LITR 4332 American Minority
Literature
Sample Student Midterm Answers 2008
Topic 2 (literary style): self-selected text analysis related to Literary Style Objectives 5 & 6
Best Answers for Angelou's "Still I Rise"
Topic 2 Literary style: “Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou
I chose “Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou because it spoke to me as a woman and to my minority culture. As someone stated in class during the discussion of the poem, the poem has a bit of “sassiness” to it. I remember reading it and feeling a sense of empowerment for all women and especially women of minority background. I related the strength and honesty of this poem, because in my own life I always feel as through “I will Rise.” The poem contrasts with objective 1e, yet connects with objectives 5a, 2a, 6b, and 6c.
I remembered “Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou, because I felt it was a wonderful argument against Objective 1e. For me it is an argument against those who desire for minorities to move on from their past hardships. “Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou conveys the meaning that identity is formed from the hardships one experiences so it is necessary to remember and not get over it, because those experiences give us strength. I related the most to this literature selection.
“Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou relates “the Dream” from objective five in that despite the hardships and resists the author will continue to “Rise.” In other words the author is remembering her past and will become better because of it. Her past will not ruin her or dominate her, but it will aid in helping her “rise.” The hardships she feels derive not from her minority culture and gender (Obj. 2a).
Maya Angelou uses literary devices with figures of speech to heighten the meaning (Obj 6b). Angelou uses imagery and metaphors to bring the poem to life for readers. My favorite example of her brilliance as a writer is
Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I've got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?
This section of her poem demonstrates the sense of pride that can be present for women who come from a minority culture. In contrast, the dominant culture may not feel as though minority cultures should not possess this pride in themselves and their culture. The imagery of diamonds a beautiful and expensive jewel with the metaphor of being between the thighs of a minority women is profoundly meaningful. It is the respect author has for herself. It is the pride of being a being in control of one’s actions and individuality. It is the knowledge, that despite the fact the author is a women from a minority culture, that this women deserves respect and is worthy of greatness.
Maya Angelou expresses the voice of minority in the poem (Obj 6c). It is the voice of minority women to the dominant culture.
Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops.
Weakened by my soulful cries.
While the dominant culture may desire for minority cultures to leave their past behind or see them broken as was the case with slave owners. Minority culture groups are expressing their voice and sharing their experiences, thus finding their culture and identity. “Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou takes on the voice of minority women. Allowing for all to know that despite the dominant cultures desire to silence the despairs of minority cultures. These individuals will continue to rise. [VO]
Topic Two: Literary Style that Captured Me
“You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I'll rise.”
This passage from Maya Angelou’s poem Still I Rise was very powerful to me. The entire poem was beautiful and strong, but this passage really spoke volumes to me. I have been teased and tormented throughout my life because of certain things I do that are considered “weird”. However, this passage in the poem makes me feel as though I can laugh in the face of those that taunt me because I will rise despite their ridicule. I can honestly say that I know the true meaning of what it feels like to be looked upon with hatred. I have cried countless tears due to the hatred of others. Yet I know that I am a strong and virtuous woman and I will rise above all of these mean acts. I felt proud as I read this poem, particularly this passage. I read it over and over again and felt stronger each time. Angelou’s strength and confidence shines through in the entire poem. She shows us, the readers, that she has dealt with hardships and judgmental people in her life, but she chooses to show them how proud she is. Angelou uses the phrase “still I rise” throughout the poem. Though it is just three words, they are three very powerful words. Angelou is telling us that she will still rise despite the mean things that people might say, the hard glares they might give her, and even through the hatefulness of their actions. She says that she will rise throughout all the criticism that comes her way.
Objective 6c talks about discovering literature’s power to “express the minority voice”. Angelou was definitely speaking for all of the African American women in the world. However, I think she was also speaking for women, in general. She was giving a powerful voice to anyone who has ever felt judged or persecuted in life. Objective 6e notes variations of standard English. Instead of using the same description each time, Angelou uses different ways to describe how she rises. She refers to dust, hopes springing high, and air to compare herself to rising. I thought this was unique and it kept the poem from being too repetitive. This could also pertain to Objective 6b because Angelou is using figures of speech to describe herself and how she rises. (calling herself a “black ocean that’s leaping and wide”).
Objective 5a discusses the African American alternative narrative “The Dream”. Angelou’s poem most certainly puts an emphasis on setbacks in her life. She is referring to how people make fun of her, scorn her, and are upset by her. These are all setbacks that she has had to deal with in her life. She talks about rising up beyond all of these things that could potentially distract her from being the proud and determined African American woman that she is. Angelou’s poem is a perfect example of how literature is a very meaningful way in which to study minority culture. Each line in the poem described hardships and ways that she overcame these hardships. She told a story, through poetry, of rising above the hurtful things in her life. A poem was a way in which she could tell us a story and help us to understand that she could still be a proud woman. I have always found poetry to be a powerful way of expressing feelings and emotions. I write poetry and I can relate well to the poetry of others. Maya Angelou’s poem was no exception. I loved this poem and the particular passage that I quoted. I hope this poem is able to help many others in the way that it helped me to overcome the negative image of myself. [OR]
The Literary Devices and Themes of “Still I Rise”
“Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou is a poem that exemplifies the African American minority narrative. The story it tells is that of “The Dream,” which differs from the American Dream in that it involves setbacks, group dignity, and the need to rise again. I chose to analyze this poem because of its beautiful imagery and the indomitable spirit it embodies.
