1. Who do you think the "you" is in this poem? Explain your answer and provide specific support from the poem.
2. Who is the persona and what is her tone? Provide textual evidence for support of your answer.
3. How does the use of repetition strengthen the message of the poem?
4. Choose TWO examples of figurative language (metaphor, simile, or personification) and analyze them. Discuss their implications & connotations and then apply to the meaning.
Answer to question #1 ("Still I Rise")
ReplyDeleteThe poem “Still I Rise,” by Maya Angelou, often uses the word “you” when trying to reference the public and their false perception of black people. The reader can infer this because she (Maya Angelou) says, “With your bitter, twisted lies.” Angelou is saying there is a misconception regarding herself in some way. Now, the reader can also infer this has to do with inequality because near the end of the poem it says, “I am the dream and hope of the slave.” Angelou is implying throughout the poem that the white perception of black people and certainly herself is false and wrong. During the poem she describes attributes to characterize herself and follows it up with a question, asking if the audience is surprised. This suggests that Angelou is trying to get the reader to reconsider their thoughts regarding race. Throughout the poem the word “you” is mentioned a lot because it is meant to increase the intensity in the poem and encourage the reader to reexamine their position on inequality based off of Maya Angelou’s life and experiences.
Response by Ugo
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Question 2 - Who is the persona and what is her tone? Provide textual evidence for support of your answer.
“Still I Rise” is a poem by Maya Angelou about being an African American and what they, African Americans, had to go through and overcome. The persona is an African American coming from the quote: “from a past that's rooted in pain I rise I'm a black ocean”. The quote explains that whoever the person is their ancestors had to go through a lot of pain, then with the “I'm a black ocean” you can conclude that it's an African American because in the past they were mistreated. The persona is referring to the group of people who mistreated the African Americans, white people. While most will think that when an African American is talking about white people, he or she will have an angry tone but in this poem the persona doesn't. On the contrary the persona doesn't talk necessarily bad about white people, instead she focuses on herself. The persona’s tone is more a tone of courage and confidence “I will rise”. When the persona talks about white people she brings the focus back on her courage: “you may trod me in the very dirt But still, like dust, I'll rise”. Her tone is more of a “I'm going to get equal rights and move on” other than a “I'm going to get my rights and then keep this fight between the two social groups”. Overall the persona, an African American, has a courageous and determined tone, showing they have the confidence they will make it through anything imposed by the white people.
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ReplyDeleteStill I Rise
ReplyDeleteBy Maya Angelou
3. How does the use of repetition strengthen the message of the poem?
The poem "still I rise" by Maya Angelou , reveals a general message about facing oppression/racism but, that she will overcome all odds. Angelou uses many different forms of repetition to strengthen her assertiveness about prospering all challenges. One of the most significant ways she shows this is the use of the phrase. "Still I'll rise" these three letters are so strong and liberating on their own, but when she repeats them it truly constrains her point on that she will face all adversities that come her way.
In addition Angelou uses lots of rhetorical questions, "does my sassiness upset you?"
"does my haughtiness offend you?" "Does my sexiness upset you?" This consistent use of rhetorical questions really helps strengthens the authors overall tone as a concoction of pain, sarcasm, Humor ,cruelty and motivation. Essentially this poem suggest that people will find a way to put you down but in the end you will always rise up from this pain-ridden world.
Response by Diana Arreguin, Per 8
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3) How does the use of repetition strengthen the message of the poem?
The poem "Still I Rise" by Maya Angelou, enlightens the reader on the world wide problems of racism and persecution. She taunts the reader almost challenging them to try and break her down as a person. Her repetition of the words "you may" challenges her audience and clarifies that she can and will face all adversities that may come her way. She also refers to history and how "in the past that's rooted in pain" African Americans have bin persecuted and hated. Angelou uses a lot of rhetorical questions like " Did you want to see me broken? Bowed head and lowered eyes?" that make her argument stronger and reflect her tone. In addition Angelou's repetition of the words "still I rise" hold a lot of symbolism and emotion, Angelou claims that she will fight through all the hardships in life and never let others tear down her confidence and self esteem. Essentially the main theme of the poem is that there will be times in everyone's life where they will be faced with challenges that threaten to drag them down yet there is always a way to find your way out and rise above those challenges.
Response by Kaila Anderson P.8
ReplyDelete1. Who do you think the "you" is in this poem? Explain your answer and provide specific support from the poem.
"Still I Rise", by Maya Angelou, addresses the oppressors of African American, and what the African Americans experienced. It also shows how the public wrongly viewed African Americans, and mistreated them. "Did you want to see me broken? Bowed head and lowered eyes?" Maya Angelou is implying that the white oppressors wanted to see her fail, but she portrays herself as better than that. "You" is mentioned throughout the poem, to make the reader feel as if the poem is speaking directly to them, or accusing them. "I rise" is also repeated throughout the term, meaning that Maya Angelou rises up from all the racism and hate that was crudely showered on her race, to become a better person, and prove that their words don't affect her. She can become the best person she can be, and others who have suffered can follow in her footsteps.
