Maya Angelou Literary Analysis

Individuals sometimes keep hurtful, embarrassing situations and memories as secrets from their loved ones for their own protection. In the book titled “ The Color of Water.” James McBride writes his life story as well as a tribute to the life of his white Jewish mother. In the story, there are many secrets that exist and the burden of them tears people and relationships apart. The theme of the burden of secrets is displayed throughout the novel in Ruth’s inability to openly discuss her past to anyone because she is hurt and wants to protect her family. There were many secrets in this book for instance Ruth’s sexual abuse by her father, when Ruth became pregnant by Peter in Suffolk, Virginia and of Ruth’s racist father all were very sad memories that she did not want to tell anyone about.

We witness the lives of people she impacts, what happens to them, and how many times she lies to get her way. Abigail does all this for the man that she loves and had an affair with, John Proctor. If the reader begins to focus on John, his actions and what he stands for, they are easily able to recognize he portrays characteristics of the flawed nature of an individual. It is shown through the fact that he had an affair, isn’t able to forgive himself, and at the end of the book, is unable to give up something dear to him to save himself and others. When analyzing John Proctor, the first thing that stands out is that he had an affair with a 17 year-old Abigail Williams.

Molly, suffered serious trauma after Tilly was removed from her care and taken away, when Tilly returned, Molly could not remember her daughter, or didn’t want to. That part of her life affected her personality in a way to make her cold and distant until she starts remembering what happened, another great part that the audiences can use to connect with the characters. In “Jasper Jones” the traumatic experience was Jasper finding out that Mad Jack Lionel was his grandfather and that left him wondering and full of questions. Overall the producers of these texts have design all the characters in a way that everyone had a problem or a flaw. One of the main plots in both texts is revenge because Tilly Dunnage wants revenge on the townspeople for sending her away for something she didn’t do and jasper Jones wanted revenge for whoever killed

The writer allows the reader to have a complete view of the story, based on the configuration. It can be used to divert the reader. It can also be indicated that the configuration is an important feature in short stories. Both authors used symbols to support reading. These symbols will help readers have a better understanding of the story.

Poetry is an important part of literature which conveys an author 's ideas across to the reader through the use of descriptive language. Poetry helps an author to express their inner emotions and often incorporates various poetic devices which enriches the text. Poetry gives the reader a different perspective and when read closely, can give the audience a look into the authors imagination. Likewise, poetic devices enhance the writing and can drastically change the mood of the poem, as well as, how the reader interprets the poem. Poetic devices are important in literature because they help to convey a message, add spontaneity to a poem, and give the reader a strong visual.

She also uses capitalization to show importance. After meeting her mother she is dumbstruck by her realness and from then on in the book the word “mother” is capitalized (Arsenburg 118). In that same scene Angelou uses foreshadowing when she is struck silent by the thought of having a real family, foreshadowing her muteness after the betrayal (Vermillion 67). Foreshadowing is very rarely used in autobiographies, but Angelou manages to make it a beautiful thing. Angelou is praised for many of her literary choices and her “most valued technique...may be the precision she describes objects or places, a precision so sharp that readers carry that description with them, even when the book is closed” (Lupton 69).

She wrote a lot about feminism and where she believed women belonged. She wrote this poem about how she could work as hard as she wanted but she was never given appreciation about it. Sexton added in lines referencing how the treatment of women is mentally disorienting. It was disorienting because it was so frustrating for her. She couldn’t focus or be productive because she felt so strongly about feminism (“Her Kind”).

She is a tragic character, who is unable to exist in the world which surrounds her so she makes up a better world in her imagination. The world she wishes to live in. People can sympathize with Blanche because of all the tragedy in her life. Susan Henthorne writes in her essay A Streetcar Named Desire, Death and desire bring Blanche to this low point in her life. She never recovers from the devastating death of her young husband, indirectly caused by the nature of his sexual desire.

Wagner argues that “Losing one’s virginity unwisely seldom determines the eventual life of the male protagonist; it is the stuff of ostracism, madness and suicide for a female, however.” Esther knows what her choices will mean for her, however as she expresses before finally losing her virginity, “Ever since I’d learned about the corruption of Buddy Willard my virginity weighed like a millstone around my neck. It had been of such enormous importance to me for so long that my habit was to defend it at all costs. I had been defending it for five years and I was sick of it.” Esther sees her virginity as a burden, hindering her mission to take charge of her own life. Esther wants to be free from the sexual bonds tying her down, she wants to “shoot off in all directions [herself], like the coloured arrows from a fourth of

Passing of Freedom Bound, unequal, and dependent upon their husband. This, was the normal way of life for wives of the 18th century. If suddenly, the notion of life as it has always been was altered, what would be the proper reaction? This is the predicament Mrs. Mallard- the subject of Kate Chopin’s’ short story found herself in. Beautifully, and controversially written, The Story of an Hour has rightfully held a place in the minds of its readers as a favorite for years.