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Still I Rise Maya Angelou Analysis

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Still I Rise Summary & Analysis by Maya Angelou

• Line-by-Line Explanation & Analysis
• Poetic Devices
• Vocabulary & References
• Form, Meter, & Rhyme Scheme
• Line-by-Line Explanations

“Still I Rise” is a poem by the American civil rights activist and writer Maya Angelou. One of Angelou's most acclaimed works, the poem was published in Angelou’s third poetry collection And Still I Rise in 1978. Broadly speaking, the poem is an assertion of the dignity and resilience of marginalized people in the face of oppression. Because Angelou often wrote about blackness and black womanhood, "Still I Rise" can also be read more specifically as a critique of anti-black racism.

• Read the full text of “Still I Rise”

The Full Text of “Still I Rise”

“still i rise” summary, “still i rise” themes.

Defiance in the Face of Oppression

• Lines 10-12

Lines 13-16

Lines 17-20, lines 21-24, lines 25-28.

• Lines 29-32

The Power and Beauty of Blackness

• Lines 19-20
• Lines 22-23
• Lines 27-28
• Lines 33-34
• Lines 39-40

Line-by-Line Explanation & Analysis of “Still I Rise”

You may write ... ... dust, I'll rise.

Does my sassiness ... ... my living room.

Just like moons ... ... Still I'll rise.

Did you want ... ... my soulful cries?

Does my haughtiness ... ... my own backyard.

You may shoot ... ... air, I’ll rise.

Does my sexiness ... ... of my thighs?

Lines 29-34

Out of the ... ... in the tide.

Lines 35-40

Leaving behind nights ... ... of the slave.

Lines 41-43

I rise ... ... I rise.

“Still I Rise” Symbols

Valuable objects

• Lines 7-8: “I walk like I've got oil wells / Pumping in my living room”
• Lines 19-20: “I laugh like I've got gold mines / Diggin’ in my own backyard”
• Lines 27-28: “I dance like I've got diamonds / At the meeting of my thighs”

• Line 10: “the certainty of tides”
• Lines 33-34: “I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide, / Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.”

“Still I Rise” Poetic Devices & Figurative Language

• Line 21: “You may shoot me with your words”
• Line 22: “You may cut me with your eyes,”
• Line 23: “You may kill me with your hatefulness”
• Line 29: “the huts of history’s shame”
• Line 33: “I'm a black ocean”
• Line 40: “I am the dream and the hope of the slave”
• Line 4: “like dust, I'll rise”
• Line 9: “Just like moons and like suns”
• Lines 11-12: “Just like hopes springing high, / Still I'll rise”
• Line 24: “like air, I’ll rise”

Rhetorical Question

• Lines 5-6: “Does my sassiness upset you? / Why are you beset with gloom?”
• Lines 13-16: “Did you want to see me broken? / Bowed head and lowered eyes? / Shoulders falling down like teardrops, / Weakened by my soulful cries?”
• Line 17: “Does my haughtiness offend you?”
• Lines 25-28: “Does my sexiness upset you? / Does it come as a surprise / That I dance like I've got diamonds / At the meeting of my thighs?”
• Line 1: “You may”
• Line 3: “You may”
• Line 4: “But still, like dust, I'll rise.”
• Line 5: “Does my”
• Line 7: “’Cause I”
• Line 9: “Just like”
• Line 11: “Just like”
• Line 12: “Still I'll rise”
• Line 17: “Does my”
• Line 19: “’Cause I”
• Line 21: “You may”
• Line 22: “You may”
• Line 23: “You may”
• Line 24: “But still, like air, I’ll rise.”
• Line 25: “Does my”
• Line 30: “I rise”
• Line 32: “I rise”
• Line 36: “I rise”
• Line 38: “I rise”
• Lines 41-43: “I rise / I rise / I rise.”
• Line 2: “bitter, twisted”
• Line 4: “still, like dust, I'll”
• Line 24: “still, like air, I’ll”
• Line 33: “ocean, leaping”
• Lines 1-2: “history / With”
• Lines 7-8: “wells / Pumping”
• Lines 18-19: “hard / ’Cause”
• Lines 19-20: “mines / Diggin’”
• Lines 26-27: “surprise / That”
• Lines 27-28: “diamonds / At”
• Lines 29-30: “shame / I”
• Lines 30-31: “rise / Up”
• Lines 31-32: “pain / I”
• Lines 35-36: “fear / I”
• Lines 36-37: “rise / Into”
• Lines 37-38: “clear / I”
• Lines 38-39: “rise / Bringing”

Alliteration

• Line 1: “may,” “me”
• Line 3: “may,” “me,” “dirt”
• Line 4: “dust”
• Line 5: “sassiness upset”
• Line 6: “beset,” “gloom”
• Line 7: “walk,” “got,” “wells”
• Line 9: “suns”
• Line 10: “certainty”
• Line 11: “hopes,” “springing,” “high”
• Line 12: “Still”
• Line 13: “broken”
• Line 14: “Bowed”
• Line 17: “Does”
• Line 18: “Don't”
• Line 19: “laugh like,” “got gold”
• Line 20: “Diggin”
• Line 21: “You,” “may,” “me,” “with,” “your,” “words”
• Line 22: “You,” “may,” “cut,” “me,” “your”
• Line 23: “You,” “may,” “kill,” “me,” “your”
• Line 25: “Does,” “sexiness”
• Line 26: “Does,” “surprise”
• Line 27: “dance,” “diamonds”
• Line 29: “huts,” “history’s”
• Line 31: “past,” “pain”
• Line 33: “wide”
• Line 34: “Welling”
• Line 39: “gifts,” “gave”
• Line 1: “me,” “history”
• Line 2: “With,” “bitter,” “twisted,” “lies”
• Lines 4-4: “But still, / dust, I'll ”
• Line 4: “like,” “rise”
• Line 5: “upset,” “you”
• Line 6: “Why,” “you,” “beset,” “gloom”
• Line 7: “I,” “walk,” “like,” “I've,” “got”
• Line 8: “Pumping,” “in,” “my,” “living,” “room”
• Line 9: “like,” “like”
• Line 10: “tides”
• Line 11: “like,” “high”
• Lines 11-12: “springing / , / Still I'll ”
• Line 12: “rise”
• Line 13: “see,” “me”
• Line 14: “Bowed,” “lowered ,” “eyes”
• Line 15: “Shoulders,” “down”
• Lines 15-16: “teardrops, / Weakened by my ”
• Line 16: “soulful,” “cries”
• Line 18: “hard”
• Line 19: “I,” “like,” “I've,” “mines”
• Line 20: “my,” “backyard”
• Line 21: “You,” “shoot”
• Line 22: “You,” “eyes”
• Line 23: “You”
• Line 24: “like,” “I’ll ,” “rise”
• Line 25: “sexiness upset”
• Line 26: “surprise”
• Line 27: “I,” “like ,” “I've,” “diamonds”
• Line 28: “thighs”
• Line 29: “huts,” “shame”
• Line 31: “Up,” “past that’s,” “pain”
• Line 33: “I'm,” “wide”
• Line 34: “Welling,” “swelling,” “I ,” “tide”
• Line 35: “behind,” “nights,” “fear”
• Line 37: “wondrously,” “clear”
• Line 39: “Bringing,” “gifts,” “my,” “gave”
• Line 40: “I,” “slave”
• Lines 41-43: “I rise / I rise / I rise”

“Still I Rise” Vocabulary

Select any word below to get its definition in the context of the poem. The words are listed in the order in which they appear in the poem.

• (Location in poem: Line 3: “trod”)

Form, Meter, & Rhyme Scheme of “Still I Rise”

Rhyme scheme, “still i rise” speaker, “still i rise” setting, literary and historical context of “still i rise”, more “still i rise” resources, external resources.

"Still I Rise" and Today's America — Read about the relevance and meaning of "Still I Rise" to America today. 

The Political Power of "Still I Rise" — Learn how the poem has remained relevant for contemporary political figures and celebrities. 

"Still I Rise" Art Exhibit — Learn how other artists have been inspired by and responded to Angelou's poem.

Maya Angelou Recites "Still I Rise" — Listen to the poet read "Still I Rise" aloud.

"Still I Rise" Music Video — Watch a video that creatively integrates Angelou's recitation of the poem with relevant images.

LitCharts on Other Poems by Maya Angelou

Harlem Hopscotch

Life Doesn't Frighten Me

On the Pulse of Morning

Phenomenal Woman

When Great Trees Fall

Everything you need for every book you read.

A Summary and Analysis of Maya Angelou’s ‘Still I Rise’

By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University)

‘Still I Rise’ is a poem by the American poet Maya Angelou (1928-2014), published in her 1978 collection And Still I Rise . A kind of protest poem which is defiant as well as celebratory, ‘Still I Rise’ is about the power of the human spirit to overcome discrimination and hardship, with Angelou specifically reflecting her attitudes as a black American woman.

You can read ‘Still I Rise’ here .

‘Still I Rise’: summary

Beginning with a pointed and direct reference to ‘you’, Angelou opens her poem with a neat piece of wordplay: ‘write down in history’ means both ‘write down the history of me and my people’ but also ‘write me down, i.e., downplay me and my achievements by lying about me’. Although people may seek to belittle her and other African-Americans, Angelou asserts that, even if she is trodden into the dirt, like the dust rising from someone’s boot, she, too, will rise and will not be defeated.

In the second stanza, Angelou poses a direct question. Is her sexuality, her confidence in herself and her own attractiveness, upsetting? She walks with confidence, as if she is as rich as an oil baron. And (moving to the third stanza) like the sun and the moon which rise every day and night, and like our hopes for a brighter future which persist despite hard times, she will continue to rise, too.

The moon image suggests the tides of the sea (which are a result of the moon’s gravitational pull on the earth’s seas), which also go out but come in again, as regular and dependable as the sunrise and sunset every day.

In the fourth stanza, more questions follow: Angelou accuses her addressee of wanting to see her spirit broken. But in the fifth stanza, she asserts her ‘haughtiness’: she holds her head high, rather than bowing it in submission or defeat. She laughs with the confidence and self-assurance of someone who is rich beyond their wildest dreams, with gold mines in their back yard.

The sixth stanza sees Angelou asserting her defiance: cruel words and unkind looks, and ‘hatefulness’ (a word which flickers with the dual meaning of both ‘detestable attitudes’ and ‘hatred for others’), may be slung at her and other black people, but they will rise ‘like air’: naturally and lightly.