The poem "Still I Rise" by Maya Angelou is written in such a direct tone that you can tell she's angry about something. I feel by continuously saying you she's referring to a man who has in some ways oppressed her, hoping to see her fall. "You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes..." gives her poem the strength it needs to get her message across. The persona is her as herself in a sassy, pissed off manner. In other words she's sticking it to the man! She says "Does my sassiness upset you?" The repetition strengthens the poem by giving a sense of self. She's making it loud and clear that no matter what she will always come back strong, maybe even stronger than before. "Just like hopes springing high still I rise" hopes are not physical, she is personifying her feelings to give them a stronger sense of meaning rather than just saying "I have high hopes". Also she uses the metaphor in stanza 3 to explain how she's able to rise again and compares it to the sun, the moon and tides. Overall this is a really strong poem with great meaning behind it. -Ashlyn Collins
ReplyDeleteThe poem "Still I rise" by Maya Angelou can have a significant meaning and can really get to your head. I think in the poem they are referring to the bigger man, the upperclassmen, authority and powerful people. It is a few words to someone with the upper hand, power, confidence and the inconsiderate; the people who bring you down. "Why are you beset with gloom? Cause I walk like I've got oil wells". They show that the person can't bring them down with hurtful words as long as they remain confidence. The persona is of a broken and shattered person, her tone is as if she is in pain yet she still remains confident. The repetition of "I Rise" emphasizes the writers confidence and determination in what they are saying and that it is right. Throughout the poem the author uses couplets in order to emphasize the strength and the rhythm in the poem.
ReplyDelete#2 Who is the persona and what is her tone?
ReplyDeleteIn the poem "Still I Rise" by Maya Angelou, the persona the author uses is that of an African-American woman whose ancestors were slaves. This is clearly shown when the author says "Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave." What Angelou means by this is that she is living a life that her enslaved ancestors could only hope and dream of having. It is also shown who the persona is in the last stanza where it says "Up from the past that's rooted in pain I rise." This exhibits the fact that the author comes from a family whose ancestors have been oppressed and have gone through significant pain as slaves. The poet's tone is angrily passionate, but at the same time remains calm to prove her point level-headedly. Angelou never uses an exclamation point in her writing, but while reading you can feel her anger. She inquires upon people who judged and mistreated her for being black by asking “Did you want to see me broken? Bowed head and lowered eyes?” She is proving that through all of this, she overcomes it and owns her ancestry and history. This is the reason the poem is titled “Still I Rise” because she rises up past what brought her down. She says this in the form of apostrophe when she says “You may kill me with your hatefulness, but still, like air, I'll rise.”
Question #4 Analyzing
ReplyDeleteThe poem “Still I Rise” is about an African American lady who does not allow racism affect the kind of person she is and what she stands for. In the poem she says, “You may trod me into the very dirt/but still, like dust, I’ll rise.” she uses this simile to compare herself to dirt and how it will always rise even when kicked upon. Furthermore, dust doesn't go away. Instead dust follows us everywhere we go. Therefore she is dust and she will always come back no matter how many times you try to kick her away. Lastly, the author goes on later in the poem saying, “I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide,” which is a metaphor she uses to describe herself. The Author is a strong, intimidating women who will never stop coming back to express herself. She is so opaque that you can't see through her, all you can do is hear her.
Response by Justin Baldwin
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Question 2: Who issues the persona and what is her tone? Provide textual evidence for support of your answer.
"Still I Rise" is a poem by Maya Angelou that has a persona of an African American woman that knows her ancestors had many hardships and struggles as an African American. That persona is coming from the quote, "I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide, Welling and swelling I bear in the tide." This quote shows and explains that her ancestors had to go through a lot as a slave. What Maya Angelou is trying to explain here is that the hardships her ancestors had as slaves gave the next generation more strength to make a change for the world so everyone can we equal. Also, I believe the author is saying there is always hope for anything in life if you work hard for it. This also goes with the tone because the author's tone is very hopeful and believing in what she wants change in. In the last stanza she expresses that by saying, "I am the dream and hope of the slave." This quote exhibits the fact that there is always hope in everything and when you complete your dream it makes you a stronger person. The tone of the poem is also very passionate to what she believes and is very calm explaining it. The author Maya Angelou doesn't use any explanation points or capitals in her writing to express what she feels and does it calmly throughout the whole poem.
This poem by Maya Angelou gives her audience an example of self love and confidence to always rise above the occasion. It tells of he confidence she will have even through all the hurt and disgardance she has been shown throughout her life time. "You may write me down in history with your bitter twisted lies, you may trod me in the dirt but like dust, I'll rise." Angelo is also turns negative connotations associated with black women and negative expectations into things to be proud of/ overcome. "Does my sassiness upset you?" "Does my hautiness offend you?" "Did you want to see me broken?" " Does my sexiness upset you?" In conclusion, Angelou makes it known that her purpose here is to take her ancestors sacrifice and rise above the hate that is associated with being black.
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