Comparing Mother To Son 'And Langston Hughes' Still I Rise

The poem “Still I Rise” written by Maya Angelou and the story “The Scholarship Jacket” by Marta Saline, are two different kind of writing styles. One is a poem and the other is a story. Even though they might be two different kind of styles of writing, they still are somewhat similar.

She appeals to figurative language throughout her poem by showing that she and many other black individuals aren’t ready to give up. Repetition is one of the ways the author approaches her message throughout the poem efficiently with the use of “I rise.” The poet constantly uses this line to represent her confidence and faith despite of all the hardships that she and other people have faced throughout their lives. She uses comparison with using devices such as simile and metaphor. One quote is “You may trod me in the very dirt, but still, like dust, I’ll rise” (3-4). This means that the author will rise from the dirtiness from the people that will talk down about her. Another example is “just like moons and like suns (9)…just like hopes springing high, still I rise” (11-12). Angelou compares herself to the moons and suns because she will rise no matter what happens just like the sun and moon everyday. These comparisons are made by using the word, “like”, making them a simile. She also uses a different type of comparison, metaphor, which is a comparison without the use of “like or as.” In line 32, the poet quotes, “I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide,” which describes herself to a black ocean, which the black ocean represents terror and fear, something that Maya Angelou has faced all her life. There are two types of figurative language devices in this specific line, personification and hyperbole, respectively. Personification is giving human qualities to a nonhuman quality. Hyperbole is an exaggerated statement which isn’t meant to be taken exactly. Angelou addresses, “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” (21-24). Maya Angelou mentions that shooting, cutting, and killing are connected to words, eyes, and hatefulness. She gives qualities to

Langston Hughes’ poem Tired has many connections with Harper Lee’s novel To Kill A Mockingbird. One of the most prominent connections is from the lines “I am so tired of waiting.../for the world to become good/ and beautiful and kind” (Hughes). These lines refer to a person who is waiting for the world to go back to normal; the normal being good, beautiful, and kind. This connects to the children in the novel because they believe that the world’s natural state is to be good. Also, all children innocently believe that the world is good before they are exposed to situations that make them believe otherwise. Another connection in the poem are the lines “Let us take a knife/... And see what worms are eating at the rind” (Hughes). This means that

In Maya Angelou’s chapter Mrs. Flowers, Marguerite Johnson, finds how to become successful in a segregated America. What Mrs. Flowers does is teaches Marguerite how to avoid racist people, that usually meant staying home. Mrs Flowers made her memorize many works of literature such as poems. “Take this book of poems and memorize one for me. Next time you pay me a visit I want you to recite it.” This story connects directly back to Maya Angelou’s life. She was always memorizing writing as a child. It was because of that she thrived in so many different occupations and won two grammys. Maya Angelou is showing that even when you are put in the worst of circumstances it is possible to succeed.

The poems that we have read in class all have different meanings, but they can be very similar in ways as well. Langston Hughes was a big deal during the civil rights movement and his poem spoke to Americans about equality. I, Too, Sing America talks about the how black men are also Americans and should be treated like they are equal to the white man. Maya Angelou spoke more to women and blacks about equality as well. In Still I Rise, she talks about no matter how much people try to put someone else down, they should not let it bother them. During this period, both of these writers had a big impact on Americans and on the black community to make a difference.

“Mother to Son” is a poem written by African American author and poet Langston Hughes. Originally published in 1922, when Hughes was only 21 and just beginning his career as a writer, it was not until 1926 when it was republished with a number of Hughes’ other poems, in his book The Weary Blues that it gained widespread notice (Gates et al.). By that time, Hughes had become quite successful as a writer, especially in stories about African American culture, customs, and history (Gates et al.).

Still I Rise, written in 1978 by African American poet and civil-rights activist Maya Angelou, is a resoundingly courageous and unearthing poem with an inspiring invited reading directly related to the time period it was written in: during the declaration for Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). The poem discusses an African American woman’s struggles against racism and hatred from the society. It consists of nine-stanzas, offering words of inspiration to those who have been oppressed. It sends a message of hope that even in the midst of adversity it is possible to overcome obstacles and find the inner strength and confidence to rise above them. This poem is very straightforward making the message more meaningful and affective. This poem teaches readers that all humans have strength within them that can help to overcome any obstacles. “Out of the huts of history 's shame…/ I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide…/ Into a daybreak that 's wondrously clear…/I rise…” (29-43) generate a glorious ending and reflection of being the hope and the dream of slaves as reflected in the freedom and opportunity of the present day. The message drives a point that no matter what, the protagonist will be triumphant. The importance of having appreciation of our previous generations for what they have done for us and what they have left is highlighted in line 39, “Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave”. Also, “I am the dream and the hope of the slave” (40) shows how Angelou

During the 1900s, there were many famous authors who wrote about African Americans and Civil Rights. This was what was going on during this time period. Segregation and discrimination towards blacks was increasing. Two famous authors were Langston Hughes and Maya Angelou. Langston Hughes wrote the poem “I, Too, Sing America.” Maya Angelou wrote the poem “Still, I rise.” These two poems both have their own meaning but are still similar in many ways.

