Still I Rise by Maya Angelou

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Still I Rise by Maya Angelou | Summary and Analysis from Rajdeep Bavaliya

1. Title: "Unyielding Spirit: A Study of 'Still I Rise' by Maya Angelou"

2. Information

3. Table of Contents

● Questions to be Addressed

● Introduction

● About the Author

● Analysis

● Key Literary Devices Used in the Poem

1. Simile

2. Metaphor

3. Repetition

4. Rhetorical Question

5. Structure and Form

6. Imagery

7. Symbolism

● Conclusion

● References

4. Questions to be Addressed:

1. How does the meaning of the poem evolve as we progress through each stanza?

2. How do similes and metaphors enhance the imagery in "Still I Rise"?

3. What effect does the repetition of certain phrases have on the overall tone of the poem?

4. How does Maya Angelou use symbolism to convey her message of resilience and empowerment?

5. Introduction:

"Still I Rise" is a poem by the American civil rights activist and writer Maya Angelou. One of Angelou's most acclaimed works, the poem was published in Angelou’s third poetry collection "And Still I Rise" in 1978. Broadly speaking, the poem is an assertion of the dignity and resilience of marginalized people in the face of oppression. Because Angelou often wrote about blackness and black womanhood, "Still I Rise" can also be read more specifically as a critique of anti-black racism.

6. Quote:

"It's one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself, to forgive. Forgive everybody."

- Maya Angelou

7. About the Author:

Maya Angelou (born Marguerite Annie Johnson; on April 4, 1928 – May 28, 2014) was an American memoirist, poet, and civil rights activist. She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry, and is credited with a list of plays, movies, and television shows spanning over 50 years. She received dozens of awards and more than 50 honorary degrees.[3] Angelou's series of seven autobiographies focus on her childhood and early adult experiences. The first, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969), tells of her life up to the age of 17 and brought her international recognition and acclaim.

8. Analysis:

'Still I Rise' by Maya Angelou - 1987 - Live Performance. Click Here

8. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

9. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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".

10. 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.

11. 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".

11. 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."

12. Key Literary Devices Used in the Poem

12. ● 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"

13. ● 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.

14. ● Repetition:

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

Examples:

"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."

"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."

15. ● 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?"

16. ● 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.

17. ● 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.

18. ● 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.

19. ●Conclusion:

In the poem's conclusion, Angelou speaks with clear confidence. She declares that no matter the pain or oppression, she will always rise. It's a simple yet strong message of resilience and hope. Her words encourage everyone to stand tall and face challenges with the belief that they can rise above them.