The seventh stanza revisits the ‘sassiness’ mentioned in the second stanza, only this time it has been transformed into out-and-out sexiness. Angelou offers another variation on the confident swagger mentioned in earlier stanzas: this time, she looks as though she has diamonds at the ‘meeting’ of her ‘thighs’. The bodily or sexual and the wealthy and material have finally met and become one.

‘Still I Rise’ concludes by departing from the quatrain form used up until this point, instead ending with fifteen lines which see the refrain ‘I rise’ repeated multiple times. Angelou asserts that she, and others, rise from the ‘huts of history’s shame’ at how it has treated black people over the centuries. She is a ‘black ocean’, powerful, energetic, and vast, and she can bear and weather the tidal fluctuations that life throws at her.

Indeed, she is leaving behind those dark times of ‘terror and fear’ and a new dawn is beginning, which is brighter and more hopeful. Her ancestors, who had to endure slave labour and then, even once freed, generations of racial prejudice, dreamed of such a time, and now it is here: their ‘gift’ to her is in establishing the dream, which has now been realised, thanks to the struggles and fights of the Civil Rights campaigners like Angelou herself.

‘Still I Rise’: analysis

Maya Angelou’s work, both her poetry and her autobiographies, is about the importance of not being defeated by the obstacles and challenges life throws at you. When ‘you’ here denotes an African-American woman who grew up with more than her fair share of hardship, the message of her poems becomes even more rousing: Angelou had known what it was to struggle.

Despite these hardships, which included growing up as one of the few black girls in the town in Arkansas where she spent ten years of her childhood, Maya Angelou consistently reaffirms the positive and inspirational aspects of humanity, and ‘Still I Rise’ is one of her best-known poems which assert the life-affirming qualities within the human race.

Angelou acknowledges and even confronts directly the many oppressions and discriminations faced by black people throughout history, but the poem’s message is overwhelmingly positive and hopeful.

‘Still I Rise’ can be classified or categorised as an example of a lyric poem, because although it is not designed to be sung, it is a poem spoken by a single speaker, in which she expresses her thoughts and feelings. And the poem is both a personal lyric, a channelling of Angelou’s own tough upbringing and experiences, and a poem about a nation developing during the Civil Rights era, in response to writers and activists including Angelou herself.

‘Still I Rise’ is composed largely in quatrains rhymed abcb . The line lengths vary and the number of syllables and beats in each line also varies, giving the poem a sprightly, unpredictable feel. It belongs to a strong spoken-word tradition where poetry is returned to its oral roots: these are words meant to be recited, chanted, declaimed out loud in the living voice.

And the shift from more ordered abcb quatrains into a less predictable form in the poem’s final stanza is perhaps best analysed as a broadening out rather than a breaking down: the poet’s passion, confidence, and optimism burst into new life, and can no longer be contained by the conventional four-line stanza form. The form of the closing lines of ‘Still I Rise’ thus enact their meaning: they are rising above the past (embodied by the more traditional quatrain) and becoming something more individualised, spirited, and bespoke.

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General Education

Maya Angelou is one of the most important literary figures in twentieth century American history . Her poetry is often included on reading lists for high school English courses, and it may even make an appearance on the AP Literature exam.

In this article, we’ll give you a full introduction to Angelou and her engaging poetry so that you’ll be equipped to analyze it all on your own. To do this, we’re going to guide you through a close analysis of one of Angelou’s most famous poems, “Still I Rise.”

To help you learn what Angelou’s “Still I Rise” poem is all about, we’ll cover the following in this article: 

• A brief intro to the poet, Maya Angelou
• “Still I Rise” poem background
• The overarching meaning of “Still I Rise”
• The top three themes in the poem
• The top two poetic devices in the poem

Are you ready to dive in? Then let’s go!

Maya Angelou, speaking at Wake Forest University, in 2008. (Kingofthedead/ Wikimedia )

Meet the Poet, Maya Angelou

In order to fully understand the meaning of a poem, it’s important to start by looking at the life of the poet who wrote it. Why? Because poets sometimes reference their own life experiences, relationships, and personal identities in their works. In this instance, we’re going to look at the life of Maya Angelou, the poet who wrote the poem, “Still I Rise.”

Maya Angelou, whose given name was Marguerite Annie Johnson, was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on April 4, 1928. Her father, Bailey Johnson, was a doorman and navy dietician, and her mother, Vivian Johnson, was a nurse and card dealer.

Growing up, Angelou’s home life was chaotic and sometimes emotionally distressing. Angelou’s parents divorced when she was three, and her home life became unstable. In the years following, Angelou and her brother were shuffled from place to place, including their grandmother’s home in Stamps, Arkansas. 

After returning to St. Louis at age eight, Angelou was sexually assaulted by her mother’s boyfriend, Freeman. Angelou told her brother, who told the rest of the family, and Freeman was arrested and charged. He was only held in jail for one day, but he was murdered shortly after his release. Some scholars think Angelou’s uncles were responsible, seeking revenge for what Freeman had done to Angelou. 

After Freeman’s murder, Angelou returned to live with her grandmother in Arkansas and spent five years virtually mute. It wasn’t until a teacher and family friend, Mrs. Bertha Flowers, took an interest in Angelou that she was able to find her voice again. 

Flowers introduced Angelou to authors such as William Shakespeare and Edgar Allen Poe, as well as Black female artists such as Frances Harper and Jessie Fauset . Years later, Angelou stated that she could no longer speak because she believed that her voice had killed Freeman. She felt that Freeman’s murder was proof that her words had the power to kill. Nevertheless, it was during this difficult period of her life that Angelou’s interest in poetry and writing began to take root. During this time, she also graduated high school and had her son, Clyde, at the age of seventeen. 

Angelou married her first husband, Enistasious Tosh Angelou, in 1951 . Around this time, she began pursuing art more seriously. After her marriage ended in 1954, Angelou began dancing professionally at clubs in San Francisco. Her managers at the Purple Onion, a night club, suggested she formally adopt the name, “Maya Angelou,” which she did. 

In 1959, Angelou moved to New York City to concentrate on her writing career. She joined the Harlem Writers Guild , where she met several other African American authors and began publishing her work. In 1960, she met civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. After hearing him speak, Angelou began volunteering to benefit the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and taking a stand as a political activist. 

Angelou’s professional writing career took off when she and her son moved abroad in 1962. She worked as an editor at a newspaper in Cairo, Egypt, and wrote for various publications in Ghana as well. Angelou also met and began working with human rights activist Malcolm X during her years in Africa. When she returned to the United States in 1964, Angelou helped Malcolm X set up the Organization of Afro-American Unity. The organization disbanded when Malcolm X was assassinated the next year. 

Angelou pursued writing more intensely in the years after traveling broadly, witnessing the need for human and civil rights, and processing the assassination of her fellow activists and friends, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X. Throughout the 1970s, Angelou experienced her most productive writing period, writing articles, short stories, TV scripts, documentaries, autobiographies, and poetry.

Arguably, Angelou’s most famous work is her autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings , published in 1969. But Angelou’s poetry is also highly acclaimed. Both her autobiography and her poetry explore the complexities of her childhood growing up in Missouri and Arkansas, racial discrimination, sexual assault, and womanhood. These works also emphasize the power of storytelling and the spoken word —two themes that find root in her childhood experiences as well. 

Up until her death on May 28, 2014, Angelou continued to write, teach, give lectures and poetry readings, and participate in political campaigning. She even directed a feature film! Angelou was a prolific artist whose work evokes powerful images of what being a Black child, woman, and artist was like in twentieth century America. 

Want to hear Maya Angelou recite "Still I Rise" herself? Just click on the video above!

Maya Angelou’s “Still I Rise” Poem

“Still I Rise” was originally published in the 1978 poetry collection, And Still I Rise by Maya Angelou. “Still I Rise” is the volume’s title poem and plays a crucial role in developing the collection’s key themes. It is also one of the most famous and widely read poems from this collection by Maya Angelou . 

Before we can dig into what the meaning of “Still I Rise” is, we need to actually read the poem. Take a look at the full text of “Still I Rise” below.

“Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou

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.

Does my sassiness upset you? Why are you beset with gloom? ’Cause I walk like I've got oil wells Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns, With the certainty of tides, Just like hopes springing high, Still I'll rise.

Did you want to see me broken? Bowed head and lowered eyes? Shoulders falling down like teardrops, Weakened by my soulful cries?

Does my haughtiness offend you? Don't you take it awful hard ’Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines Diggin’ in my own backyard.

You may shoot me with your words, You may cut me with your eyes, You may kill me with your hatefulness, But still, like air, I’ll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you? Does it come as a surprise That I dance like I've got diamonds At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history’s shame I rise Up from a past that’s rooted in pain I rise I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide, Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.

Leaving behind nights of terror and fear I rise Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear I rise Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave. I rise I rise I rise.

"Still I Rise" was written to address the discrimination that Black people face due to systemic racism in the United States. 

The Background Behind the “Still I Rise” Poem

One way that we can discern the meaning and themes of a poem is by looking at its background, including experiences in the poet’s life and broader historical events that may have influenced the poet. Still I Rise” was written to portray the resilience of Black people in response to racial discrimination and injustice. 

“Still I Rise” was written during the 1970s, when Angelou became involved in the civil and human rights movements, engaged in political activism, and traveled abroad to Africa. These experiences likely gave Angelou an intimate look at many forms of discrimination around the world. 

Angelou also met and worked with some of the most inspiring leaders of the civil and human rights movement during the 1960s and 1970s. This means that, while Angelou witnessed injustice, she also got to see the resilient spirit of Black people united in action. These experiences with racism and resistance influenced Angelou’s writing during the 1970s and shaped the themes in many of her poems, including “Still I Rise.” 

On top of these influences, Angelou also had a traumatizing childhood, which included her own personal experience with racial discrimination and sexual abuse. For Maya Angelou, “Still I Rise” and other poems are an outlet for processing that personal pain and finding ways to rise above the wounds individual people and society inflicted upon her. 

Now it's time to do a little investigation and figure out what Maya Angelou's poem is actually about! 

“Still I Rise”: Meaning and Themes

Now, let’s dig into the meaning of “Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou. Go ahead and reread the poem one more time so that it’s fresh in your mind as we talk about the “Still I Rise” poem’s meaning and themes. 

“Still I Rise” Poem Meaning

The central meaning of “Still I Rise” can be summed up like this: despite America’s violent and discriminatory treatment of Black people, Black resilience is an unstoppable force and a beacon of hope. 

The poem’s title, “Still I Rise,” suggests that the poem’s speaker is rising up despite or in response to challenging circumstances. As the poem develops, we learn that the speaker rises up in response to American society’s hatred and oppression of Black people.  