The first stanza declares that while the white majority has held blacks back with “bitter, twisted lies” and by “[trodding them] in the very dirt”, they will rise and overcome oppression. They will retain their dignity and confidence, as stanza six expresses: “Does my sexiness upset you?/ Does it come as a surprise/ That I dance like I’ve got diamonds/ At the meeting of my thighs?” The African Americans’ connection to the past is very much like a wound that must be healed, as lines 29-32 illustrate: “Out of the huts of history’s shame/ I rise/ Up from a past that’s rooted in pain/ I rise”. They will not just forget their history, as the dominant immigrant culture seems to do.
Angelou uses a number of literary devices in her poem. Repetition is a key element. “I rise” and “I’ll rise” are stated over and over again. “The Dream” is the core of this poem, so rising above oppression is emphasized throughout. No matter what the dominant culture does to harm African Americans, they will not give up. “I rise” repeats twice at the end, bringing the poem to a close. Lines 21-23 also include repetition, as each one begins the same and lists a way that whites would harm black people. Closely tying in with the poem’s repetition is its rhyming. Many lines end with rhyme; the word “rise” is frequently rhymed, further stressing the rising up theme. Lines 29 and 31 substitute assonance for end rhyme, as “shame” and “pain” share a vowel sound but end in different consonants. Similes and metaphors also play a large part in “Still I Rise”. The author says that she will rise like dust, hopes, and air. She even compares her female parts to diamonds, showing how she will not be ashamed of herself or her sensuality. When she declares “I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide/ Welling and swelling I bear in the tide,” Angelou is using metaphor to depict the natural beauty of her people and the success they will eventually achieve.
Differentiating between a cultural studies course and a minority literature course can be challenging. The themes are bound to overlap. I believe this course allows us to study the experiences of minorities exclusively through their writings. We can examine how minorities choose to utilize literature to express their situations. “Still I Rise” is an excellent composition for this purpose because it is so concise but deals with such a meaningful subject. Through masterful use of figurative language and other poetic conventions, Maya Angelou provides a window into the African American minority culture and their Dream. [PA]
Like a Crack of Thunder
It is no secret that the work of Maya Angelou is important and, some may argue, instrumental to understanding the culture and feeling of modern African-American society. In addition to this she gets her point across in exceedingly powerful and eloquently phrased poetry. Most people will agree that her defining work is the poem “Still I Rise.” It is by no means a long poem, but its imagery and use of metaphor are so powerful that her emotions resonate in your head like a crack of thunder. . . .
In examining . . . the poem as a whole, Angelou’s language really stands out with its clarity and fun use of metaphor while still maintaining some seriousness. The poem, as outlined in objective 6b, is a narrative. Though the ideas may represent those of many or most African-Americans the poem is presented in the first person from the perspective of a black woman. Angelou compares words to bullets and stares to knives in the passage. This is relevant to the African-American culture in that after slavery was effectively ended, as a whole, black people still faced many dangers; many of these dangers were physical but most were in various forms of discrimination and intolerant looks. In this passage, and again throughout the poem, Angelou uses allusions to treasure to represent the ability of the speaker to overcome the abovementioned prejudices and live a meaningful life. Also, in doing this, and including slavery, Angelou is making this poem relevant to all of the African-American community, and sharing their experiences with those outside of it as outlined in objective 6c. Angelou’s use of speech is also important as mentioned in objective 6e. The speaker goes back and forth between complete words with proper diction and a more colloquial tongue with shortened words and missing syllables. The colloquial speech is not overdone and balances well with the rest of the poem to create an enjoyable read.
The meaning of the passage is equal to the meaning of the entire poem. The meaning of the poem is stated right in the title. “Still I Rise” is a poem of overcoming. Though told from the perspective of one person it represents and entire people. Through her use of language, both proper and colloquial, and metaphor Angelou is able to make her point about the ability of African-Americans to rise to a state of happiness no matter what lies in their past or what is currently thrown at them. Without her writing skills the message could very well have been lost in translation. As far as resolving counter-tension between literary examination and use of emotional stories to add to the authors point, nothing need be done. The counter-tension, at least when it comes to this poem, are equal forces pushing on one another like the push and pull between protons and electrons. Though many emotional stories are attached to the poem Angelou offers an interesting mix of diction and phrasing to keep focus on literary analysis. The poem appeals to ones brain as well as ones heart. [JH]
. . . The first time that I heard this poem read out loud was during our lecture this semester. Kudos to the presenter for her powerful voice. The pause between passages provided conviction that the author perhaps wanted to portray. Admittedly the first pass of the poem many years ago was received only mildly. I mistook the author for an angry black woman whose agenda was only to convince the white man of her invincibility.
The author, Angelou is successful in her poem to address objectives 6: minorities and language: to discover literature’s power to express the minority voice and vicariously share minority experience. It is evident that the voice of the poem is a minority driven. She is more than willing to share her experience, not for pity but perhaps for educating the reader. [RM]