Still I Rise by Maya Angelou 

This blog task is assigned by Prof. Vipul Dabhi Sir. Click here to see the teacher's blog.

{getToc} $title={Table of Contents} $count={false}

Q.-1.|What is your understanding of the poem Still I Rise by Maya Angelou?

Answer:

Stanza: 1
The poet expresses her determination and courage in this poem, saying that nothing and no one can hold her back or crush her spirit. She rejects the false narratives of history books that distort the truth. She is not bothered by the fact that others have treated her "like dirt". She says that even if she is pushed to the ground, she will rise like dust.

Stanza: 2
In the second stanza, she asks a question. This is an interesting question, as she calls her own voice "sassy" and wonders if it bothers the listener. When the poet achieves something, she notices that the people around her in her society are "filled with gloom". She questions this. She knows that she has done well in life, writing, and as a woman.

"’Cause I walk like I've got oil wells

Pumping in my living room."

-symbolize her success.

Stanza: 3

In this stanza, she compares herself to the moon and sun, which are both affected by the tides. This shows the reader that the speaker has no choice but to overcome her hardship. No matter how much society tries to keep her down, it is in her nature to rise and resist oppression, just like the tides follow the moon.

Stanza: 4

The speaker's questions in this stanza are direct, relevant, and appropriately accusing. She knows that the racists in her society will be angry at her own accomplishment. So she addresses her questions to a culture that has always tried to keep her down. She asks if they want to see her broken, subjugated, unhappy, and bitter. She asks these questions knowing that this is exactly what many people in society want. They did not want to see a black woman thrive despite social injustice. The speaker is aware of this, and she exposes it with her insightful yet sharp questions.

Stanza: 5

She continues her questions about a racist society by asking if her "pride" is offensive. She knows that society hates seeing a black woman full of confidence. This question has a sarcastic tone, revealing society's double standard as it is furious by the success of someone it has tried to repress. The speaker goes on in a mocking tone, pretending to comfort the listener. The poet says, "Don't you be too upset." This is her witty way of pretending to care about the people who oppose her success. But she keeps on "showing off" her achievements in front of the society that has always oppressed her. She says she has "gold mines" and laughs at her new fortune.

Stanza: 6

In this stanza, she tells society that whatever they do to oppress her, it will not work. The poet tells society that it cannot beat her with words or looks. She says that society cannot win against her, even if it manages to kill her because of its hatred. She says she will keep on rising "like air".

Stanza: 7

The speaker keeps on questioning society. By this point in the poem, it is clear that the speaker has put society on trial and is now interrogating it. She knows the answers to these questions, but asking them would expose the guilty party. While asking incriminating questions, she shows great self-esteem in the face of societal persecution.

Stanza: 8

In this stanza, the speaker finally refers to the past, which is the reason why she is still oppressed and disliked today. She calls slavery "history's disgrace" and says that she will not be chained by the past, even if it is "painful".

Stanza: 9

In the final stanza, the speaker declares her intention to leave behind all the effects of slavery and tyranny and rise above them. She vows that she will leave behind "fear and terror" and fly above the sorrow and oppression "into a daybreak that's wonderfully clear". The speaker does not want to let society's hatred or the sadness of the past stop her from becoming everything she has ever dreamed of. As a result, she repeats it three times:

"I rise

I rise

I rise."

 

Q.-2.|Identify key literary devices used in the poem and provide examples, including original lines from the poem.

Answer:

● Simile:

A simile is a comparison of two unlike items that employs the terms "like" or "as". A poet utilizes this type of figurative language to express that one item is comparable to another, as opposed to metaphor, which states that it "is" another.

Examples:

"But still, like dust, I'll rise." 

"’Cause I walk like I've got oil wells"

"Just like moons and like suns,"

"Just like hopes springing high,"

"Shoulders falling down like teardrops,"

"’Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines"

"But still, like air, I’ll rise." 