The speaker of the poem is Black, which we learn in these two lines in the last stanza: 

Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave.

The speaker’s reference of slavery and ancestors situates them in a very specific cultural and racial role as a Black person. 

Additionally, we see how this Blackness rises up in opposition of hate, discrimination, and oppression throughout the poem. For example, in the second stanza, the poem’s speaker asks the reader:

The fourth and fifth stanzas pose questions to the reader in a similar fashion, asking:

Angelou opens each of these stanzas with questions as she calls out everyone who has participated in the oppression of Black people. She demands an explanation for their hatred, and each question calls out a specific instance of or type of mistreatment. Speaking on behalf of Black people who have experienced discrimination, the speaker questions why Black people are treated with violence and contempt. 

As the poem goes on, it becomes clear that those who hate Black people do so because of the strength, beauty, and resilience of Black people... even though the Black community remains oppressed. We see this in the similes that compare the spirit of Black people to resources that are an endless wellspring of riches, like “oil wells / Pumping in [the speaker’s] living room” and “gold mines / Diggin’ in [her] own backyard.” Using these comparisons, Angelou asks the reader to consider why it’s the enduring hope, joy, and strength of Black people  that makes others want to break them down.

While the strength and beauty of Black people incites hatred and intolerance, Angelou also portrays these qualities as the ultimate source of Black people’s strength to keep rising back up. The speaker argues that Black people refuse to give up in the face of society’s racism and oppression. Instead, they respond with remarkable strength. 

Now, let’s take a closer look at the three major themes that define Angelou’s poem: the relationship between personal and collective experience, the irrationality of racial hatred, and the enduring nature of Black resilience. 

Angelou not only talks about the ways in which Black people collectively experience racism, she is asking readers to examine their role in perpetuating racism, too.

Theme 1: The Relationship Between Personal and Collective Experience

The first theme we’ll discuss that’s important to understanding Maya Angelou’s “Still I Rise” is the relationship between personal and collective experience. 

First, there are two major characters in “Still I Rise”: the Black speaker of the poem, and the person to whom they’re asking their questions (the “you”/addressee).  

Let’s look at the poem’s addressee. Throughout “Still I Rise,” the poem’s speaker addresses an unknown “you.” At first glance, it may seem like this “you” could be anyone, but as we get deeper into the poem, it becomes clear that Angelou is addressing a specific type of person: anyone who despises or hurts Black people because of their racial identity. 

So, though it sounds like the speaker is addressing an individual when she says “you,” she’s actually referring to a group of like-minded people: all those individuals who participate in racial discrimination. When you read “you” in the poem, that’s who should come to mind. In that way, Angelou targets a collective experience of racism and racist behavior as the main topic of her poem. 

But we can also break down the identity of the poem’s “you” a bit more. We could also read Angelou’s use of “you” as her way of asking all readers to look inside themselves to see if they’re complicit in racism, too. 

In other words, Angelou could be asking us to examine ourselves for hidden biases: do we experience any of the negative feelings toward Black people that the “you” portrayed in the poem experiences? And if we do, do we want to be included in that hateful “you?” By addressing the reader as potentially being a part of that “you,” Angelou gives us an opportunity to reflect on their internalized biases and reject harmful ones that we may not have realized we were harboring. 

In that way, Angelou draws a strong connection between collective actions and our individual responsibility. It’s easy to write off a group of people as “racist,” but we have to remember that group is made up of individual people. And more importantly, “Still I Rise” argues that it’s our responsibility to make sure our own individual ideas, beliefs, and actions aren’t feeding a system that harms others. 

The poem’s speaker also exhibits the relationship between our individual selves and collective experiences. Throughout the poem, the speaker refers to themselves in the first person, often using “I” and “my” to refer to their experiences with racial discrimination.

But in the first and last stanzas of the poem, Angelou’s speaker indicates that their experiences are common and shared among Black people. The speaker does this by referring to the role of history in documenting both the oppression of Black people and their response to this oppression. 

Throughout the poem, the speaker’s individual experiences tie into the collective experiences of Black people. As the speaker “rises” from each individual attempt to break her or push her down, so do Black people as a whole. This is on display in the following stanza: 

In this final stanza of the poem, the speaker reveals that their resilience, and that of their people, comes from a shared and enduring collective experience. When the speaker refers to “the gifts that my ancestors gave,” they’re talking about how the strength of past Black people continues to undergird the Black community in the present. This is the historical narrative that truly defines who she is—not the bitter, twisted lies of their oppressors. 

So in this case, the speaker’s individual decision to rise in the face of discrimination contributes to Black people’s collective experience in the face of racism . And more importantly, her individual actions will help future generations continue to rise up and above as well.

Theme 2: The Irrationality of Racism

Another important theme that Angelou portrays in “Still I Rise” is the irrationality of racism. Angelou conveys this theme through rhetorical questions that demonstrate that the reasons people cite for hating Black people are trivial. 

The “you” who is addressed by the poem’s speaker is portrayed as being upset and offended because the speaker is sassy, hopeful, haughty, and sexy. Those seem like weird things to hate someone for, right? And you certainly wouldn’t oppress someone just because they exhibit those qualities! 

That’s exactly Angelou’s point in this poem. She’s showing that hatred and fear of Black people is irrational. The “bitter, twisted lies” that came to define America’s understanding of Black people since the early days of the country’s existence didn’t make sense then, and “Still I Rise” argues that they don’t make sense now. The poem reiterates that the lies that paint Black people as dangerous or “less than” others are baseless and untrue. 

Instead, the speaker rewrites the story of who they are in order to rise up against the hateful “you” that they’re addressing in the poem . By revealing the truth of who she is—sassy, sexy, human— she challenges the historical lies that support racist ideas. By asking the “you” if they are offended and upset because of who she truly is, Angelou’s speaker exposes the irrationality of the hatred directed toward Black people. 

Theme 3: The Enduring Nature of Black Resilience

A final central theme that characterizes “Still I Rise” is the enduring nature of Black resilience. Throughout the poem, the speaker portrays the nature of their resilience through comparisons to things that are known for their toughness or ability to endure. Ultimately, these comparisons between the resilience of the speaker and durable things symbolizes the resilient spirit of Black people in general. 

Angelou’s speaker characterizes their resilience as being similar to things from the natural world that endure through the weathering down that occurs as time passes. For instance, Angelou tells the poem’s “you” that, while they may be trodden into “the very dirt,” like “dust” they’ll rise again. And just like the moon, sun, and the tides of the ocean—all of which fall and rise—the speaker will continue to rise as well. 

Angelou makes these comparisons to portray the speaker’s resilience in a specific way. Like the “certainty” of the patterns of the sun and moon,  the speaker’s resilience is certain. It won’t fade away or diminish; it will endure. The speaker is ensuring the poem’s “you” that no matter what hateful things they say or do, the speaker will rise up no matter what. 

The references to human activities like pumping oil and mining gold work also the importance and value of resilience. 

The speaker says they walk like they’ve got oil wells pumping in her living room, and laughs like they’ve got gold mines in their backyard. Of course, the poem’s speaker doesn’t actually have oil wells and gold mines. Instead, the speaker makes these comparisons to show their resilient spirit is more valuable than oil and more precious than gold. 

Ultimately, the poem’s speaker is recognizing that the poem’s “you” can’t comprehend the value of the speaker’s resilience, nor can they diminish the driving force behind the speaker’s resilient spirit. 

The Top 2 Poetic Devices in “Still I Rise”

Poetic devices are literary devices that poets use to enhance and create a poem’s structure, tone, rhythm, and meaning. In Maya Angelou’s poem, “Still I Rise,” Angelou uses repetition and rhetorical questions to reinforce her poem’s meaning . 

Poetic Device 1: Repetition

Repetition is often used in poetry to solidify a key idea or theme. Similar to the refrain of a song, repetition can also be used to create a particular rhythmic effect and set a poem’s mood. In “Still I Rise,” Angelou’s speaker repeats the refrain, “Still I rise” and, “I rise” to convey the power of Black resilience and set a triumphant tone . 

The repetition of “Still I rise” and “I rise” set up a stark contrast between the hateful actions of the poem’s “you” and the resilient response of the poem’s speaker. Angelou describes how the poem’s “you” attempts to keep the speaker down. The “you” addressed by the speaker may “trod [them] in the very dirt,” “shoot [them] with your words,” and “cut [them] with your eyes.” These actions are all designed to break the spirit of the speaker. But in response to each of these attempts to oppress them, the speaker repeats the phrase, “I rise.” 

So whereas the hatred portrayed in the poem is dirty and low, the speaker’s resistance rises high above these kinds of exchanges. Rather than responding with hatred, the speaker walks, laughs, and dances, rejecting the lies of those who would oppress them. 

The repetition of the phrase, “I rise” is also symbolic: it conveys the ongoing resilience of the spirit of Black people in response to ongoing racism and discrimination. With each repetition of “I rise,” the reader gets a sense of just how strong and resilient the speaker is. This repetition emphasizes the speaker’s message that attempts to keep Black people down will never be successful. As the poem’s eighth stanza says, the resilience of Black people is like the ocean: 

Up from a past that’s rooted in pain I rise I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide, Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.

In other words, “rising up” is not something that the speaker and, by extension, Black people, do only once. Because racial oppression also endures, Black people find themselves rising up again and again. 

Poetic Device 2: Rhetorical Questions

Rhetorical questions are the other main poetic device that Angelou uses to convey the “Still I Rise” meaning. Rhetorical questions are questions that a writer poses in order to make the reader come up with their own answer--and think more deeply about complicated issues in the processes. Writers often use rhetorical questions to guide readers toward answers that reinforce the poem’s message. 

In “Still I Rise,” rhetorical questions appear at the beginning of four of the stanzas. Each rhetorical question in this poem is addressed to the poem’s “you.” Each question asks about the ways in which the speaker offends the addressee. This technique allows Angelou to investigate why the addressee hates the speaker...which also allows her to shine a light on the flimsy reasons behind racism as well.

The repetition of these rhetorical questions sets a tone that feels more like an interrogation than a conversation—and this is intentional. Each rhetorical question directed toward the hateful “you” in the poem serves to condemn their hatefulness, especially when Angelou’s speaker begins answering the questions herself. 

Additionally, the speaker answers the rhetorical questions for the reader in order to help readers see the insubstantial motivations behind their hatred of Black people. Take the question and answer sequence in the poem’s fifth stanza for example: 

The stanza above begins with a rhetorical question directed at the reader about haughtiness. But Angelou’s speaker also answers the question themselves, revealing that they already know the “you” in the poem is offended by her haughtiness. 

