Maya Angelou Figurative Language

Life is a long journey in which we are forced to experience something new everyday. We have days of strength, days of weakness, days of honesty, and days of deceit. We are not fully in control of the what happens to us, but we have the power to choose where to go next. We have the option to be happy, to be sad, to be a leader, or to be a follower. Choice is powerful, without choice we would not have change-for better or for worse. Everyday can significantly change because of a single choice. But every choice is not always available to everyone. There are barriers that stand in the way of each, some can be broken down easily, while others take more time and effort. Maya Angelou experienced and overcame more of these barriers than I could ever

She was born in Louis, Missouri in 1928. At the age of three, the divorce of her parents made her and her brother, Bailey, to move to Stamps where their grandmother lived. While living in Stamps, Angelou experienced some racial discrimination as it was allowed in the South America during that time. However, she did a good job maintaining her customary African American

“Today, Michelle and I join millions around the world in remembering one of the brightest lights of our time – a brilliant writer, a fierce friend, and a truly phenomenal woman.” (Online - White House). This memorial statement, by Barack Obama in 2014, encompasses how many felt towards Maya Angelou, one of the most influential writers and voices of her generation. Over the course of her lifetime, Maya Angelou was awarded over 50 honorary degrees and received the highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Angelou’s personal admiration and self-love that is reflected in her poetic works, specifically, “Phenomenal Woman,” is credited to the overcoming of her traumatic childhood and her work in activism.

a. Maya Angelou was an avid writer, speaker, activist and teacher. As a result of the many hardships that she suffered while growing up as a poor black woman in the south she has used her own experiences as the subject matter of her written work. In doing this she effectively shows how she was able to overcome her personal obstacles. Her autobiography “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1970) tells the story of her life and how she overcame and moved forward triumphantly in spite of her circumstances. She asks her readers to rise above their defeats, to not allow anyone to stop their dreams. In demonstrating how she succeeded she has been a role model for women of all cultures and races. The “Phenomenal Women” poem is a celebration

The rhyme scheme emphasizes certain words that make Angelou’s message more clear; the comparisons in the figurative language give more specific details to the message; the syntax helps perpetuate the theme throughout the poem; and the diction develops the first half of the message. Each device Angelou used in this poem was for a particular purpose, which is one thing that makes it truly artistic. Moreover, Angelou’s exceptional use of literary devices to convey the theme exemplify her talent, style, and creativity in her writing. Her ability to write a poem on self-confidence and acceptance, even after the conflicts she faced in the past, goes on to show her strength as a human being in general. With the creativity and strength in spirit she possesses, Maya Angelou was certainly able to successfully convey her message to her audience: that each individual should find their self-worth, rise above their pasts and distaste others show toward them, look to a better future, and not let anyone or anything bring them

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

The definition of dolor is defined as mental suffering, or grief. Dolor being the title of the poem, creates a sense of negativity and dreadfulness. A sense of sadness,

Maya Angelou was one of the most influential literary phenomenons, who created numerous inspiring works and paved the way for many African Americans, while facing discrimination and prejudices. She gave people hope through her countless works of literature and gave people an understanding to what it really feels like to be an African American.

Maya Angelou was born in a time when blacks and white were not allowed to comingle and if they did so it could mean dire consequences. She was born in St. Louis, Missouri on April 4, 1928 originally given the name of Marguerite Annie Johnson. After parents divorce she lived with her paternal grandmother, her cousin and her crippled uncle. At the age

The author uses personification which expresses the theme because it shows people saying mean things about the speaker, but they keep moving on. In the poem Angelou states, “You may shoot me with your words, / You may cut me with your eyes, / You may kill me with your hatefulness” (21-23). This literary device is used to show that the speaker will keep moving on no matter what people say about them and how it is relatable because sometimes you get that look from someone. Another device Maya Angelou uses is a simile because she shows that even though people are saying all this mean stuff the speaker is still happy and joyful. Maya Angelou states, “Like dust, I’ll rise” (4). This is important because the speaker compares themselves to dust always rising up no matter what. It expresses the theme because they will always rise up no matter

Making her way back to Los Angeles which black spokesman Bayard Rustin sought leadership advice from Maya in 1970. As well as being noticed as a Northern Coordinator for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Being honored by two presidents Ford and Carter, the Bicentennial Commission and the National Commission on Observance of the International Women 's Year. Maya 's humanistic topics grew greatly with recitation and songs, which was intended to a universal acceptance of human differences and celebration of similarities. Maya was mainly professed to one audience, “ Human beings we are more alike than we are unalike. That was one of the greatest lessons I learned.” [ Kevin Rogers, Biography.com] - Maya Angelou

April 4, 1929, St. Louis, Missouri was the birth of the multitalented, Marguerite Annie Johnson. Family of Marguerite is mother, Vivian Baxter Johnson, father, Bailey Johnson, and brother, Bailey Johnson, Jr. Later in the early twenties of Marguerite Johnsons’ life, she changed her name to Maya Angelou. Since the divorce of Maya’s parents, her life has been nothing but an uncontrollable rollercoaster. As a youth, Maya Angelou had to eventually overcome her strugglers and regain what she once lost years ago when troubled occurred. By the time teen Maya Angelou was sixteen years old, she became pregnant with a baby boy, she named, Guy Johnson. Once Maya Angelou was no longer a young girl she was determined to travel outside of United States of America, making a huge difference and transitioning from girl to woman. Then finally Maya Angelou became a female African American Activist Civil Rights Leader who was famous for being a writer, singer, actress, author, director, stage and screen performer, also most well-known poet. Throughout her career, Angelou has earned several awards and accomplished many accomplishments, including receiving a Grammy award. Her best known art work was entitled, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. She has been recognized and honored by different organizations almost throughout her life. This is the birth of art which brought a new look on life by the talented performer, Dr. Maya Angelou.

Maya Angelou was a very well-known writer as well as a Civil rights activist. Angelou was born in St. Louis, Missouri on April 4th, 1928. She always showed a love for writing, most well-known for her work I know why the caged bird sings, she also wrote many essays that put her on the map in the literature community. Throughout her career as a writer, she received many awards including a nomination for a Pulitzer Prize alongside two NAACP Image Awards. She even was asked to recite one of her poems at Bill Clinton’s inauguration in 1993. Angelou faced much prejudice and discrimination firsthand throughout her life. Through these experiences as well as others, Maya Angelou was able to make personal connections

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

Maya Angelou, born in St Louis Missouri on April 4, 1928, American author, poet, and civil right activist. Her parents divorced when she was three years old, and she was sent along with her four-year-old brother to live with their paternal grandmother in Arkansas. They were placed in a train with only tags on their wrists that read, “to whom it may concern” with their names and destination. They also absorbed the deep religious faith and old-fashioned courtesy of traditional African-American life, the strict religious and moral training.