‘Still I Rise’- by Maya Angelou
The poem ‘Still I Rise’ is about overcoming oppression, self-belief and hope. Its also about love for her culture and overcoming her traumatic past.
I think Maya Angelou wrote this poem to inspire and empower others and to show and tell people that if they are strong and determined they can get through anything, and no matter what your past you can still rise. Angelou inspires other black people by telling her story and showing that you can overcome oppression and become a successful human.
In the final stanza Angelou repeats ‘i rise’ five times. The effect this repetition is to show how many times she has had to rise, her life has been so hard and yet every time she goes through something traumatic she has had to rise up.
‘Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells pumping in my living room.’ – This simile is significant because it is showing her confidence and pride; she walks like she is rich and she is worth a lot of money. It’s also significant because even with all the traumatic things that have happened to her in the past and the numerous times she has been put down she was able to carry on with her passion of writing and become successful and wealthy. Maya Angelou wants the audience to know that no matter your past if you are determined and passionate you can achieve great things.
‘Im a black ocean, leaping and wide.’ – This metaphor is significant because it telling us that Angelou is like an ocean; unstoppable. No one can stop an ocean and no one can stop Maya Angelou from rising. This metaphor shows us how strong she is as a person and she wants us as an audience to know that no one can stop you from doing what you wish and no one can change you for who you are.
‘Shoulders falling down like tear drops.’ – This simile is significant because it is a low point in the poem. There is no I rises. It’s showing her sadness and what society has done to her. Shoulders falling down is a sign of sadness or shame, a teardrop is also I sign of sadness. Angelou put both shoulders falling down and tear drops in the same sentence to emphasize her sorrow. I think she put this simile in to make people realize how words and actions can tear a person apart. She wants the audience to be aware that racism was a huge problem and still is.
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