Ultimately, Angelou uses rhetorical questions to ask the collective “you” addressed in the poem to reflect on their own hatefulness and intolerance. By answering these questions with declarative statements throughout the poem, Angelou is signaling to the poem’s “you” that Black people aren’t confused about where this hatred comes from. They understand that Black people’s refusal to give up in the face of ongoing lies and cut downs only makes those who are filled with hate even angrier.

In fact, these rhetorical questions, piled up one after the other in the poem, convey an attitude of defiance. They prompt the poem’s “you” to essentially ask themselves, “Did you really think your hatred could keep us down?” Nevertheless, by stating the violence against Black people with each rhetorical question and communicating a resilient response to each cut down in her answers, Angelou emphasizes just how strong Black people are.

What's Next?

Analyzing poetry can be tricky, so it’s helpful to read a few expert analyses. We have a bunch on our blog that you can read through, like this one about Dylan Thomas’ “Do not go gentle into that good night” or this article that explains 10 different sonnets!

It’s much easier to analyze poetry when you have the right tools to do it! Don’t miss our in-depth guides to poetic devices like assonance , iambic pentameter , and allusion .

If you’re more about writing poetry than analyzing it, we’ve got you covered! Here are five great tips for writing poetry (and a few scholarships for budding poets , too).

These recommendations are based solely on our knowledge and experience. If you purchase an item through one of our links, PrepScholar may receive a commission.

Ashley Sufflé Robinson has a Ph.D. in 19th Century English Literature. As a content writer for PrepScholar, Ashley is passionate about giving college-bound students the in-depth information they need to get into the school of their dreams.

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Still I Rise

by  Maya Angelou

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. Does my sassiness upset you? Why are you beset with gloom? ’Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells Pumping in my living room. Just like moons and like suns, With the certainty of tides, Just like hopes springing high, Still I’ll rise. Did you want to see me broken? Bowed head and lowered eyes? Shoulders falling down like teardrops, Weakened by my soulful cries? Does my haughtiness offend you? Don’t you take it awful hard ’Cause I laugh like I’ve got gold mines Diggin’ in my own backyard. You may shoot me with your words, You may cut me with your eyes, You may kill me with your hatefulness, But still, like air, I’ll rise. Does my sexiness upset you? Does it come as a surprise That I dance like I’ve got diamonds At the meeting of my thighs? Out of the huts of history’s shame I rise Up from a past that’s rooted in pain I rise I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide, Welling and swelling I bear in the tide. Leaving behind nights of terror and fear I rise Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear I rise Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave. I rise I rise I rise.

Meanings of Still I Rise by Maya Angelou

The poem “Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou is highly suggestive of the defiance, resolution , and determination of a woman from a marginalized community to rise above others in the face of discrimination. Specifically, it speaks of the suppression of the women of African American community in the United States.

Meanings of Stanza -1

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.

This is the first quatrain or four-lined stanza of the poem that presents the defiance of the poet. She states that the historiographer may not appreciate her role in the history books and hide it through twisted lies and bitter truth or he may call her dirt. She will still rise up like dust. She means that she will rise up despite the fact that she has been crushed throughout history and that her role has been diminished. This stanza contributes to the main idea of racial discrimination by the use of “still” which points to the defiance of the poet.

Meanings of Stanza -2

Does my sassiness upset you? Why are you beset with gloom? ’Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells Pumping in my living room.

The poet asks her interlocutor two rhetorical questions and then responds to them. She asks him whether he has realized her teasing and why he is feeling sad. However, she, despite her seeming poverty and penury, is walking in a graceful manner as if she owns a petro-dollar industry. She states in metaphorical terms that it seems that oil wells are pumping in her living room. This stanza contributes to the overall meaning of the poem by showing that an African American woman is not afraid of demonstrating her confidence.

Meanings of Stanza -3

Just like moons and like suns, With the certainty of tides, Just like hopes springing high, Still I’ll rise.

Using two beautiful similes, Maya Angelou states that she is going to rise up, and it is her fate. It is a divine work like that of the moon, the sun, and the hope that does not subside in her. She states with certainty all these things will rise up and that the tide has turned as she is destined to rise. The poet is confident of good days coming ahead. The stanza contributes to the main idea in that it presents a hopeful African American woman determined to achieve something in life.

Meanings of Stanza -4

Did you want to see me broken? Bowed head and lowered eyes? Shoulders falling down like teardrops, Weakened by my soulful cries?

Presenting a number of rhetorical questions, this stanza shows African American woman, or the poet herself, in a highly defiant tone , looking squarely at the interlocuter to point out his/her machinations. She asks them whether they want to see her as a broken lady. Do they want to see her submit to their will or a weak soul crying before them? This question wrings in her ears and comes on her lips, knowing full well the consequences. This also shows the confidence of the lady in question. Interestingly, this stanza contributes to the main idea of resolution and determination by presenting a confident lady.

Meanings of Stanza -5

Does my haughtiness offend you? Don’t you take it awful hard ’Cause I laugh like I’ve got gold mines Diggin’ in my own backyard.

This stanza presents one rhetorical question in which the poet asks her interlocuter whether her pride in her achievements offends him/her. Then she explains that she is habitual of showing as if she is a very rich lady and that she has gold mines and that too in her backyard. She means that she is habitual in showing pride in her race and color and that the listeners or interlocutors should not mind this direction of her behavior. This stanza further contributes to the meaning of the poem about her resolution to rise up.

Meanings of Stanza -6

You may shoot me with your words, You may cut me with your eyes, You may kill me with your hatefulness, But still, like air, I’ll rise.

This stanza presents the reverse picture. It shows how the interlocuter is alleged of racial suppression. The poet states using the second person that the person in question uses words to express their hatred toward the poet and other women of her race. They could kill her, but they could not stop her from rising up. This is a direct conversation with the interlocutor after the rhetorical questions in which the poet asks the interlocutors that they should stop obstructing her and her race through words or deeds. This stanza contributes to the overall meaning of the poem about the resolution of the poet.

Meanings of Stanza -7

Does my sexiness upset you? Does it come as a surprise That I dance like I’ve got diamonds At the meeting of my thighs?

This stanza presents more rhetorical questions, but they are related to her sexual attraction. She states that it could be that her sexiness comes as a surprise due to the color of her skin, but that she has another thing that is like diamonds and that lies between her legs. This is her sexuality, she states, is precious to her and that it has the same attraction as other ladies. This stanza contributes to the main idea by stating the reasons for her defiance and resolution.

Meanings of Stanza -8

Out of the huts of history’s shame I rise Up from a past that’s rooted in pain I rise I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide, Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.

This stanza presents the past of the speaker . She is of the view that she has been shamed and blamed during the entire period of history. She has suffered heavily. She has been drowned in the sea of blackness whose tides have made him swell and well. This history of ups and downs, however, is punctured with her rise that is definite now . The stanza contributes to the main idea of resolution, which is definite and final.

Meanings of Stanza -9

Leaving behind nights of terror and fear I rise Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear I rise Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave. I rise I rise I rise.

This stanza again presents her determination. She states that the nights of terror and fear have gone. The dawn is now clear and beautiful. Her ancestors, who were slaves, have given her the gifts due to which she is destined to rise. The repetition of the anaphora “I rise” shows her confidence in her resolution and determination to rise up against heavy odds in life.

Summary of Still I Rise

• Popularity of “Still I Rise”: Maya Angelou, a famous American poet, wrote this poem. It was first published in 1978. The poem speaks about the resolution the poet to overthrow prejudices and injustices. It also summarizes the struggle and the positive attitude of the speaker against racial and gender discrimination.
• “Still I Rise” As a Representative of Courage : As this poem is the reflection of the speaker’s determination, she expresses her thoughts about how she will face the haters. She is determined to be strong and is ready to overcome everything with her self-esteem. At the outset, she narrates how people judge and perceive her, the problems she undergoes, and the resultant torture she suffers. She displays a highly positive attitude even after facing criticism. She resolves and says that she will never allow anyone to let her down and will continue to rise.
• Major themes in “Still I Rise”: Courage , pride, and injustice are some of the major themes crafted in the poem. The poet speaks about the biting criticism of dark skin in society. Also, she details how people want to kill them with hatefulness. But, the speaker is really proud of her identity, which she expresses in various ways in the text. She openly challenges those who want to hold her down. Instead of wallowing in stress and fear, she aims to live a happy and confident life.

Analysis of Literary Devices in “Still I Rise”

literary devices are used to bring depth and clarity to the text. Maya Angelou also employed some literary devices in this poem to describe her feelings. The analysis of some of the literary devices used in this poem is given below.

• Assonance : Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in the same line, such as the sound of /i/ in “W i th your b i tter, tw i sted lies”.
• Imagery : Imagery is used to make readers perceive things involving their five senses. For example, “You may write me down in history”; “You may shoot me with your words” and “I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide.”
• Rhetorical Question : Rhetorical question is a question that is not to receive an answer; it is just posed to make the point clear. Such as, “Does my sassiness upset you?”; “Does my sexiness upset you?” and “Did you want to see me broken?”
• Consonance : Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds in the same line. For example, the sound of /l/ in “Welling and swelling I bear in the tide” and the sound of /t/ in “Out of the huts of history’s shame”.
• Simile : It is used to compare an object or person with something else to make the meanings clear to the readers. There are a lot of similes used in this poem, such as, “But still, like dust, I’ll rise”; “Just like moons and like suns” and “’Cause I laugh like I’ve got gold mines”.
• Anaphora : It refers to the repetition of a word or expression in the first part of some verses . The poet repeats the words “You may” in the opening lines of the poem to express her ideas. For example,

“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.”

• Enjambment : It is defined as a thought or clause that does not come to an end at a line break and moves over the next line. For example,

“You may trod me in the very dirt But still, like dust, I’ll rise.”

Analysis of Poetic Devices in “Still I Rise”

Poetic Devices refer to those techniques a poet uses to bring uniqueness to his text. The analysis of some of the poetic devices used in this poem is given below

• Stanza : A stanza is a poetic form of some lines. In this poem, there are nine stanzas with each stanza having four verses.
• Quatrain : A quatrain is a four-lined stanza borrowed from Persian poetry. Each stanza in the poem is a quatrain.
• Trochee: Trochee means there is a one stressed and one unstressed syllable in a line.
• Stressed and Unstressed Syllables: These two types of syllables are used in trochee such as the first is stressed and second is an unstressed syllable in “Still I Rise” and this pattern continues throughout the poem such as, “ You may write me down in ”
• Repetition : There is a repetition of the words “I rise” which has created a musical quality in the poem.
• Refrain : The lines that are repeated at some distance in the poems are called refrains. The phrase , “Still I’ll rise” is repeated in the first, third, and fifth stanzas with the same words. Hence it has become a refrain .

