Still I RISE - Poem Analysis PDF

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STILL I RISE POEM

Maya Angelou’s ‘’still I rise’’ is an emotive triumphant poem about overcoming the effects of prejudice and low self-esteem. Angelou’s purpose is to empower the audience to rise against adversity, while highlighting her own political and personal struggles combated through persistence and perseverance. While Angelou’s poem speaks with racial and gender discrimination in mind, not specific for this particular audience or place. The thoughts, issues and ideas presented are universal. Current issues of gender discrimination can relate to many people, as well as the themes of courage, pride and injustice. Angelou suggests no matter what circumstance, there is hope for everyone, making it suitable for the audience. Angelou attempts to facilitate an affective bond with her audience, aiming to create a shared relationship of unity, power, passion and confidence. In order to do this effectively, Angelou stands on the stage at a height relatively higher than the audience, with a spotlight cast down on her, framing her as the centrepiece of attention. This utilisation of sight lines and visibility creates a powerful independent image that Angelou aims to portray to her audience. The use of amplification and proxemics further enhances her relationship with the audience, creating dramatic tension as she walks from stage left to right towards the end of the performance. Angelou’s use of actions, words and physical presentation aided her credibility to the audience. Angelou creates a compelling narrative that draws on her own and her ancestor’s experiences, emphasising the effects of rhetoric, adding a layer of truth and authenticity to her performance. The powerful, thought provoking metaphor ‘’ I am the dream and the

hope of the slave’’ creates a sense of realism and highlights the severity of the issues faced, implying she will achieve what her ancestors couldn’t. This is reinforced by the repetition of the simile "But still, like dust, I'll rise", enhancing her credibility to the audience. Storytelling techniques are used to engage her audience. Angelou uses rhetorical methods to encourage the audience to sympathize with her, highlighted through the metaphor ‘’you may cut me with your eyes’’. While the time, place and setting are not mentioned explicitly, it is clear Angelou refers to her own inherent struggles, talking about the history of oppression she and her ancestors have faced. This is made evident in the assonance of ‘’you may write me down in history. With your bittersweet twisted lies’’. By not referring explicitly to the specific place and time, it allows Angelou to focus on main themes of pride and prejudice, leaving the performance open to interpretation, enhancing the narrative. Angelou’s poem elicits a tremendous emotional and inspirational response for its viewers. The ‘’I rise’’ message remains relevant today, specifically where violence against woman remain prevalent, however the message reaches out to a broader audience. Inspiring everyone to ‘’rise’’ above other’s attempts to oppress and dehumanize. Angelou does this effectively through her lyricism, proxemics and gestures. Angelou uses the metaphor ‘kill me with your hatefulness’’ followed by a simile and confident eye contact as she says ‘’still, like air, ill rise’’, using positive body language, as she raises both hands in a thumbs up position, creating an ironic scenario for the audience. Despite all odds, Angelou will ‘’rise’’ as she dances confidently as if she has ‘’diamonds’’, employing enaction coupled with narration....