"That I dance like I've got diamonds"

● Metaphor:

Metaphor appears in the last section of "Still I Rise." In lines 21-23, for example, the speaker used figurative language when outlining the different things her oppressor may do to harm her:

"You may shoot me with your words,

You may cut me with your eyes,

You may kill me with your hatefulness,"

Of course, you cannot actually "shoot" someone with words since words are not bullets; similarly, "eyes" are not blades and cannot "cut" somebody, and "hatefulness" is not, in and of itself, lethal. The speaker employs figurative language to highlight how difficult it is to be surrounded by racism in society—how much it hurts to be bombarded with nasty rhetoric, looks, and a general sense of being detested.

● Repetition:

The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of multiple lines, usually in succession.

Examples:

"You may write me down in history

With your bitter, twisted lies,

You may trod me in the very dirt

But still, like dust, I'll rise."

"Just like moons and like suns,

With the certainty of tides,

Just like hopes springing high,

Still I'll rise."

"You may shoot me with your words,

You may cut me with your eyes,

You may kill me with your hatefulness,

But still, like air, I’ll rise."

"Out of the huts of history’s shame

I rise

Up from a past that’s rooted in pain

I rise"

"Leaving behind nights of terror and fear

I rise

Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear

I rise

Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,

I am the dream and the hope of the slave.

I rise

I rise

I rise."

● Anaphora:

It refers to the repetition of a word or expression in the first part of some verses. The poet repeats the words “You may” in the opening lines of the poem to express her ideas.

● Alliteration:

Alliteration happens when words are used consecutively, or appear close together, and begin with the same letter. For example, "huts of history" in the eighth stanza's first line, and "gifts" and "gave" in the ninth.

● Enjambment:

Enjambment is another typical poetic technique. It occurs when a line is severed before it reaches its natural end point. Enjambment forces the reader to swiftly move on to the following line. One must continue forward in order to comfortably resolve a phrase or sentence.

Examples:

"You may trod me in the very dirt

But still, like dust, I'll rise." 

"’Cause I walk like I've got oil wells 
Pumping in my living room."

● Assonance:

Assonance refers to the repeating of vowel sounds in the same line, such as the sound /i/ in-

"With your bitter, twisted lies".

● Consonance:

Consonance is the repeating of consonant sounds in a single line. Examples include the sound of /l/ in-

"Welling and swelling I bear in the tide"

-and the sound of /t/ in-

"Out of the huts of history's shame".

● Rhetorical Question:

A rhetorical question is one that is not intended to be answered; rather, it is presented to clarify the point.

Examples:

"Does my sassiness upset you?" 

"Does my sexiness upset you?"  

"Did you want to see me broken?"

● Structure and Form:

The poem 'Still I Rise' is nine stanzas long and divided into unequal lines. The first seven stanzas include four lines, known as quatrains, while the eighth has six and the ninth has nine. The first seven stanzas have a rhyme scheme of ABCB, the eighth ABABCC, and the ninth ABABCCBBB.

● Tone and Mood:

Angelou maintains a powerful and forceful tone throughout 'Still I Rise'. She is able to generate a very similar vibe by addressing her own and all marginalized communities' strengths, pasts, and futures directly. A reader should leave 'Still Rise' feeling inspired, joyous, and energized with confidence and strength.

● Meter and Rhythm:

"Still I Rise" by Maya Angelou predominantly uses iambic pentameter, which consists of lines with five pairs of syllables, where the stress falls on every second syllable. However, it's important to note that Angelou often deviates from strict meter for rhythmic and dramatic effect.

Here are a few examples from the poem:

"You may write me down in history" 

- This line follows iambic pentameter closely, with the stress falling on "write," "down," and "his."

"With your bitter, twisted lies,"

- Again, we see iambic pentameter with the stress on "bitter," "twist," and "lies."

"Does my sassiness upset you?"

