The ideas and subjects expressed in Nikki Giovanni’s works are a reflection of her life and times. Giovanni, born in Knoxville, Tennessee in 1943, is a well-known African-American author who reached her prime in the late 1960´s and the early 1970´s. All of her writings prove her experiences as a child and young woman. ¨frequently anthologized, Giovanni’s poetry expresses strong racial pride and respect for family. Her informal style makes her work accessible to both adults and children¨ (PoetryFoundation 1). Her writings include the poems “Legacies” and “Choices”.
Her inner self craves for freedom to drive past and achieve something. She envisions her song as a luxurious Cadillac, where she now wants a materialistic world. She is in her imaginary world until the heat of the urn in her hand bring back her to reality, where she starts comparing to her real life, hallow and vapid. She attempts to find comfort in her room, as she says “coffee cruises my mind visiting the most remote way stations, I think of my room as a calm arrival each book and lamp in its place.” She starts to reflect her possessions and the security they give her and what they represent in her life. Her room is where she seeks calmness, the lamp, and books which allow her to escape to a different imaginary
When she utilises the modes of appeals, they are subtle within the texts, which leads the reader to analyse as they read. She conveys ideas of internalised oppression, involuntarily imposed upon to follow strict social rules, the act of people erasing cultural heritage, as well as the importance of embracing personal heritage.
Get on the bus and join the movement towards appreciating poetry. Join author of Poetry Should Ride the Bus, Ruth Forman in making poetry an everyday thing. Poetry should be familiar to everyone and looked at as a mundane concept. Society should be able to use poetry as a benefit to their lives on a regular basis. Unfortunately, poetry isn’t appreciated as much as it should be. It isn’t something you see in a typical person’s everyday life even though it is extremely valuable. She uses this poem to try and change the negative stigma associated with poetry and convince readers of the countless benefits that come with it. Ruth Forman uses an authoritative tone, imagery, and personification, in her poem, Poetry Should Ride the Bus, to convey the idea that poetry should be appreciated rather than feared.
Once the poem “History Lesson” was written numerous poetry foundations celebrated it for many reasons. “History Lesson” not only makes an impact on literature today it has also impacted people also. This poem inspires people and moves them to the point to where they can find a personal connection to the poem itself and to the writer. Not only does it hold emotional value for those who were victimized and those whose family were victimized by the laws of segregation, but the poem is also celebrated for its complexity. The poem uses many techniques to appeal to the reader. In this poem the writer uses imagery to create logos, uses connotation convey ethos,
The 1970s were a rough year for African-Americans, still fighting for social and political rights in the United States. Consequently, women still did not receive equal rights. However, in 1972, “Congress approved the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to the Constitution, which reads: ‘Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex’ (History.com Staff).” Out of the thirty-eight necessary states only twenty-two ratified it right away, it was relieving for the moment because the feminist advocates had been trying to be ratified since 1923. The First African-American woman elected into Congress was Shirley Chisholm. This moment opened doors for African-American women that they thought would never have a chance. Nevertheless, the poem Ego Tripping written by Nikki Giovanni dated back to 1972 where she expresses her power throughout the poem with the support of feminist statements. Giovanni reminds the audience of historical moments that lead up to the current conditions of the United States. Ego Tripping (there may be a reason why) was published with a bundle of poetry which is entitled My House, the book of poems had a common underlying idea that Giovanni is free to do what she pleases and live by her own set of rules (Masterpieces of American Literature Ed. Steven G. Kellman.)
The essay will consider the poem 'Practising' by the poet Mary Howe. It will explore how this poem generates its meaning and focus by analysing its techniques, metaphorical construct and its treatment of memory. The poem can primarily be seen to be a poem of missed opportunity. In this way is comes to form, alongside other poems of Howe's a study about a certain kind of loss and the recuperative efforts of memory, alongside the certainty of the failure of this recuperation. The paper will begin by giving a context to the poem with regard to Howe's life and work and will then proceed to analyse it directly, drawing attention to how it can be seen to fulfil this thesis about its content and meaning.
“Now, everything I do, I do because I want to. And I believe the best is yet to come.” (Giovanni,1). When one has finally reached the point in their life where they have achieved every goal and overcame every obstacle then they have earned a fulfilled life. Nikki Giovanni attests to being optimistic and aspiring. In Giovanni’s poem Choices, she expresses the choices that are to be made in everyones lives. The poem Choices was published shortly after her father’s death. In the period, Giovanni began to have an epiphany with her own life and choices. She discovered how one must sustain an optimistic attitude. Also, she extended on the idea that accepting one’s current situation will take one to greater lengths.
