Repetition in the poem ‘Still I Rise’ by Maya   Angelou

The repetition in the poem is of the lines “Still…I’ll rise” and “I rise”

Meaning of repetition “Still…I’ll rise” helps affirm the ideas of moving forward and being successful despite what society may think of you. By writing this at the end of the stanzas Angelou always brings the poem back to the idea of rising up and moving forward to a positive future. This grounds the meaning of the poem in a single purpose: the positive affirmation that no matter the oppression, prejudice, hate, etc. the speaker (as representative of women and African Americans) will still succeed.

Positive MantraAngelou’s use of a repeated refrain creates a mantra, a group of words considered capable of creating a transformation, which allows a positive transformation of the beliefs that African American people may have about themselves. It empowers them to rise, just like Angelou has done.

“I’ll Rise” Becomes “I Rise”The transformation from “I’ll rise” to “I rise” shows that the poem and the poet have moved forward. Angelou has gone from wanting to rise to rising, and shows her readers they can do the same. This links to Angelou having a difficult past, as many other African American people have had, suggested in the line “I am the dream and the hope of the slave”. This past has illustrated the strength of her culture to her and has inspired her to be strong and rise up against oppression she faces.

Connotations of RiseThe word rise has connotations of determination, strength and new life; the rise of a new dawn, the rise of an empire, etc. These connotations are important because they transfer their qualities to the poem and the poet. This allows her readers to feel the strength that she feels as whilst reading the poem the readers are able to see through her outlook on life.

Relation to the Poem as a WholeThe repeated refrains of “still..I’ll rise” and “I rise” affect the poem as not only do these lines appear often, they also give the poem strength and help reinforce the ideas in each stanza; they return the reader to a central argument. The word ‘rise’ aims to empower the reader and also seems to have empowered the poet – it’s like she thinks of nothing else – as Angelou has moved on from wanting to rise to rising during the course of the poem.