Scribd
Upload
2K views2 pages

Analysis of "Still I Rise" Poem

Maya Angelou's poem "Still I Rise" is a declaration of resilience and empowerment. Despite facing discrimination and hardship as an African American woman, Angelou is determined to succeed on her own terms. She uses poetic devices like repetition, similes, and alliteration to convey her resolute tone and confront injustice. The themes are self-empowerment, tenacity in the face of oppression, and rising above society's limitations.

Uploaded by

shaine jubay
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
2K views2 pages

Analysis of "Still I Rise" Poem

Maya Angelou's poem "Still I Rise" is a declaration of resilience and empowerment. Despite facing discrimination and hardship as an African American woman, Angelou is determined to succeed on her own terms. She uses poetic devices like repetition, similes, and alliteration to convey her resolute tone and confront injustice. The themes are self-empowerment, tenacity in the face of oppression, and rising above society's limitations.

Uploaded by

shaine jubay
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
  • Analysis of 'Still I Rise' by Maya Angelou: Provides an analysis on Maya Angelou's poem 'Still I Rise,' discussing themes of resilience, self-empowerment, and poetic devices used.
  • Poetic Devices in 'Still I Rise': Discusses the various poetic devices employed by Maya Angelou in 'Still I Rise,' including similes, enjambment, and anaphora.

STILL, I RISE

BY MAYA ANGELOU

In "Still I Rise," Maya Angelou muses on her upbringing,


hardships, and lessons she has learned. On April 4, 1928, in St.
Louis, Missouri, Angelou was born. Marguerite Johnson was her
real name at birth. Early in her life, her brother gave her the name
Maya. When she started singing calypso in 1950, she eventually
changed her name to Maya Angelou (Angelou being her
husband's last name). Maya Angelou led a very happy and
significant life. She has held a variety of jobs throughout the
years, including that of a cook, waitress, author, poet, actress,
singer, dancer, playwright, director, and producer. On May 28,
2014, in her home, Angelou passed away.
Maya Angelou, who was born in 1928, saw some of the greatest
discrimination and inequity seen by African Americans. Despite
the fact that slavery had long since been abolished, Angelou
observed its impact on both society and African Americans. Her
statement that she, for one, would not let society's intolerance
dictate her achievement is contained in the song "Still I Rise."
The poem "Still I Rise" is a declaration of the author's resolve to
live above the society in which she was raised as well as an
appeal to others to do the same.
Angelou adopts a resolute and determined tone throughout "Still
I Rise." She achieves a very similar mood by confronting the
strengths, histories, and futures of both herself and all
marginalized communities. After reading "Still Rise," a reader
ought to feel motivated, happy, and renewed with confidence
and tenacity.
In "Still I Rise," Angelou employs a variety of poetic devices and
figurative language. These include similes, enjambment,
anaphora, and alliteration. The first, called anaphora, is when a
word or phrase is repeated at the start of several lines, usually
one after another. The reader should go to stanza six in this poem
for an illustration. The opening words of lines one through three
in this passage are "You may," according to Angelou.
Self-empowerment, tenacity, and injustice are the main poetic
themes of this piece. The speaker, who is typically taken to be
Angelou herself, addresses her own oppressor repeatedly in the
work. She refers to "you" as the various forms of injustices that
women, people of color, and other oppressed populations have
experienced throughout recorded history.
She casts aside her previous negative thoughts about herself and
speaks affectionately and proudly about herself. The poet aspires
to empower everyone who has ever questioned their worth,
strength, beauty, intelligence, or ability. In verses like "You may
trod me in the very dirt / But still, like dust, I'll rise," this is
demonstrated.

You might also like