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How Does Maya Angelou Use Rhetorical Devices

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A successful writer turns literature into a poem with rhetorical devices in order to connect with the readers. Maya Angelou lived a life of poverty and hardship but turned it into something beautiful. Some examples of her most famous pieces are "Caged Bird," "Still I Rise" and "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings." She uses diction, syntax, and imagery to convey her message of perseverance in overcoming oppression, racism, and finding herself. Maya Angelou employs diction to communicate her emotions and thoughts to her readers.She specifically uses metaphors to relate her life experiences in a way that helps better explain the meaning of what she is saying. For example, she describes herself as "...a black ocean…"("Still I Rise" 33) which is such a beautiful way of saying she is a worldwide role model. Secondly, Maya Angelou depicts being oppressed by describing it as"...shoot me with your words…" ("Still I Rise" 21) This assists readers in interpreting the words as bullets that send a pain so intense that it knocks you down. The way Maya Angelou uses diction can help the reader truly understand her message on a different level. …show more content…

She uses punctuation to create a sense of suspense or wonder about what she will say next. For example, she puts commas in her poem to emphasize that her brother is "...a hope of wholeness, is the unshaking need for an unshakable God. My pretty black brother was my Kingdom Come." (Caged Bird 19) Another point is that she repeats the line about the bird "..[opening] his throat to sing." so that the reader is frequently reminded that the bird keeps going and has resilience. She is able to grab your attention just by how she sets up her literature to create

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