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Still I Rise Mary Oliver Analysis

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In both, “Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou and Mary Oliver’s “The Journey”, the speaker utilizes a different style of diction and figurative language in order to appeal to their different audiences regarding two similar yet different subjects. Both poems ultimately suggests one to fight against matters that are deemed oppressive in order to move towards a brighter future although their purpose is depicted differently. This message is effectively delivered through the use of different methods of tone: Angelou utilizes a sarcastic and defiant tone, whereas Oliver settles on a more troubled and assured tone. In Maya Angelou’s poem, Angelou has no problem criticizing society for its discrimination between race and gender and promptly lays out a suggestion …show more content…

The poem does just that. It shows a speaker going through the stages of evolution where line 1-11 is the gloomy stage of life and line 12-22 is when the speaker decides to walk away and find his/her own voice and line 23- 36 shows the speaker finally finding the voice he/she longed forever. Both the “Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou and “The Journey” by Mary Oliver has the same sense of meaning where both authors urge the audience to rise against the ‘oppressors’ and work towards a brighter future. However, “Still I rise” is intended for the advocates of gender equality and racial equality to revolt against the discrimination that is seeping through the 20th century society. On the other hand, “The Journey” is intended for an individual to walk away from society’s overwhelming pressure and find his/her own voice that gives a chance for the individual to realize who he/she truly is. This can be seen through the extreme difference in tone. Angelou pushes on more daring tone riddled with sarcastic and bold remarks. This allows Angelou to freely belittle her oppressors while giving her advocates a laugh. Although risky, her boldness works out. The daring tone transfers her message clearly whilst giving her the power of

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