In the poem “I, Too”, the author Langston Hughes illustrates the key aspect of racial discrimination faces against the African Americans to further appeals the people to challenge white supremacy. He conveys the idea that black Americans are as important in the society.

No one would 've ever thought that s/he were similar to a person that lives across the Pacific or atlantic, or even a person across the globe. Actually, s/he might be similar to the person across the globe. Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman and “Human Family” by Maya Angelou both share a common them, even though they talk about two tremendously different topics. This theme is that even with high-scale differences, people can nevertheless recognize similarities with others. Maya Angelou shows the theme by showing that everyone has a diverse lifestyle, but the lifestyle is made up of common things. On the other hand, Paul Fleischman portrays the theme by showing how so diverse people united to form similarities, through a common goal or common passion.

Just like Douglass’ speech, Angelou’s poem greatly reflects discrimination and just how little people’s opinions about her do not mean anything. Maya Angelou one stated, “Up from a past that’s rooted in pain I rise.” (pg. 3) She mentions that even if she may come from a past layered in gut-wrenching pain, no matter what has been thrown at her, she will look beyond them. Angelou also mentions, “Bringing the gifts thay my ancestors gave, I am the dream and hope of the slave.” (pg. 3) She is able to bring freedom and equality to the African American people, even if the white Americans do not agree with it. She is the voice of her people and will not stop until discrimination is

Not all of us choose to keep climbing through life’s obstacles. Yet some choose to go through life’s discomforts; like the diligent mother in Langston Hughes poem, “Mother to Son.” She addresses the son in a colloquial monologue about her life’s hurdles and hardships by never giving up; “For I’se still goin’, honey,” (18). The mother also persuades her son to not give up; “So boy, don’t you turn back.” (14) “Mother to Son” uses extended metaphor and imagery to reveal the mother’s persistency and determination to her son, explaining all of her life’s anguished situations.

In the poem “Harlem” by Langston Hughes, several similes are used to portray the reality of dreams. Hughes employs effective metaphors, inviting us to visualize a dream and what may happen to it after it passes from conscious thought. Could a dream dry up like a raisin in the sun? Or even fester like a sore? (Hughes, 1951, p. 631). When you and I look at these similes, the meaning we derive from them may greatly differ from the intended meanings provided by the author. Dreams are wonderful, mysterious, imaginative, basically your own little world you can escape to paradise whenever you close your eyes. Dreams aren’t always perfect, every now and then you will run into the flame storm of nightmares. Which can either make you “dry up like a raisin

The poem ‘Still I Rise’ is about a woman who discloses that she will overcome anything due to her self-confidence. The line ‘But still, like dust, I’ll rise’ is a metaphor that expresses that she will not be downtrodden by others. Instead, she will be the dust that rises from the dirt. Furthermore, the bold words ‘I rise’ exaggerates that she is a defiant character that will not be put down. Additionally, her relentless view is that no one can overcome her situation. The line ‘I am the dream and the hope of the slave’ refers to past relatives and even though she is an educated person now, she has not forgotten her past. She echoes Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream” speech on Civil Rights which conveys her as a self-assured character. She humanises the slaves who also had hopes and dreams Moreover, the direct accusatory ‘You’ repeated over three lines in stanza six attracts attention to the negativity of those who do not want to recognise her as their equal. This conveys her as a serious bold character. The emphatic line ‘But still, like air, I’ll rise’ demonstrates her unfailing positivity to overcome obstacles. In Addition, the simile ‘like air’ differs and is more

John D. Rockefeller once said, “I do not think that there is another quality so essential to success of any kind as the quality of Perseverance. It outcomes almost everything, even nature.” The narrator in each story had to go through several challenging obstacles to get to their “goal” which defines perseverance. Maya Angelou and Langston Hughes present a theme of perseverance in a very similar way. The tone of the speaker in the poem helps contribute to the presentation of its theme.