Still I Rise By Maya Angelou Tone

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“Still I Rise” is a poem by Maya Angelou; an African American poet, educator and civil-rights activist. The poem provides a sarcastic response towards all the negative words or action brought towards women. Angelou uses the poem to metaphorically describe the strength to always survive the battle against people’s criticism of women. This poem delivers the message of strength and ability to overcome hurt, but the main message in this poem deals with the strength to retaliate against discrimination of races and gender. The mixture of tones, playful, defiant, angry, self-assured and bitter helps to portray the message to the reader. The main elements of this poem are the use of repetition, metaphors, and word choice, which also aid in the relaying…show more content…
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear” (pg 947). The poem then closes with a triumphant tone because the last three lines are just “I rise” repeated as if being chanted. This repetition makes the words that much more powerful and puts an emphasis on it. This helps message, which is to stay strong and to never allow anything or anyone stop you from fighting and living strong. The different poetic styles in “Still I Rise” are very distinctive as well, Angelou chose to use a feminine voice, though at times it may sound militant, she gets her point across. One feature that stands out would be repetition of the title, which throughout the poem builds from a whisper to almost shouting. Angelou is emulating a sermon or song, where the message is repeated with increasing passion, to better touch the listeners. There is rhyme present throughout the poem as well, this seems to enhance the dramatic tone of the poem. The rhyme scheme of the poem is consistent until the last stanza of the poem. Imagery can also be seen throughout the people with the use of metaphors and similes, she creates a contrast of past and present. "Did you want to see me broken? Bowed head and lowered…show more content…
Angelou had the opportunity to hear Dr. Martin Luther King speak and was inspired by his message. That is when she decided to become a part of the struggle for civil rights and she served as the northern coordinator for Dr. King's SCLC. The poem has similarities to Martin Luther Kings Jr. “I Have A Dream” speech in which he repeated the title throughout the speech, which helped convey the message that much better. Even though many people may not know the whole speech, just the phrase “I have a dream…” gives and idea of the whole message. Her poem also followed that of Langston Hughes who wrote short poems as well, but their structure helped rely the message. Angelou was a very influential written, President Bill Clinton's invited her to write and read the first inaugural poem. Americans all across the country watched as she read "On the Pulse of Morning," which calls for peace, racial and religious harmony, and social justice for people of different origins, incomes, genders, and sexual
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