Quotes to be Used

The lines stated below can be used in a speech to lift the spirits of the people, motivate them and teach them how to ignore negative voices . These powerful words speak about the unbreakable courage of a person.

“You may shoot me with your words, You may cut me with your eyes, You may kill me with your hatefulness, But still, like air, I’ll rise.”

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Theme in “Still I Rise” Poem by Maya Angelou Essay

Introduction, works cited.

The poem “Still I Rise” is an inspiring composition that celebrates self-acceptance and self-love. Maya Angelou, a renowned American poet, wrote this poem in 1978 (Nkopuruk and Odusina 3). Inequality and oppression characterizing Angelou’s life inspired her to write the poem. Although the American society abolished slavery several decades ago, African Americans and other minority groups continued to face misfortunes in different spheres of life. In this regard, Angelou positions herself as the victim of oppression. She symbolizes the people of color and the tribulations they experience daily. Notwithstanding, in the last stanzas, Angelou offers hope to the oppressed people and urges them to remain resilient to overcome the anguishes they experience (Angelou 46). She chose the title “Still I Rise” to motivate the isolated and discriminated individuals that they can change their present situations with persistence and determination. Essentially, the poet utilized various literary devices, including symbolism, imagery, repetition, and simile, to explore the primary theme of oppression and resilience, which is inspired by the racial discrimination.

The primary theme highlighted throughout the poem relates to oppression and resilience. Angelou speaks and reflects on the oppression legacy, referring to the tribulations experienced by the black individuals since the historic period. She rebukes the oppressors, especially the white people, with significant fierceness (Nkopuruk and Odusina 3). In strengthening the primary theme, the author uses words such as slave, trod, lies, and tides to create a logical appeal to the implication of racism and discrimination. For instance, the word “trod” represents a diction that has an interesting connotation, implying the existing detachment between the whites and black people due to racial stereotypes and biases (Angelou 46). Apart from the struggles emanating from the oppression, the poet also talks about overcoming them. She calls for a resilient and defiant spirit rather than giving up. In stanza eight and line 7, Angelou says that she is leaving behind nights of fear and terror (Nkopuruk and Odusina 3). This figurative language encourages the oppressed people that their anguishes will ultimately end and enjoy their rights and freedom, irrespective of their racial affiliations.

The poet also relies on symbolism to reinforce her theme of oppression and resilience. Firstly, Angelou uses oil wells as a symbol of prosperity or wealth. She talks about walking as a person who owns oil wells in his or her living room (Angelou 46). In using this symbol, the poet suggests she is powerful and rich in spirit rather than in the monetary sense. Her wealth of determination, self-esteem, and courage empowers and gives her life control the same way an oil well owner presumably has sufficient funds to live as she or he wishes. The poet makes the second reference to the symbol of prosperity in the fifth stanza. She describes her pride and elegance, which might be perceived as arrogance. Angelou is full of confidence and superiority, such that she laughs about her possession of gold mines in her backyard. Consistent with oil wells, gold mines imply perpetual wealth and not ordinary riches. She demonstrates that the oppressed people should have limitless courage and determination to pursue their dreams in life despite the racial discrimination they encounter.

Additionally, Angelou refers to the third reference of wealth symbol in the seventh stanza when she talks about diamonds. In a provocative way, she describes her powerful and liberated spirit. The narrator says that an individual might think she has diamonds on her thighs when she dances (Nkopuruk and Odusina 3). In this context, the diamonds signify power and wealth as well as sexuality and beauty. Women often wear diamonds because they act as a symbol of royalty. Nevertheless, instead of wearing diamonds as crowns or necklaces, they are amusingly fitted between the narrator’s legs. The language choice implies a sexual connotation, suggesting she is also beautiful and a sensual female. The author chose this symbolism to inspire women who are the primary victims of discrimination due to their gender. She urges them to take pride in their beauty and enhance their self-belief and courage to succeed in life. Indeed, diamonds demonstrate the speaker’s sexual prowess, which translates to women’s undisputable ability to fulfill various obligations in different spheres of life.

The author also uses irony and second-person narration to strengthen the major theme of oppression and resilience. Maya Angelou is the speaker in the poem and narrates her experiences and tribulations as a black woman (Angelou 46). She wants the readers to visualize the problem and develop the desire to fight it. Further, the poet taunts and interrogates unspecified “you” throughout the poem, thus holding this individual or people responsible for her misfortunes. In using the second-person narration, the author intended to prompt readers to reflect on their actions and evaluate whether they are the promoters of discrimination. In this way, they can be inspired to change their behaviors by visualizing the suffering inflicted to the victims. The poet also uses irony to create a definite picture in readers’ minds about how actions intended to weaken them can help them overcome their problems. For instance, in stanza one, the intention of treading the narrator in the dirt was to stop her from pursuing her ambitions. However, the action acted as her inspiration for overcoming her fears.

Furthermore, the poet adopts repetition to strengthen her primary message to the audience. For example, she utilizes assonance, which involves the repetition of vowel sounds within the same line. In the poem’s second line, “With your bitter, twisted lies,” the /i/ sound is notable (Nkopuruk and Odusina 3). Assonance helps to create rhythm and emphasize the main concepts. In this context, the /i/ sound assists the readers to envision the mistreatments the narrator endures. Equally, the author embraces consonance by repeating consonant sounds in the different lines of the poem. For instance, the sound of /l/ in the words “Welling” and “Swelling” creates a rhythm to the narration and attracts readers’ attention to gain the intended insights regarding the aspects of oppression and resilience. Significantly, the narrator repeats severally the phrase “I rise” in the last stanza (Angelou 47). It emphasizes the dire need to overcome the discrimination problem to respect and empower all people, irrespective of their gender and cultural backgrounds.

Simile and imagery also help develop the poem’s theme of oppression and resilience. For instance, the poet used simile in the line “But still, like dust, I’ll rise” to demonstrate the confidence and courage of the narrator in overcoming the present tribulations (Nkopuruk and Odusina 3). Comparing the object “dust” with the action “rising” helps readers understand the actual meanings. On its part, imagery assisted in making the audience perceive things comprising the five senses. The speaker explains how the oppressors shoot her with their words (Angelou 46). As a result, she gives “words” the human ability to shoot. The use of this personification intends to create mental pictures of the impact of discrimination on the victims. Therefore, imagery and simile help make comparisons and stimulate human minds to create illustrations that help synthesize the message conveyed throughout the poem.

Finally, the author uses a triumphant and angry tone to deliver the primary theme. At the start of the poem, the narrator is angry due to the pain caused to her by the oppressors. Nevertheless, she takes pride in her identity at the end of the poem, thus portraying herself as a powerful black woman ready to fight anyone who denies her a chance to succeed in life. According to Nkopuruk and Odusina, the poet relies on pathos to stimulate readers’ emotions (4). Pathos represents one of the vital modes of persuasion that depends on evoking feelings to pass the intended message. For example, the anger tone inspires readers to develop sympathy feelings for the narrator and other victims of discrimination, thus envisioning how such behaviors are unethical. On its part, a triumphant tone creates positive emotions that encourage the oppressed people to change their situations by building resilience, remaining optimistic, and overcoming their anxieties.

“Still I Rise” is an inspirational poem that relies on various literary devices to convey the primary theme of oppression and resilience. Despite the abolition of slavery, discrimination is still evident in different spheres of life. For instance, African Americans and minority groups experience sufferings from racial stereotyping and biases, which deny them the opportunities to succeed in life. Angelou uses figurative language that helps the readers envision the victims’ tribulations. She also utilizes repetition to create mental illustrations of the anguishes caused by discrimination. Significantly, repetition through the phrase “I rise” inspires hope among the oppressed that they can overcome their fears and pains by remaining focused and taking pride in their sexuality and color. Undeniably, the poet succeeded in using literary devices to strengthen his major theme of oppression and resilience in the age of increased diversity. The poem remains relevant and continues to shape the behaviors of the new generations.

Angelou, Maya. And Still I Rise . Hachette UK, 2013.

Nkopuruk, Imikan, and Kehinde Saheed Odusina. “Objectifying Intuitive Response in Stylistic Analysis: A Study of Maya Angelou’s “Still I Rise”.” Asian Journal of Language, Literature and Culture Studies , vol. 2, no. 2, 2019, pp. 1-6.

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IvyPanda. (2023, March 16). Theme in “Still I Rise” Poem by Maya Angelou. https://ivypanda.com/essays/theme-in-still-i-rise-poem-by-maya-angelou/

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1. IvyPanda . "Theme in “Still I Rise” Poem by Maya Angelou." March 16, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/theme-in-still-i-rise-poem-by-maya-angelou/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Theme in “Still I Rise” Poem by Maya Angelou." March 16, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/theme-in-still-i-rise-poem-by-maya-angelou/.

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A Stylistic Analysis of Maya Angelou’s Poem ‘Still I Rise’.

• Post author By admin
• Post date May 2, 2020
• 1 Comment on A Stylistic Analysis of Maya Angelou’s Poem ‘Still I Rise’.

Still I Rise is one of Maya Angelou’s best-known poems, and is a response to the racism and bigotry faced by black people following the slave trade. The poem has a serious yet upbeat tone, with a sense of mockery and sarcasm from the narrator. This narrator can be seen to be the voice of Angelou herself, or simply the voice of any black person who has faced racial abuse. The narrator is clearly confident, strong, and powerful, and addresses the reader directly through the repetition of the pronoun “you”. It is implied through the subject of the poem that this pronoun refers to white readers, in particular, those who perpetuate racist and colonialist attitudes. Thereby, the poem deals with themes of power, resistance, reclamation and defying expectations. Still I Rise has a fairly simple uniform structure at first, with seven stanzas of four lines, each with an ABCB rhyme scheme. However, this style shifts towards the end of the poem, with two six-line stanzas, each with an ABABCC rhyme scheme, followed by the line “I rise”, which is repeated three times. This part of the poem becomes almost like a chant, and takes on a more serious, possibly angry tone. The pace also increases due to this change in structure, which helps to cement the idea of the narrator as being confident in what she is saying. In this analysis, I will be using the frameworks of foregrounding, cohesion, conceptual metaphor theory, transitivity, modality and shading, and speech and thought to explain what features of the text led me to make these overall interpretations.