‘For What It’s Worth’ by Buffalo Springfield has a logical message because it is referring to the Sunset Strip Riots that took place in Hollywood during the 1960’s. People protested when they lost their civil rights due to a curfew law that was put into place. The song says, “Stop, children, what’s that sound. Everybody look- what’s going down?” Community members were angry at the young people going to clubs at night because they were “loud” and “disruptive”. The curfew law was put into place after the complaints and the youth became outraged. They believed their civil right were being taken away. There were riots along the sunset strip, where all these clubs were located, to protest the law. Police were at these riots and many people were handcuffed and hauled off to jail. They are referring to children because these protests were from the younger generation. Even though the overall message is logical, the support within this song is not as strong. ‘For What It’s Worth’ is often mistaken as an anti-war song since it was released during the Vietnam War era. When most people hear this song that is what they think of. The song can be heard in several war related movies. Some even believe it is about the Kent State Shootings although the song was released years before that event occurred. Even though there is not strong evidence to back up this song's true meaning, it
Nikky Finney's book Head Off and Split is a work of art in every sense. It combines both historical elements and personal elements. She shines the light on our countries habit of oppressing and enslaving African Americans. She masterfully weaves together the history of the time and her own memories in an unabashed way that lays bare the wrongdoings of our country. Forcing the reader to see part of our history that is often glossed and skimmed over in conventional textbooks. The poems in Head of nd Split are both political, and erotic, nd person as well as narrative driven. She is the conductor of the written word. Each word she uses is s music is the next weaving together a work of lyrical perfection. The book is mainly work of poetry with snippets of prose. With the beginning poem “Resurrection of the Errand Girl: An Introduction” being a prose poem. It hs also won the National book award in 2011.
Nikki Giovanni is a strong woman who expresses her emotions through the words she write. With every stanza or line that she wrote there was a significant meaning behind it. Giovanni used her words as a window to speak and inspire. This poem entitled “Choices” by Nikki Giovanni was written after her father’s death. Giovanni was very distraught by the sudden death of her father. This was an unexpected turn, as he passed away on June 8,1982, the day after his 39th birthday. This was the very same year that Giovanni decided to write this poem. She used this poem as a window to reach her readers, while letting out her deepest emotions through poetry to mourn the lost of her father.
“Happiness consists in giving and in others,” (Henry Drummond). This quote effectively describes the character Clarisa in the short story, “Clarisa” written by Isabel Allende because of her giving nature and adherence for helping others. In this story, Allende depicts Clarisa as the model of affection and compassion by giving absolutely everything she owns and even spends “... the last cent of her dowry and inheritance,” (Allende, 434) and, “In her own poverty, she never turned her back on the poverty of others,”(Allender, 434). It is this very reason that she is held in high esteem and portrayed as saint like by all those who know. Through the use of similes, diction, and imagery Allende does an exceptional job helping readers understand
Friendship is strong and can last a lifetime. In John Green's “Freak the Geek “a girl has Has problems in Hoover Prep School with older girls.She uses the power of friendship to get through tough times with her best friend. Lauren makes in through challenges and the struggles of Hoover Prep School with the power of friendship.This friendship leads to her being able to cope with the school and helps her build bravery at the same time. Being able to cope with school takes a lot Lauren uses the power of friendship to do this.Lauren and her best friend use each other their friendship helps them get through calls to get to the end of the day without each other they say they wouldn't be able to get through the day all of this goes back to their power of friendship because without each other they wouldn't be able to get things done.”The only redeemable facet of
In the poem “Nikki- Rosa,” Nikki Giovanni writes with diction and imagery to prove that’s she had a happy childhood in spite of her family’s hardships. Giovanni creates a poem, that although short in words, provides a lasting effect on the reader. Giovanni’s creative use of language and descriptive words, the distinction of black culture from white culture, and memories of average times that made her childhood unique and happy made this poem distinct and exceptional.
The poems in this essay both talk about being a woman. “Phenomenal Woman” by Maya Angelou is about more of a confident woman while “Woman” by Nikki Giovanni is about a woman who wants a man to change for her. The poems though very different, are also similar because they both talk about confidence as a woman. By the end of both poems the narrators both know that they are women who are strong and do not need anyone else 's acceptance but their own. They know their own self worth and that is enough for them.