Graduation By Maya Angelou Analysis

Lucas Mare
Dunkle
6.14.16
Graduation
Maya Angelou
Summary
In a small town called Stamps, located in Arkansas(the south) a group of 8th graders probably in middle school (junior high) are on their way to graduate. Many of the town's residents, all ages, are very excited to see the kids get their diplomas up on stage. The week before the graduation ceremony, there are many gifts and activities that are presented to the rising 9th graders. The author was given a copy of Edgar Allen Poe’s work by her brother before the ceremony. Everything was falling in place, everyone was excited especially the kids. The mood drastically changes when the principal orders the people to sit down instead of singing Negro National Anthem. Everyone is confused about

the situation,but they all know something suspicious is happening when Edward
Donleavy comes to speak. His words impacted everyone by saying that the African American children would never succeed at anything and would never amount to anything. When the horrible man leaves, the valedictorian, who is black rises to share his speech. Instead of sharing the speech he worked so hard on he broke out in song. The song was in fact the Negro National Anthem. Everyone leaves feeling impacted but also feeling of pride of their culture.
Vocab
Decasyllable: having ten syllables
Piqued: to excite
Gaiety: lighthearted
Tone
Cheerful
Worried(during climax)
Rhetorical Strategies
Allusion- “The white kids were going to have a chance to become Galileos and Madame Curies and Edisond and Gauguins, and our boys(the girls weren’t even in it) would try to be Jesse Owenses and Joe Louises”(21) This shows the distinction between whites and blacks.

Metaphor- “ A pyramid of flesh with the whitefolks on the bottom, as the broad base, then the indians with their silly tomohawks and teepees and wigwams and treaties, the Negroes with their mops and recipes and cotton sacks and spirituals sticking out of there mouths.”(22) This really shows the judgement and the hatred towards the blacks.
Apposition- “... Henry Reed, the conservative, the proper, the A student…” (23) This shows the shock that he started singing.
Simile- “ The man’s dead words fell like bricks around the auditorium…”(21) It exemplifies that what he said impacted the audience.
Personification: “While echoes of the song shivered in the air…”(24) It shows that the song also impacted the audience.
Discussion Questions
Clarification: Why does Mr. Donleavy feel the need to say that?
Writing Style: Why does the author use the stradegies to show the moods in the

story?
Application: How would the families of the killing react to this?
Quote
“The white kids were going to have a chance to become Galileos and Madame Curies and Edisond and Gauguins, and our boys(the girls weren’t even in it) would try to be Jesse Owenses and Joe Louises”(21) I chose this quote because it not only shows the race issue but also shows the sex issue.