Throughout the poem, the refrains “I’ll rise” and “I rise” are repeated multiple times, giving the poem a song or chant-like quality. This is reminiscent of Martin Luther King’s I Have A Dream speech, in which the refrain “I have a dream” is regularly repeated (King 1963: 4-6). This use of parallelism foregrounds the refrains, demonstrating to the reader that there is no doubt that the narrator will continue to “rise” through any challenges or troubles that she faces, instantly highlighting her strength and resilience. Burke claims that “foregrounding highlights the poetic function of language, in particular its ability […] to create textual patterns” (Burke 2014:41). The narrator’s repetition of these refrains does create a pattern within the poem, and is therefore a clear example of foregrounding.

This resilience and refusal to back down is also shown through the narrator’s use of adversative conjunction. Conjunctions “serve precisely to connect up previous material with following material”, with adversative conjunctions presenting the “following material” as expressing opposition or antithesis to the “previous material” (Toolan 1998:40). For example, the repetition of the word “but” throughout the poem obviously demonstrates the narrator’s defiance, as no matter what white people try to do to hurt her, she will continue to succeed.

Halliday and Hasan claim that “The concept of cohesion is a semantic one; it refers to relations of meaning that exist within the text” (Halliday and Hasan 1976:4). Cohesion in the poem is thereby created through the use of multiple semantic fields. The most prevalent semantic field is one of nature, with the narrator making reference to “dirt”, “dust”, “moons and suns”, “tides”, “air”, the “ocean” and “daybreak” to describe her own growth and progression. The use of this collection of words to describe herself growing stronger shows that this is a natural process, and implies that she deserves to be powerful and confident. There is also a semantic field of violence running through the poem, created through words such as “trod”, “shoot”, “cut”, “kill”, “hatefulness” and “terror” to describe the actions of white people, reinforcing the brutality faced by black people on a daily basis. However, Angelou combats this with a semantic field of joy and happiness, shown through the words “sassiness”, “hope”, “laugh”, “dance” and “dream”, once again highlighting that black people will not be put down or abused by white people any longer.

Conceptual metaphor theory can also be applied to the poem, as much of the language can be seen as being metaphorical rather than literal. Lakoff and Johnson claim that this is due to the fact that “Human thought processes are largely metaphorical” (Lakoff and Johnson 1980:6). An example of how this framework can be utilised to analyse poetry is Freeman’s 2005 analysis of Sylvia Plath’s poem The Applicant, in which Freemanlooks at conceptual metaphors to “reveal the poet’s own conflicted attitudes” and make “explicit the implicit mappings that readers adopt in drawing conclusions about the poem” (Freeman 2005:1). Once again, the refrain “I rise” can be used as an example, as the narrator does not physically begin to ascend, but instead grows as a person and becomes stronger and more confident. Lakoff and Johnson explain that the “essence of metaphor is understanding and experiencing one thing in terms of another”; creating a comparison as a way of expressing meaning (Lakoff and Johnson 1980:5). This is evidenced through the metaphor “I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide”, where the narrator compares herself to a force of nature; something that cannot be controlled. This idea allows the analyst to propose that the conceptual metaphor motivating the poem is that the narrator is nature. This conclusion is supported by the aforementioned semantic field, which the narrator uses to compare herself to nature. Therefore, the narrator can be interpreted as a powerful, independent, natural being, who cannot be owned or contained.

Metaphor is also used when describing the actions of the addressee, for example “You may shoot me with your words, You may cut me with your eyes”. These linguistic metaphors magnify the impact of verbal abuse and judging looks by comparing them to extremely violent acts, further stressing the suffering that the narrator has experienced, and what she has had to overcome, as well as the power of people’s actions. The conceptual metaphor motivating these is the idea that emotional injury equates to physical injury. This concept helps the reader to understand the narrator’s emotional experiences, and is thereby an extremely useful tool in conveying meaning.

Another way of exploring the power of the narrator is through looking at transitivity within the poem. Transitivity regards the various kinds of processes that occur within the language used, and demonstrates how speakers present their view of reality through their speech (Carter and Simpson 1989:299). In the first and sixth stanzas, the addressee is the actor, and the narrator is the goal. For example, this is shown through the lines “You may write me down in history” and “You may shoot me with your words”. However, these material processes do not show the addressee as having power or control as we would expect, as these lines are also examples of epistemic modality, with the narrator expressing that even though it is possible for the addressee to commit the acts that she lists, she will continue to rise; no matter what adversity she faces, the narrator is certain that she will be able to overcome it. Furthermore, the aforementioned use of adversative conjunction combined with the refrain “I’ll rise” give the impression that the material processes completed by the addressee will have no real impact on the narrator. The narrator also displays her own material processes through phrases including “I walk”, “I dance”, “I rise”, and “leaping”. These processes are more positive, and reinforce her agency and control. Overall, the narrator is seen to hold the most power within the poem.

The addressee is also given many negative mental processes, which represent a person’s internal experience, such as “upset”, “beset with gloom” and “offend” (Halliday 2014:214). It is implied through the use of rhetorical questions and causal conjunctions, such as the repetition of “’Cause”, that these feelings are caused by the narrator’s personality and characteristics, including her “sexiness”, “sassiness” and her “laugh”. The fact that the addressee is hurt by the narrator’s happiness and confidence only reinforces her power further, and this combined with the use of rhetorical questions creates a sense of mockery towards the addressee.

The narrator’s power is also built through the use of relational processes. The narrator compares herself to being the possessor of “gold mines”, “oil wells” and “diamonds”, and while these are only simile rather than actual possessions, they symbolise her status and power over the addressee, who is not given any relational processes or possessions. Angelou’s use of these particular possessions is interesting, as historically black people would have only seen gold mines and oil wells through working in them as slaves for white owners (American Experience 2020). Here, the narrator makes herself the owner of a typically white commodity as a way of reclaiming power and aligning herself with her oppressors. Additionally, through this use of simile, Angelou is stating that while the white oppressors need to possess and control things in order to be happy, she does not, as she is able to “laugh” without physically possessing any of these items, and despite the abuse that she faces. This ability to be content and happy is another way in which the narrator demonstrates her power and control which the white oppressors lack.

Angelou’s use of a first person homodiegetic narrator, a narrator who is a participant in the story they are telling and who uses free direct speech, creates a closer psychological relationship between the reader and narrator, thereby making us more sympathetic to her argument (Simpson 2014:132). Her confidence and conviction make her appear to be a reliable narrator, further developing the bond between narrator and reader, as we feel that we can trust what she is saying. This confidence is also created through the lack of linguistic modality, which creates positive shading, “where the narrator’s desires, duties, obligations and opinions of events are foregrounded” (Simpson 2014:134). Angelou’s use of an overt narrator develops this positive shading further by reinforcing the narrator’s certainty and confidence in her speech.

When the structure shifts towards the end of the poem, the second participant (the addressee) is no longer mentioned. This means that the focus is purely on the narrator and her journey from “the huts of history’s shame” to becoming “the dream and the hope of the slave”. The removal of the second participant reflects how the narrator refuses to stand in the shadow of her white oppressors any longer, “leaving behind nights of terror and fear” and rising into “a daybreak that’s wondrously clear”. This final image, along with the ending three lines of “I rise” is an ultimate statement of the narrator’s power which reinforces her overall argument. The parallelism in these final lines reinforces that fact that the narrator will never stop moving forward, and will continue to grow and progress.

Overall, this stylistic analysis of the poem directly matches my initial interpretation of the text, and supports the conclusions that I had drawn about the poem. The stylistic tools have helped me to gain an understanding of how the poet has created these effects, and why it is read in a certain way. Completing the analysis has also helped me to gain a better understanding of how the relationships between participants, and between the narrator and reader, are crafted.

List of References:

American Experience (2020) African Americans in The Gold Rush . [online] available from < https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/goldrush-stephen-hill/ >  [1 April 2020]

Burke, M. (2014) The Routledge Handbook of Stylistics. Oxon: Routledge

Carter, R., A. Simpson, P., W. (1989) Language, Discourse and Literature: An Introductory Reader in Discourse Stylistics . London: Unwin Hyman Ltd.

Freeman, M., H. (2005) ‘The Poem as Complex Blend: Conceptual Mappings of Metaphor in Sylvia Plath’s ‘The Applicant’’ in Language and Literature: International Journal of Stylistics. [online] 14 (1), 25-44 available from < https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0963947005048874 > [25 March 2020]

Halliday, M., A., K., (2014) Introduction to Functional Grammar . 4 th edn. Oxon: Routledge

Halliday, M., A., K., Hasan, R. (1976) Cohesion in English . Oxon: Routledge

King, M., L. (1963) I Have A Dream. [online] available from < https://www.archives.gov/files/press/exhibits/dream-speech.pdf >  [1 April 2020]

Lakoff, G., & Johnson, M. (1980) Metaphors we Live By . London: University of Chicago Press.

Simpson, P. (2014) Stylistics: A Resource Book for Students. Oxon: Routledge

Toolan, M. (1998) Language in Literature: An Introduction to Stylistics . London: Arnold

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Still I Rise- Summary, Analysis and Question Answers

Table of Contents

Still I Rise: Short Summary

Still I Rise is an empowering poem written by African – American poet Maya Angelou. The speaker of the poem is a black woman who addresses the white oppressor as ‘You’.

The tone of the poem is defiant, angry, sarcastic, self-assured. The voice is of oppressed who is talking about the oppression held for centuries. The poem is about the struggle to overcome prejudice and injustice. The speaker is courageous, rebellious and confident in attitude with self-respect.

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The poem is a symbol of hope for the victimised. It is the fight by oppressed to the power misused by the oppressor. The poem is universal in appeal though it is written against the backdrop of black slavery.

Stanza wise summary

Stanza 1 . The poem is clearly addressed to the White oppressor by a black woman. The stanza describes the false historical lies written by the oppressor in the historical writings. The repeated use of the phrase ‘Still I Rise’ shows the firm self-belief of the speaker that nothing can hold her back. Speaker compares herself with dust and says like dust she will rise.

Stanza 2 . Speaker is asking questions about the sadness of the oppressor. She has the attitude as if she has got the oil wells that means she is happy and confident and her attitude now has become her powerful weapon.

Stanza 3 . The speaker compares herself with the certainty of suns and moons, simply with the certainty of nature and with the hope that she will spring high.

Stanza 4. Speaker is asking questions about the unfulfilled expectations of the white oppressor who did want to see the speaker as weak, broken and crying with bowed head and lowered eyes.

Stanza 5. The speaker is saying that now her attitude is confident as though she has got gold mines digging in her own backyard.

