Maya AngelouStill I Rise

ResilienceDignityDefianceEqualityHopePrideEndurance

Themes in Still I Rise

Themes in Still I Rise

Symbolism (symbols of wealth)

Personification (black ocean leaping)

Alliteration (Huts of history’s shame)

Simile (like I’ve got diamonds)

Metaphor (I'm a black ocean)

Repetition (I rise I rise )

Language features in Still I Rise

“You may write me down in history”Reminds us of terrible racism in the past“You may tread me in the very dirt”Use of imagery makes the line and idea behind it more memorable“like dust I’ll rise”Angelou is twisting dirt from the line before and making it dust, something that you cannot stop from rising

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“Does my sassiness upset you?”Rhetorical question, addressing the reader directly grabs our attention. sassiness = being cheeky “beset with gloom”Rhetorical question again. beset = covered, surrounded or harassed“Like I’ve got oil wells”Simile, again twisting the use of “dirt” in the first stanza but making it something with even greater value

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“Just like moons and like suns”Simile reinforces how sure we can be that Angelou will rise above prejudice“hopes springing high”Personification of hopes, the highest point of the poem so far, Angelou is being optimistic here“…see me broken?...lowered eyes”More questioning of the reader, the purpose was to make a reader or listener may more attention and question themselves

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“Shoulders fall down like teardrops”Simile, and imagery used to create a strong image of a persons body language when their spirit is broken“haughtiness” = proudness, Angelou has a

growing sense of dignity and pride in herself “gold mines” More symbols of wealth from the dirt. Not symbolising money but her sense of self worth

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“You may shoot me with your words”Hyperbole, use of the word shoot reminds us of famous civil rights activists who have been assassinated

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“You may kill me with your hatefulness”Hyperbole, reminds us of the violence and hate in American history such as the events surrounding the Little Rock 9 in Arkansas

(see Little Rock 9 pics)

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“like air I’ll rise”From dirt to dust to air, she has twisted the word again to an even more pure form, and more powerful“I dance like I’ve got diamonds at the meeting of

my thighs”Simile, reinforces the idea that Angelou is proud of sexuality and unafraid of being a strong black woman “huts of histories shame” Alliteration grabs our attention and again reminds us of the slavery and poverty blacks suffered

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“I’m a black ocean leaping and wide”Metaphor, shows how strong Angelou is, that she is unstoppable and powerful like an ocean“Leaving behind nights of terror and fear”Angelou is able to overcome her own difficult childhood, leaving the memories in her past “I rise I rise I rise” The repetition strengthens the message and makes the memorable. It is also similar to a chant. Chants were a powerful tool used by those in the civil rights moment

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