- This line follows the rhythm of iambic pentameter, with the stress on "sass," "up," and "set."

While these lines demonstrate a consistent rhythm, Angelou also utilizes variation to enhance the poem's impact. For example, in the lines:

"Out of the huts of history's shame

I rise"

Here, the first line has an anapestic feel with the stress on "Out," "huts," and "his," while the second line shifts back to iambic pentameter. This variation adds musicality and emphasis to certain phrases, contributing to the overall power of the poem.

● Imagery:

This is a poem that uses many pictures to express its meaning. The first line shows a picture of "dust" that helps the speaker say what she wants. She says that when the wind of change comes, dust cannot be stopped. She will also rise like dust and make everyone who was against her unable to see.

The next stanza of the poem also have more pictures. For example, we can see oil wells that are spilling oil. The third stanza has pictures of the moon, the sun, and the water that moves up and down. In this poem, the water goes very high. It is like "hope."

There is a picture of a black person who is suffering a lot. The picture shows how the bad hand hurt them and made them quiet. Angelou uses the words "gold mines" and "diamonds" to show how this poem is different from what it seems. At the end, the "black ocean" shows how strong the speaker and her people are. They are as big and amazing as the ocean.

● Symbolism:

Angelou's 'Still I Rise' is a symbolic poem. It comprises multiple symbols that represent various thoughts. For example, in the first verse, the poet employs "dirt" as a symbol. It reflects the historical treatment of the black community.

The following stanzas include multiple symbolic references. These are "oil wells", "gold mines", and "diamonds". They jointly refer to the speaker's resourcefulness. These symbols are not about worldly possessions; rather, they allude to her intellectual prosperity.

In the fourth stanza, the moon and sun symbolize the speaker herself. The upward movement of the tides represents how optimism springs in her heart for the future. Furthermore, some expressions in this sentence deal with the concept of slavery, such as "bowed head and lowered eyes."

The eighth verse contains an essential symbol of the "black ocean". The ocean signifies Black people. "I'm a black ocean" says the speaker. Here, it represents force and immensity. Another sign appears in the final stanza's use of the term "night". It symbolizes fear, oppression, and pessimism.

Q.-3.|Mention the name of a Hindi or Gujarati song that has similarities to the poem Still I Rise. (Feel free to provide the lyrics.)

Answer:

Falak Tu Garaj Tu from the movie KGF Chapter 2 has some similarities to the poem Still I Rise.

Song details:

Song Name: Falak Tu Garaj Tu

Movie: KGF Chapter 2

Singer: Suchetha Basrur

Music Director: Ravi Basrur

Lyrics: Deepak V Bharti

Music Label: MRT Music

Falak Tu Garaj Tu lyrics:

"Falak tu garaj tu baras tu

Dhoop mein chhanv ki ehsas tu"

You are the sky

You are the one who roars

You are the one who rains.

You are the feeling of shade in the sun.

"Jeet tu jaan tu jahan tu

Hoga itihaas ka taaj tu"

You are the winner,

You are the whole world

You will be the crown of history

"Panno mein rahega maajhike

Sabko lena saath jodke"

You will be in the pages of books,

Bring you all together.

"Aandhi aur toofan se bhide

Haunsle ki kashti na doobe

Hoga itihaas ka taaj tu

Hoga itihaas ka taaj tu"

You fight against the storm and the tsunami

Never let your spirits get weak,

You will be the crown of history

You will be the crown of history

"Saamne fouj hai kyunki

Imtihaan ki hai ghadi"

There is a whole army in front because now

the time of examination

"Tu tera astra hai tu hi

Tera shastra hai har ghadi"

You yourself are a weapon

Thy scripture is there at all times

References:

1. Corfman, Allisa. "Still I Rise by Maya Angelou". Poem Analysis.

Click Here

2. Chen, Wendy. "Still I Rise." LitCharts. LitCharts LLC, 28 Oct 2019.

Click Here

 Thank You!