In stanza 8 she talks about the past which was rooted in pain, and out of the huts of history’s shame, she will rise.

Here, the poet uses a metaphor that she is a black ocean very wide welling and swelling.

Now she has left behind the nights of terror and fear and the bright future is on the way. The poet uses the bright image of a clear day. The speaker says she will rise to bring the ancestors gifts. She is the dream and hope of the slave.

The poem ends with the repetition of phrase ‘I rise’ which encapsulates the idea that now she has the firm belief over herself.

Analysis of Still I Rise

To begin with, what intrigued me extensively whilst I first embarked upon my analysis of the poem was the three-word title of the poem itself: ‘Still I rise’. The title – if pondered upon correctly – conceives the summary and the initial message running throughout the poem.

Therefore, for the purpose of my analysis, I have decided to analyse the entire poem while fixating upon the title itself and discerning how the very title of the poem resonates with the message and allusions trying to be portrayed throughout the poem by the poet.

This section will be divided into three parts as per the three words forming the title of the poem: ‘Still I Rise’.

Section 1-‘Still’:

The word ‘still’ refers to ‘something happening for longer than expected’ or a situation or action that continues to the present because it has not finished’.

The poet uses the word ‘still’ to connotate the perpetuity of the tyrannical oppression of the society. By stating “bitter” and “twisted lies” she mocks and taunts the society for making racial as well as sexist and discriminating comments and judgments. The poet also states: “write me down in history” referring towards the notion that history is written as per the society and its curriculum, and that those opposing it are always portrayed as the antagonist and wrongdoers. Also, beautifully, referring towards the superiority of the superior class and the inferiority of the inferior class, and how in the eyes of the people the former are always correct and how the latter are always wrong no matter what the situation.

Furthermore, the poet uses rhetorical questions such as “does my sassiness upset you?” to taunt the racial society more. The entire fourth stanza can be taken into account at that matter. The poet delineates for the readers the expectations of the society after analyzing it herself. She states: “want to see me broken…lowered my eyes…shoulders falling down…” This surmises for the readers the abusive society of that time and their harassment.

In the sixth stanza when the poet states: “shoot…words”, “cut…eyes”, “kill…hatefulness”, the readers are fully capable of comprehending the fact that the persecutions still haven’t ended. They are ongoing, in fact, they have inflicted upon the victims in every manner: “words, cuts, and hatefulness”. This choice of words and use of tone intensifies the effect of the poem and adds a different layer to it; giving it more emotion and integrity.

Section 2-‘I’:

The entire poem is composed in the first-person narrative. The letter ‘I’ in the title informs the readers about the ensuing format of the poem.

Maya Angelou uses the first person narrative to her advantage in a very skilful manner in order to boast about her success “oil wells…”, to rebuke the society and their unjust customs “want to see me broken” and finally informing the world that no matter the persecutions and sexist discrimination “still I’ll rise”.

Moreover, through this format, the readers are able to notice the poet’s tone of sarcasm – “don’t you take it awful hard” – In a much better way while also noticing the poet’s strong and tedious tone in the fourth, fifth and the sixth stanza. This helps the readers to deduce that maybe Maya Angelou’s problems with the society and its people ran deeper than it appeared on the outside.

Furthermore, the poet’s consummate use of the first-person narrative is most effective towards the end of the poem when she compares herself to a “black ocean” stating that she “bear’s” the “tides”. In the previous stanza, the poet similarly compares herself to the “moons” and “the suns” and mentions the “certainty” of their “tide”. These two stanzas and comparison’s, when juxtaposed together, could possibly allude towards the same meaning: “the tides” referring to the disputes, obstacles and tyrannical oppression of the society. The “black ocean” and the “moons” and “the suns” referring towards the poet’s constant adherence and resilience; as the cycle of the sun and the moon rotates in an on-going perpetuity; similarly, the “ocean”, no matter the raging tides, still flows whilst adhering to the magnitude of the tides formulating within it.

Through this, the readers are able to comprehend and perceive the layers of symbolism and allegories endowed within the poem by the poet for the readers and the world to discern.

Section 3-‘Rise’:

The third word in the title of the poem is perhaps the most influential and critical in accordance with the poem and the message which it is striving to convey.

The definition of ‘rise’ in the English Language is: “An upward movement; an instance of rising”. Throughout the poem, the readers witness the various patterns in which the poet urges those who are stifled within the shackles of oppression to ‘rise’ and take action. As an example, the poet ridicules the society and their customs – as discussed above – and rubs her success into their faces. Hence, she rises from within the persecution and the harassment and urges others to do so too.

Towards the beginning, the poet enumerates the society’s oppression and then, in the likes of a fatal incursion, she defiantly states that: “like dust, I’ll rise”, “like air, I’ll rise”. Amongst those various reasons of comparing herself to “dust”, one could be the fact that dust consists of small particles, yet it is fully capable of causing harm, for example, blinding someone’s vision. Likewise, by comparing herself to “dust”, one could suggest and allude that she was in fact warning the members of the society; warning them not to think of her as a child; warning them not to think of her as dirt because “like dust” she may be small but she is fully capable of causing them – and anyone else with such intentions – harm; something which is clearly evident and portrayed in the fifth and the sixth stanza of the poem, while also relevant throughout.

Moreover, ‘rise’ generally refers to an action. For example, a man was sitting down and then he ‘rose’ up. Which forces the readers to ponder, from where or what does the poet talk about rising from? The answer to this particular question can be obtained from the last few stanzas of the poem: “History’s shame…”, “Past that’s rooted in pain…”, “Nights of fear…” and “daybreak…wondrously clear”.

The poet talks about rising from within these oppressive and smothering situations towards a better and brighter future that is “wondrously clear”. Her final repetition of the sentence “I rise” three times explains the whirlwind of emotions blowing inside of her and her dream of being treated as equal and with just.

Hence, in these ways, the very title of the poem surmises the message and allegories running throughout the poem for the readers to contemplate. I would also like to mention that these analyses are based upon my own perspectives and opinions. They may be wrong but according to my understanding, they are corrected and accounted for.

Questions and Answers

Q. What is the subject of the poem? Ans. The writer’s angry protest against racial discrimination. The speaker speaks out against the racial prejudice and intolerance that she sees around her before making an appeal for black pride and dignity.

Q. Who is speaking? Ans. 1st person narrative: “I”. A black woman.

Q. What is the location/setting of the poem? Ans. This poem is written against the backdrop of invasive racism, racial separation/isolation and prejudice in America during the 1950s and 1960s.

Q. What is the theme and message of the poem: Ans. The message of the poem is that Black people should rise and defeat all forms of discrimination based on race.

Q. What are the attitudes and feelings in the poem?

Ans. Emotions and feelings of the speaker : The speaker is angry and bold, courageous, daring and determined.

Q. What is the tone of the poem? Ans. 1. Anger and open defiance. 2. Speaker’s tone of boldness, courage & daring is evident in lines 5, 17, 25. 3. Speaker expresses her determination in lines 13-14.

Q. Why has been the title “Still I Rise” has been repeated many times in the poem Ans. The title is repeated 10 times throughout the poem. This creates an atmosphere, enables the harmony of the rhyme scheme & states & makes clear the theme of the poem.

Q. Comment on how ‘Still I Rise’ celebrates the spirit of blacks. Ans. Angelou’s most popular poem refers to the indomitable spirit of black people. Despite adversity and racism, Angelou expresses her faith that she, the speaker, and the whole of the black people will overcome their hardships and triumph.

Q. Explain the central idea or theme of the poem ‘Still I Rise’. Ans. “Still I Rise” is primarily about self-respect and confidence. In the poem, Angelou reveals how she will overcome anything through her self-esteem. She shows how nothing can get her down. She will rise to any occasion and nothing, not even her skin colour, will hold her back.

Q. Explain the hopeful end of the poem ‘Still I Rise’. Ans. The poem ends with the repetition of phrase ‘I rise’ which encapsulates the idea that now she has the firm belief over herself. She will rise to any occasion and nothing, not even her skin colour, will hold her back.

Q. What is the structure of Still I Rise? Ans. ‘Still I Rise’ is a nine stanza poem that’s separated into uneven sets of lines. The first seven stanzas contain four lines, known as quatrains, stanzas eight has six lines and the ninth has nine. The first seven stanzas follow a rhyme scheme of ABCB, the eighth: ABABCC and the ninth: ABABCCBBB.

Q. What is the symbolism in Still I Rise? Ans. In “Still I Rise,” Maya Angelou uses gold mines and oil wells as symbols of wealth and confidence. She also uses natural imagery, including the sun, the moon, the tides, and the air, to symbolize the inevitability of her continued rise beyond the reach of oppression.

Q. What does the poem’s speaker mean by the phrase”I’ll rise”? Ans. The speaker means that she as a female and women all around will rise up to the occasion and defeat anything that is in their way. No one can stop them.

Q. Who is the audience of Still I Rise? Ans. The audience of the poem is the people who have been oppressing the speaker for most of her life. These people are the whites who believe they are superior to African Americans and should possess more rights than they can.

Q. How does the repetition of the phrase, “I rise, “affect the tone and overall impact of the poem? Ans. The various forms of this refrain (“I’ll rise,” “I rise”) give the poem a determined and triumphant tone. The Repetition of a phrase gives it emphasis, and that is exactly what the poet/speaker is doing here

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Still I Rise Essay

Maya Angelou’s “Still I Rise” is a powerful and inspirational poem that has been empowering people for generations. The poem is about overcoming adversity and rising above it all, no matter what life throws at you. Maya Angelou was a civil rights activist and writer who fought for equality, and this poem is a perfect example of her strength and resilience.

The poem starts with the line “You may write me down in history”, which immediately sets the tone of defiance and determination. Maya Angelou is saying that even though she may not be remembered fondly by those in power, she will still rise up and be victorious. This is seen throughout the rest of the poem, as she talks about how nothing can keep her down, and how she will always prevail in the end.

The poem is full of hope and inspiration, and it is easy to see why it has been so empowering for so many people. Maya Angelou’s words are a reminder that no matter what life throws at you, you can always rise up and overcome it. So, next time you’re feeling down, remember Maya Angelou’s “Still I Rise” and let it give you the strength to keep going.

The poem I’ve chosen to write a detailed description and analysis of is Maya Angelou’s ‘Still I Rise.’ The ways in which my own knowledge, experience, and cultural identity may influence the way I read and interpret the poem will be considered in this essay.

I will also be looking at what Maya Angelou herself has said about her writing, to see if this gives any clues or different interpretations of the poem.

