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IGCSE Revision: Maya Angelou's "Still I Rise"

Maya Angelou's poem *Still I Rise* embodies themes of resilience, empowerment, and overcoming oppression. The poem's defiant tone and structural repetition emphasize strength and an unstoppable spirit, while natural imagery and rhetorical questions challenge prejudice. By connecting the present to historical struggles, Angelou celebrates Black identity and collective power.

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47 views1 page

IGCSE Revision: Maya Angelou's "Still I Rise"

Maya Angelou's poem *Still I Rise* embodies themes of resilience, empowerment, and overcoming oppression. The poem's defiant tone and structural repetition emphasize strength and an unstoppable spirit, while natural imagery and rhetorical questions challenge prejudice. By connecting the present to historical struggles, Angelou celebrates Black identity and collective power.

Uploaded by

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

Still I Rise — Maya Angelou

IGCSE Flashcards for Quick Revision

Question Answer
What does the title *Still I Rise* suggest? It symbolises resilience and determination — the speaker rises again despit
Who wrote *Still I Rise* and what influenced it? Maya Angelou (1928–2014), an African-American poet and activist. The poe
What is the main theme of *Still I Rise*? Overcoming oppression with pride and confidence; celebrating personal and
How would you describe the tone of the poem? Defiant, proud, empowering, and ultimately triumphant.
How does the structure of the poem reinforce its meaning?
The repetition of 'I rise' builds rhythm and momentum; the final longer stanz
What is the effect of repeating 'I rise'? It emphasises strength, resilience, and unstoppable spirit — a rhythmic ass
How does Angelou use natural imagery in the poem?
She compares herself to dust and a black ocean — both unstoppable and v
Why does Angelou use rhetorical questions like 'Does
To challenge
my sassiness
the reader
upsetand
you?'
confront prejudice; it creates a bold, assertive
What does the 'black ocean' represent? The vastness and strength of Black identity, heritage, and collective power.
How does the tone shift by the end of the poem? It moves from defiance to celebration and freedom, ending with a feeling of
How does the line 'I’m the dream and the hope of It
theconnects
slave' link
present
to history?
empowerment to the struggles and dreams of enslaved
How can you link form, language, and theme in anExample:
essay? The repetition of 'I rise' (form) highlights the theme of resilience (t

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