem allow the audience to understand the bigger picture of the poem by exaggerating. The two last poetic devices mainly used in Still I Rise are imagery and repetition. In the fourth stanza, the lines, Did you want to see me broken? Bowed head and lowered eyes? Shoulders falling down like teardrops. Weakened by my soulful cries. appeals to the readers awareness. Those lines describe a silhouette of defeat, with a slumped posture and distressed eyes, which indicates failure and disappointment. Furthermore, the soulful cries deepens the image by adding a sense of audio layer, now the reader not only sees what defeat must feel like, but hears it too. The repetition used in the poem was Ill rise; I rise. By repeating these words, it emphasizes Angelous message of staying strong and never allowing anything or anyone to stop you from fighting a nd living confidently. This also helps the message stand out, which makes it much more powerful and significant. All of these literary devices together contribute furthermore into the depths of the poem by demonstrating the amount of the speakers power toShow MoreRelatedAnalysis of the poem Still I Rise1268 Words   |  6 Pages2014 An Analysis of the poem Still I Rise by Maya Angelou 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, â€Å"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, â€Å"Still I Rise†,heightens theRead MoreAnalysis Of The Poem Still I Rise 893 Words   |  4 Pagesthe famous words in the Declaration of Independence â€Å"all men are created equal† ( ), we are consistently observing that the fight for human rights and equality still exist today. Although African Americans have experienced and endured countless hardships and setbacks, their spirit proves to be resilient. In the unforgettable poem â€Å"Still I Rise†, written by the literary giant, Maya Angelou, the poem powerfully expresses the plight of the African American people and how we have risen above racism andRead MorePoem Analysis : Still I Rise 918 Words   |  4 Pages Poetry Response Essay I would like to start this essay by commenting on a video of a poem we saw in class by Shane Koyczan called â€Å"To This Day† it touched me emotionally and almost made me cry. The poem made me reflect on life, on all the emotional hardships I had to endure in my childhood, and most of my adult life; that the loved ones around me had suffered or suffer the same fate. I realized that people who are discriminated or even hated against tend to attract one another like a herd lookingRead MoreLiterary Analysis Of Still I Rise788 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"Still I Rise†, written by African-American writer Maya Angelou, includes a character who rises â€Å"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,Read MoreAnalysis Of Still I Rise By Maya Angelou993 Words   |  4 Pagesbraveness that was instilled inside of the Black culture. We can see this strength in the poems that we have discussed in class starting with Maya Angelou’s â€Å"Still I Rise.† Angelou starts off her poem stating, â€Å"You may write me down in history with your bitter, twisted lies, you may trod me in the very dirt but still, like dust, I’ll rise.(Lines 1-4)† From these lines, Angelou speaks on the strength that African-American have each day. Blacks have been seen in history as an abomination, and theirRead MoreAnalysis Of Still I Rise By Maya Angelou1080 Words   |  5 Pagestougher and wiser. Still I rise is a poem written by Maya Angelou, an African American poet and a civil-rights activist. This poem was written around the civil rights movement, when people where being segregated by their race. Throughout this poem we are shown the thoughts and feelings people have displayed against her, but she will not let them get her down. Her dark past allows her to have strength and rise above the criticism where h er ancestors fell to slavery. In poem Still I rise the main messageRead MoreAnalysis Of Kill A Mockingbird And Still I Rise 776 Words   |  4 PagesPast and present times encounter with each other through To Kill a Mockingbird and Still I rise. Throughout the context of To Kill a Mockingbird the message of change in society occurs evidently. During the story, the African Americans had made evident progress through independence, strength and courage. Although they faced conflict, they had generous people like Dolphus Raymond, the judge and Atticus, that were willing to assist them with good will, through this they proved that not every individualRead MoreAnalysis Of Still I Rise By Maya Angelou917 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"Still I Rise† is an inspiring poem written by Maya Angelou, she delivers a powerful message from within to provide her African American ancestors an opportunity to rise above segregation and racism. Maya Angelou expresses her pride throughout the poem and describes different hardships in her past. Angelou incorporates her past experiences, powerful views, and over comings while also expressing the tone regarding her pride, feminist values, strong confidence, and close ties with African AmericanRead MoreAnalysis of Maya Angelous Still I Rise1858 Words   |  8 PagesThe poem I have chosen to write a detailed description and interpretation of is Maya Angelous Still I Rise. In analysing the chosen poem I will be considering the ways in which my own knowledge, experience and cultural identity might have an influence in the way I have read and interpreted the poem. This poem is very strong and powerful, as a reader I can sense this in the title of the poem, still I rise. If the reader does not know the origin of the author I guess that it will be hard to tellRead MoreAnalysis Of `` Still I Rise `` By Kurt Vonnegut Jr.1624 Words   |  7 Pagesbelieve in or fall under the clutches of the opposition. This statement is noticeably evident in Kurt Vonnegut Jr.’s short story when he demonstrates the possible response to oppression in â€Å"Harrison Bergeron.† Likewise, in the memorable poem, â€Å"Still I Rise,† Maya Angelou illustrates the will power one can have to overcome accusations. Lastly, Hernando Tellez portrays through his short story, â€Å"Ashes for the Wind,† the severity some people would go though to reinforce basic rights. These authors exemplify