‘Still I Rise’
by Maya Angelou
The poem ‘Still I rise’ is about Maya Angelou’s life experiences, problems and how she overcame these and rose to a position where she is respected by many people. The poem was written to give hope and inspiration to The African American and oppressed. The poem includes many different writing styles one style Maya Angelou used a lot was similes and metaphors.
‘Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells pumping in my living room.’ This is a simile. the oil wells represent being Rich and for a person like Maya Angelou and any other African American, it is very hard to become rich. It’s significant to the poem by the fact that she started off with nothing but now she has discovered ‘oil wells’ and become rich. It is significant to the audience because it shows that they can fight, they can try and no matter what their background they can Rise.
‘I’m a black ocean leaping and wide’ this is one of her metaphors. The ‘black Ocean represents her the significance of this is because she is like an ocean because oceans are full of power and there is no way of controlling them. So she is her way of telling her oppressors that no matter what she will not be stopped and she will rise above it. It is significant because she is an African American woman who has risen from a level where she had no respect or power to a level where her name is known and respected all around the world. This shows that from nothing a leader can rise.
Maya Angelou wrote her poem to give inspiration to the oppressed in America this inspiration was in the form of her showing off her riches, power and respect inside her poem this provided that no matter where you came from, no matter who you are, it is possible to rise above the hate and oppression, to start a new life where you chose where you’re life flows.
Recent Comments