Still I Rise by Maya Angelou | Summary and Analysis

Still I Rise by Maya Angelou

-Table of Contents

● Questions to be Addressed
● Introduction
● About the Author
● Analysis
● Key Literary Devices Used in the Poem
1. Simile
2. Metaphor
3. Repetition
4. Rhetorical Question
5. Structure and Form
6. Imagery
7. Symbolism
● Conclusion
● References

-Questions to be Addressed

1. How does the meaning of the poem evolve as we progress through each stanza?
2. How do similes and metaphors enhance the imagery in "Still I Rise"?
3. What effect does the repetition of certain phrases have on the overall tone of the poem?
4. How does Maya Angelou use symbolism to convey her message of resilience and empowerment?

1. Unyielding Spirit: A Study of ‘Still I Rise’ by Maya Angelou

2. Information Name : Rajdeep Bavaliya A. Roll No. : 12 Enrollment No. : 3176205820210012 Sem. : 6 (T. Y. - B. A.) (2023 – 2024) Paper Name : A Study of American Literature – 2 Paper No. : 19 Paper Code : 24262 Unit : 4 – Still I Rise by Maya Angelou Topic : Unyielding Spirit: A Study of ‘Still I Rise’ by Maya Angelou Submitted To : M. R. R. Monapara Arts College, SPEI, Bhavnagar, Department of English. Submitted Date : April 9, 2024 E-mail : [email protected]

3. Table of Contents Questions to be Addressed Introduction About the Author Analysis Key Literary Devices Used in the Poem 1. Simile 2. Metaphor 3. Repetition 4. Rhetorical Question 5. Structure and Form 6. Imagery 7. Symbolism Conclusion References

4. Questions to be Addressed How does the meaning of the poem evolve as we progress through each stanza? How do similes and metaphors enhance the imagery in “Still I Rise”? What effect does the repetition of certain phrases have on the overall tone of the poem? How does Maya Angelou use symbolism to convey her message of resilience and empowerment?

5. Introduction “Still I Rise” is a poem by the American civil rights activist and writer Maya Angelou. The poem was published in Angelou’s third poetry collection “And Still I Rise” in 1978. (Image Source: DALL-E 3) Broadly speaking, the poem is an assertion of the dignity and resilience of marginalized people in the face of oppression. “Still I Rise” can also be read more specifically as a critique of anti-black racism.

6. About the Author (Image Source: Wikipedia) Born Marguerite Annie Johnson; on April 4, 1928 – May 28, 2014. She was an American memoirist, poet, and civil rights activist. She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry, and is credited with a list of plays, movies, and television shows spanning over 50 years. The first, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969), tells of her life up to the age of 17 and brought her international recognition and acclaim.

7. Analysis ‘Still I Rise’ by Maya Angelou – 1987 – Live Performance: Click Here Stanza: 1 Asserts determination and courage despite oppression.
Rejects false historical narratives and others’ mistreatment. Stanza: 2 Challenges societal reaction to her success.
Mocks societal discomfort with her confidence and achievements.

8. Stanza: 3 Compares herself to the moon and sun, emphasizing resilience. Stanza: 4 Directly confronts racism and societal expectations.
Exposes societal desire to see her broken and subdued. Stanza: 5 Sarcastically questions society’s discomfort with her pride.
Highlights society’s double standards and her confidence.

9. Stanza: 6 Declares society’s inability to defeat her spirit.
Asserts resilience and determination to rise above oppression. Stanza: 7 Continues to question societal norms and prejudices.
Places society on trial for its injustices.

10. Stanza: 8 Condemns the lingering effects of historical oppression.
Refuses to be defined or limited by past injustices. Stanza: 9 Declares intention to transcend fear, terror, and sorrow.
Repeats the phrase “I rise” as a triumphant affirmation of resilience.

11. Key Literary Devices Used in the Poem 1. Simile A simile is a comparison of two unlike items that employs the terms “like” or “as”. A poet utilizes this type of figurative language to express that one item is comparable to another, as opposed to metaphor, which states that it “is” another. “But still, like dust, I’ll rise.” “ ’Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells” “Just like moons and like suns,” “Just like hopes springing high,” “But still, like air, I’ll rise.” ● Examples

12. 2. Metaphor Metaphor appears in the last section of “Still I Rise.” In lines 21-23, for example, the speaker used figurative language when outlining the different things her oppressor may do to harm her: ● Examples “You may shoot me with your words, You may cut me with your eyes, You may kill me with your hatefulness,”

13. 3. Repetition The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of multiple lines, usually in succession. ● Examples “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.” “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.”

14. 4. Rhetorical Question A rhetorical question is one that is not intended to be answered; rather, it is presented to clarify the point. ● Examples “Does my sassiness upset you?” “Does my sexiness upset you?” “Did you want to see me broken?”

15. 5. Structure and Form The poem ‘Still I Rise’ is nine stanzas long and divided into unequal lines. The first seven stanzas include four lines, known as quatrains, while the eighth has six and the ninth has nine. The first seven stanzas have a rhyme scheme of ABCB, the eighth ABABCC, and the ninth ABABCCBBB.

16. 6. Imagery The first line shows a picture of “dust” that helps the speaker say what she wants. We can see oil wells that are spilling oil. The third stanza has pictures of the moon, the sun, and the water that moves up and down. In this poem, the water goes very high. It is like “hope.” Gold mines Diamonds Black ocean

17. 7. Symbolism “Dirt” as a symbol. “Oil wells”, “Gold mines”, and “Diamonds”. The moon and sun symbolize the speaker herself. “Bowed head and lowered eyes.”
The eighth verse contains an essential symbol of the “black ocean”.
Another sign appears in the final stanza’s use of the term “night”.

18. Conclusion In the poem’s conclusion, Angelou speaks with clear confidence. She declares that no matter the pain or oppression, she will always rise. It’s a simple yet strong message of resilience and hope. Her words encourage everyone to stand tall and face challenges with the belief that they can rise above them.

19. References Chen, Wendy. "Still I Rise." LitCharts . LitCharts LLC, 28 Oct 2019. https://www.litcharts.com/poetry/maya-angelou/still-i-rise . 8 Apr 2024. Corfman , Allisa . "Still I Rise by Maya Angelou". Poem Analysis, https://poemanalysis.com/maya-angelou/still-i-rise/ . Accessed 8 April 2024. OpenAI . ChatGPT . OpenAI , 2021. https://www.openai.com/chatgpt .

20. Thank You. 