Maya Angelou was an American poet, memoirist, and civil rights activist. She is best known for her series of seven autobiographies, which focus on her childhood and early adult experiences. The first volume, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969), tells of her life up to the age of seventeen and brought her international recognition and acclaim. Maya Angelou’s ‘Still I Rise’ is a powerful and inspirational poem that celebrates the strength and resilience of the human spirit. The poem is about overcoming adversity and rising above it. It is about never giving up, no matter how hard life gets.

Maya Angelou was born Marguerite Annie Johnson in St. Louis, Missouri, on April 4, 1928. Her parents divorced when she was only three, and she and her brother were sent to live with their grandmother in rural Arkansas. Maya Angelou’s early life was marked by tragedy and struggle. At the age of eight, she was raped by her mother’s boyfriend and subsequently stopped speaking for five years. Maya Angelou overcame this traumatic experience and went on to become a successful writer and civil rights activist.

Maya Angelou’s ‘Still I Rise’ is a poem about hope, about never giving up despite the odds. The poem is also about pride and self-respect. Maya Angelou is saying that no matter how hard life gets, no matter how many times you are knocked down, you can still get back up and keep going. The poem is an anthem for anyone who has ever faced adversity and triumphed over it.

Maya Angelou was a remarkable woman who overcame tremendous odds to become one of the most successful writers of her generation. Her poetry is powerful and inspirational, and ‘Still I Rise’ is one of her most famous and well-loved poems. If you have ever faced adversity in your life, this poem is for you. Maya Angelou’s words will inspire you to never give up, no matter how hard life gets. So rise up like the Phoenix that she so often used as a symbol for herself, and keep going.

The title of this poem, “Still I Rise,” gives off a very powerful and strong vibe. If the reader does not know anything about the author’s past, it might be hard to guess what the poem is actually about and who it is targeted towards. However, we find out in the last stanza that it is written for her ancestors & other slaves making it clear that she herself is a black African American woman writing about the painful pasts of black people.

Maya Angelou writes this poem in a very strong and determined tone, which I think is effective in sending out the message she wants to communicate. For example, the use of capitalization in the word ‘I’ shows immense pride and confidence, which is something that black people lacked during the time Maya Angelou was writing this poem.

By using phrases such as “I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide”, Maya Angelou is not only hinting at her African roots, but also trying to reflect the vastness and power of the black community. In addition, the repetition of “I rise” at the end of each stanza further emphasizes Maya Angelou’s determination to overcome all obstacles in her life.

Although this poem is short, it is very effective in delivering its message of hope and empowerment. Maya Angelou’s use of carefully chosen words and phrases allows readers to feel the emotion behind the poem and understand the struggles that she and her people have gone through. “Still I Rise” is an important work that highlights the strength and resilience of black people, and serves as an inspiration for all those who face difficulties in their lives.

In the poem, Maya asks questions in each line. These queries, without a doubt, are directed at “white people” or “haters” who may be critical of the originator’s race.

Maya is being somewhat playful in asking these questions, because she knows she is wealthy and she knows that she has come a long way as well as the black people in America. She asks these questions in a playful way to those who do not appreciate her success.

The poem is also very truthful in the lines ‘I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide,’, because Maya is admitting that she is different, she is unique and also that her culture (being black) is so vast and broad that it cannot be measured. I like this poem because it shows Maya’s strength as a black woman and how nothing can bring her down no matter the oppositions she faces.

Maya Angelou was not just an author, but a great leader and inspiration to all African Americans during the Civil Rights Movement. She was able to show her people that they were not alone in their fight against racism and injustice. With poems like “Still I Rise”, Maya Angelou gave hope to those who were struggling. She showed them that it was possible to overcome any obstacle, no matter how difficult it may seem.

Maya Angelou’s “Still I Rise” is a powerful and inspiring poem that speaks to the resiliency of the human spirit. It is a reminder that no matter how hard life gets, we must never give up. We must always keep fighting for what we believe in. Maya Angelou’s words have helped countless people through tough times. They continue to inspire us today. Thanks for Maya Angelou, “Still I Rise” is more than just a poem – it is a movement.

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‘Carefluencers’ Are Helping Older Loved Ones, and Posting About It

On TikTok and Instagram, people are sharing what it’s like to take care of relatives who have reached their final years.

Mardonia Galeana has become an online celebrity thanks to her appearances on the Instagram account of her grandson Yosimar Reyes. Credit... Carolyn Fong for The New York Times

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By Frank Rojas

• April 3, 2024

On the east side of San Jose, Calif., there is an abuela who seems to have more grandchildren than she can count.

“A lot of people see me and they hug me,” Mardonia Galeana, 89, said in Spanish. “I don’t even know them, but sometimes they ask me for a blessing on the street and I do the best I can on their forehead.”

Her likeness has been featured in a painting in the San José Museum of Art and in a mural in the city’s mission district. But it’s her online presence that has captivated the thousands of people who have come across the photos and videos posted by her grandson Yosimar Reyes.

“Seeing your Abuela smiling and having a good time truly warms my heart,” one user commented beneath a video of Ms. Galeana enjoying herself at a senior center while others danced to a track by the merengue singer Elvis Crespo.

Mr. Reyes has been chronicling moments in his grandmother’s life on a private Instagram account followed by more than 21,000 people. His posts have shown a trip they took to New Orleans, their strolls with his dog, Chulito, around the San Jose Flea Market, and occasional doctor visits.

Although Mr. Reyes calls himself Ms. Galeana’s “personal stylist,” he is first and foremost her caregiver — driving her to appointments, managing her medications, making sure she has a roof over her head.

“I take pride in the fact that I care for and dress my grandma,” Mr. Reyes, 35, said. “That she’s not going to be out here in a muumuu. Her nails are also poppin’ and it’s a big self-esteem boost for her.”

Francesca Falzarano, an assistant professor at the University of Southern California Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, has a term for the growing number of people like Mr. Reyes who share behind-the-scenes looks at the daily realities of providing round-the-clock care for older loved ones.

“In my research lab, we call them ‘carefluencers,’” Professor Falzarano said. “Social media is really the only way a lot of these people are able to access support, education and a sense of belonging.”

Mr. Reyes, a poet and artist, was raised by his grandparents and came with them to the United States from Guerrero, Mexico, in the early 1990s. “Even as a kid, I was already a caregiver,” he said. “I had to translate documents and help my grandparents navigate this country because they were older and didn’t speak English.”

Mr. Reyes, who was named the 2024 Santa Clara County poet laureate , said he has occasionally found himself overwhelmed since he fully undertook the role of caring for his grandmother during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“I’m trying to build a career as an artist and as a writer, but then I still have to go home and have to take care of somebody,” said Mr. Reyes, who has described his experience as a caregiver in poems like “Abuela Gets a Fever.” “Some days, I’m emotionally depleted. And if she’s having a bad day, I have to make sure that I’m not reactionary.”

As the population ages, Mr. Reyes’s experience is likely to become more common. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , the number of unpaid caregivers in the United States increased to about 53 million in 2020 from 43.5 million in 2015.

Chris Punsalan of Las Vegas, who became a caregiver for his grandmother Anicia Manipon eight years ago, has shared his experiences with her on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok.

“I decided to document us because I felt it was important,” Mr. Punsalan, 30, said. “It’s not only for me to be able to look back on, but I also slowly realized that it was very helpful for people who have been through a somewhat similar situation.”

Mr. Punsalan, who has over two million followers on TikTok, has created content out of tending to his grandmother’s bedsores, cooking her breakfast and sharing the products he uses to tend to her needs. Since Ms. Manipon’s death in January, he realized that his social media accounts have done more than provide information and comfort for other family caregivers.

“During her funeral, my cousin said something that really struck a chord with me,” Mr. Punsalan recalled. “He said, ‘Whenever I miss my grandmother, I have a library of videos to remember her by.’”

@firstnamechris forever grateful for grandma 🕊️❤️. music by @kristinberardi1 ♬ original sound - Chris Punsalan

Jacquelyn Revere, an aspiring TV writer in Los Angeles, began posting about her experiences after she became the main caregiver for her mother and grandmother in 2016. She said she found comfort while trying to help others in her position through social media, and the number of people following her on TikTok grew to more than 650,000.

“When I was posting my mom, it’s not like I felt like I had to — it actually became fun,” said Ms. Revere, 37. “Social media brought so much validation with people saying, ‘You’re doing such a good job,’ and it became a place of refuge.”

Ms. Revere’s grandmother died in 2017; her mother died in 2022.

“Many of my caregiver friends are people who I’ve met on social media,” Ms. Revere said. “We’ve really created a community that’s very close knit, because it’s hard to understand the weight of this role if you’ve never had it.”

While posting a get-ready-with-me-and-Grandma video on TikTok may bring caregivers a sense of community, some viewers can’t shake the feeling that such content might be exploitative. Is a vulnerable older relative in a position to consent to appear in a video, when the person recording it is responsible for administering her medication?

“That is so heartbreaking,” one user commented on a TikTok video of an older woman struggling to eat. “I wish you all would have the dignity to stop posting these messages.”

But according to Professor Falzarano, the gerontologist, the benefits of caregivers’ sharing their experiences outweigh the risks. “It’s really contributing to the greater awareness and visibility of chronic illness in caregiving,” she said.

Professor Falzarano, 32, whose research is focused on dementia, family caregiving and technology for older adults, also noted that while there are a variety of resources readily available for expecting parents, the same could not be necessarily said for those grappling with the end of life.

“We all have this universal experience where we’ll need to provide care or need to be cared for at some point,” Professor Falzarano said. “Why not start thinking about it now?”

Ms. Galeana, who will turn 90 in December, hasn’t been able to return to the home in Mexico that she and her grandson left behind more than three decades ago. With no clear pathway to U.S. citizenship, the two have built a forever home of sorts online.

“She’s old and she’s been through so much, from poverty in Mexico to all that we’ve experienced in the United States,” Mr. Reyes said. “My goal now is to make sure that she’s happy and not always talking about how sad her life was. And people love her here and know her as the abuelita. It’s beautiful.”

Whether it’s being recognized at the market or having flowers or care packages sent to her home by strangers who have encountered her online, she has become a local celebrity.

“As a little girl, I wanted to be an artist," Ms. Galeana said in Spanish. “I would dance and sing and want to be on the movie theater screen. But it never happened.”

But later that week, after Mr. Reyes had fixed her hair and done her makeup, she was ready to be the star of a video that would be seen by thousands.

Frank Rojas is a 2023-24  reporting fellow on the Styles desk at the Times.  More about Frank Rojas

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