Poetry Analysis- Still I Rise, Maya Angelou

The subject matter can be perceived as a woman who is black and possibly a slave overcoming or rising from the hardships presented by society. The theme can be seen as the way people can come back, that no-matter how cruel and unforgiving one acts, someone who remains confident and has hope and dignity can move forward. As long as you remain hopeful and believe that you can achieve one will generally succeed.



The poet has successfully conveyed a strong, hopeful and contradicting emotive of regret. The emotion of will power and strength along with determination presents the reader with a flood of varying emotions. An general emotion could be felt as stated above, is a strong happy feeling. Maya Angelou has created a character with such a desire and determination to let nothing hold her back, she gives off her determination and the reader cannot help but feel happiness and admiration for her perseverance. "You may trod me in the very dirt, but still like dust I'll rise," This quote can be used as an essential in addressing and supporting the previous statement. but although the predominate emotion felt is happiness a contrasting emotion of sympathy can be experienced. "You kill me with your hate fullness" and "shoot me with your words." These quotes support the statement that the 'white race' did not treat everyone with respect and your colour represents how you should be treated- in this case with insults and hatefulness. After reading such quotes the reader would be prone to the feeling of sympathy and regret, for the way we alienated fellow beings.

Still I Rise, is a regular, free verse stanza poem. With appropriate to the genre language and striking, vivid and descriptive vocabulary. The language is specific and acted with vitality in addressing the subject matter. The word choice for example "I'm the dream and the hope of the slave" and "I'm a black ocean," acts as an aid in identifying two main key objects. From those lines it can be deciphered that Angelou's character is black and a slave. Phrases such as "sassiness" and "sexiness" also help in deciphering that the character is most likely female. The word choice also correlates with the imagery the reader would experience. Words such as "soulful cries" suggests deep, meaningful cries and creates an image of a woman lost for words but engulfed in overwhelming emotion. Another example includes "like dust,I'll rise," this phrase creates the image of a big cloud of dust rising, like that after a stampeed or that of which a person has just walked on. Imagery is also presented through the use of smiles for example "I walk like I've got oil wells pumping in my living room," this simile creates an image of a wealthy woman walking with pride and dignity. Metaphoric phrases also creates imagery "I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide," the image portrayed is a huge furiously jumping.

Angelou used sounds such as rhyme: gave-slave, wide-tide and surprise-thighs in particular areas to demonstrate a more upbeatness, the character triumphing over her hardships. In these more upbeat areas the reader would feel happiness. The rhyme appears to be restricted to these areas. Enjament is also a contributing factor to the movement of the poem. Enjament is used to make the reader slow down, this statement appears frequently in areas where the poet wants the reader to feel sadness, and that feeling is best and most effectively conveyed whilst reading slowly.

Overall Angelou succeeded in creating a touching poem, that demonstrates how this particular character has triumphed over the doubts of others.