Angelou used questions to make the reader feel and understand her point of view. Maya Angelou’s work as a poet had very defined themes and styles. One of Angelou’s most iconic compositions is a poem of self-worth and perververenve deemed “Still I Rise.” The poem quickly draws the reader into the story through the use of rhetorical questions and continues this style as the poem progresses. “Did you want to see me broken? Bowed head and lowered eyes?” (“Still I Rise”).
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.
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).
Angelou expresses how to be a confident woman through symbolism. She describes how she holds her head up even though she is not perfect. Angelou says "I 'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model 's size"(line 2). Which
Maya Angelou’s poem is a reminder of the people who did not have a chance at a free life. Maya Angelou, a North American author, poet, and civil right activist, has become a voice for those who had failed to speak up for themselves. She is recognized for being a spokesperson for black people, woman, and for her commitment of raising the moral standards of black and white people living in the United States. Angelou has written several poems and stories to interpret the horrifying events African Americans experienced in the 1960’s. In the poem, “Caged Bird”, Maya Angelou, utilizes the literary devices of personification, metaphor, and juxtaposition to demonstrate through the metaphor of a caged bird the plight and oppressed life black people had to live.
She is saying that she carries herself as if she is rich and she dances as if she knows she is attractive. Throughout the poem, Angelou targets specific things people have said or done such as the following: harsh words, shame from history, rude stares, hateful remarks, bitter attitudes, etc. Yet, she expresses a theme of overcoming in confidence because everytime she picks out a negative about society, she exaggerates a truth about herself in a positive way. This poem tackles oppression but it also shows that confidence in oneself has the ability to propel one into overcoming. My personal reaction is one of humbling
In stanza seven, the river speaks of factories that have dumped their wastes by its side, as well as the exploitation of Native American land and labor; both points are used to show how greed can destroy humanity. At numerous points throughout the poem, Angelou mentions the different races who came to America as immigrants and slaves. The mention of these different races can have a positive and negative connotation. Speaking positively, Angelou may be referring the fact that America has been called “the melting pot” of cultures, and how all people were welcomed openly to America. Negatively, she may be referring to the fact that this medley of cultures has led to an erasure of their individual identities, which relates to her theme of celebrating the diversity of all
As you read these poems you will be able to see how these three women endured hard times by keeping their faith in God and believing in him during their journey. The poem, “Here Follows Some Verses Upon the Burning of Our House,” by Anne Bradstreet, shows the reader the theme of perseverance by having faith in God. She adds plenty of allusions in this poem, most being towards God. Her theme of perseverance is demonstrated throughout most of the poem by having these allusions towards God. Anne
Both authors not only painted descript images of their troubles, but summarize their experiences in ways that leave the reader feeling heartbroken for the struggles they’d went through. Not only did both characters come out of their experiences stronger than ever, but neither of them broke within the stories they told. They both fought past their burdens and found ways to cope. I find that to be the most courageous thing out of both experiences - not the war, not the struggle of being black in a racist country, but their coping mechanisms. With what I’ve learned about the struggles of both Maya Angelou and Tim O’Brien, I’ve learned that as long as I still have the will to fight against my burdens, I will come out alive and hopeful.
In the poem, Angelou stands up against the people that have torn her down because of her race and femininity. “You may kill me with your hatefulness” (Angelou 23), she tells them, “But still, like air, I’ll rise” (Angelou 24). Maya Angelou is displaying excellence in her poem by achieving her highest potential as an African American woman, regardless of the degrading comments people make about her. Maya Angelou’s poem teaches its readers to accept the person they are, no matter what people, or society, think of