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Literary analysis for i know why the caged bird sings
Introduction for I know why the caged bird sings essay
Literary analysis of i know why the caged bird sings
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Adversities Paper How can you viewing the world change, from how you were treated as a child? Many research has shown that a child is not born to discriminate, s/he learn from their parents or people around them. This was shown in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou when Maya had to overcome how people were treating her and becoming a very strong teen at the end. During the course of the story, Maya overcomes personal, social, and family adversities by communicating with others even though she's initially afraid, obtaining a job when everyone thought she couldn't, and loving her family despite their wrong doings. Marguerite was able to overcome personal adversity by communicating with others, even when she's initially afraid. …show more content…
For example, at the beginning of the book when Maya was raped and afraid if she talked, she would hurt someone, she loved at some point in her life. In I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Ms. Flowers tells Maya, “ ‘Now no one is going to make you talk- possibly no one can, but bear in mind, language is man’s way of communicating with his fellow man, and it is language alone with separates him from the lower animal’ ” (Angelou 98). This means that the more one talks the better off one is in society. This connects to personal adversity because when Maya does not talk it would classify her as a lower ranked human. For her to overcome this, Maya would have to have trust in others as well as consider that if she talked, no one would get hurt. Many might say that talking will not change the power of the human being, and it can be true. But many thought even “Momma and Uncle Willie, (that Marguerite’s) unwillingness to talk (was) a natural outgrowth of a reluctant return to the south” (Angelou 92). To conclude , talking is the most important thing one can do. Talking will not kill anyone, it is the best way to communicate with others. By communicating and going on and beyond she was able to obtaining a job when everyone thought she couldn’t.
For example, when Marguerite wanted to get a job on the streetcars. Mother dear told her, “They don’t accept colored people on the streetcars” (Angelou 265). But that didn’t stop Mother Dear from motivating her saying, “That’s what you want to do? Then nothing beats a trial but a failure. Give it everything you’ve got. I’ve told you many times, ‘Can’t Do it like Don’t Care.’ Neither of them have a home”(Angelou 265). Meaning Marguerite can't be gloomy and beat herself down for a unfortunate event that eventually is gonna bring her a blessing. It also determines that she's not gonna get the job from pity for her current status, but for enthusiasm towards the job and her dedication. Many thought she would not get the job because she was colored. Even the lady at the first desk give her excuses everyday she came, why that day she wasn’t able to apply. That did not stop her from getting that job. Marguerite wrote, “I WOULD HAVE THE JOB. I WOULD BE A CONDUCTORETTE AND SLING A FULL MONEY CHANGER FROM MY BELT. I WOULD” (Angelou 268). Maya fibs a little on her Resume but she was able to get the job as a streetcars. She was able to prove people wrong, and do a job she loved to do for just a
while. Obtaining a job as a streetcars was a very important point in Maya’s life, but other than that having a loving family despite her wrong doing is very important. For example, when Maya got pregnant with the baby. She was scared what Momma Dear might do something to her if she finds out. Bailey suggested to Marguerite, “We both knew her to be violently opposed to abortions, and she would very likely order (Marguerite) to quit school. Bailey suggested if (Maya) quit school before getting (her) high school diploma (she would) find it nearly impossible to return”(Angelou 285). Showing that Momma Dear can be very hard on them. She can be very violent on trying to do the right thing. It also shows that Momma Dear can even make Marguerite quit school with having the baby. She listened to Bailey, but no one seemed to notice she was pregnant. Momma Dear was out of town, but Daddy Clidell never seemed to notice a change in her. It seemed like they did not care. Many might say, what parents can’t see is what is changing in their daughter's body. But in the contrary, “As long as (Maya) was healthy, clothed and smiling” (Angelou 285) her parents would be happy and there was no need for her to tell them what was growing in her belly. By communicating with others even though she's initially afraid, obtaining a job when everyone thought she couldn't, and loving her family despite their wrong doings, Maya was able to overcomes personal, social, and family adversities.
To read a story that deals with this theme makes us realize that it is not everyone that can accomplish what they really want in their
This piece of autobiographical works is one of the greatest pieces of literature and will continue to inspire young and old black Americans to this day be cause of her hard and racially tense background is what produced an eloquent piece of work that feels at times more fiction than non fiction
As I was reading through the story “Champion of the World” by Maya Angelou (written in 1959) I noticed that the author uses many different techniques like sentence structure, pathos, and logos to show and tell what she supports.
"I had decided that St. Louis was a foreign country. In my mind I had only stayed there for a few weeks. As quickly as I understood that I had not reached my home, I sneaked away to Robin's Hood's Forest and the caves of Alley Oop where all reality was unreal and even that changed my day. I carried the same shield that I had used in Stamps: 'I didn't come to stay.'"
"Angelou, Maya (née Marguerite Annie Johnson)." Encyclopedia of African-american Writing. Amenia: Grey House Publishing, 2009. Credo Reference. Web. 12 March 2014.
Maya Angelou lived through a time where she was discriminated against for not only her race but also her gender. In her poem “Still I Rise” Angelou sarcastically talks about how no matter what is thrown at her she will rise above it and she will do it with resilience and confidence. Her poem discusses racism and sexism and gives minorities and women a sense of hope to overcome and endure both of those things. Angelou’s self-assurance in the poem makes you believe that you too can overcome whatever obstacle. Although this poem was intended for blacks, and women, and specifically black women, the poem helps build up strong and courageous people no matter what race or gender you are. Maya Angelou in “Still I Rise” uses both pathos and ethos to
While reading "Courage Courses through Maya Angelou's story; Writer and activist agrees social problems persist" by Fish Griwkowsky. Maya Angelou is a very strong individual, not physically but mentally. Her life struggles and the strength she was able to maintain through those devilish times of her life made her the successful person she is now. She worked hard enough to become an iconic writer, poet, even in front of major films as an actor/filmmaker. Only hard work and dedication can get people where they want to be in life. Maya Angelou took risks and sacrifice, those hard times she went through gave her the strength to be successful. (Griwkowsky)
The early 1930’s a time where segregation was still an issue in the United States it was especially hard for a young African American girl who is trying to grow and become an independent woman. At this time, many young girls like Maya Angelou grew up wishing they were a white woman with blond hair and blue eyes. That was just the start of Angelou's problems though. In the autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Maya Angelou goes into great depth about her tragic childhood, from moving around to different houses, and running away and having a child at the age of 16. This shows how Maya overcame many struggles as a young girl.
Maya Angelou is one of the most influential and talented African American writers of our modern day. Those who read Angelou‘s works should not pass the thought of where her influence came from. Maya Angelou’s work has been heavily affected by the era in which she began to write. The fifties and sixties were a tumultuous time for most African-Americans in the US. The civil-rights movement, led by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the National Urban League, Martin Luther King, Jr., and others, was instrumental in securing legislation, notably the Civil-Rights Acts of 1964 and 1968 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
In Maya Angelou’s third book of poetry And Still I Rise, the personal struggles of the African American Woman are brought to life through poetic works. With inspirations drawn from personal journeys of Maya Angelou herself, powerful poems praise, celebrate, and empathize with the feminine colored experience. Angelou’s writing sheds glaring light on themes of feminine power, beauty, and perseverance, raising the African American Woman to a pedestal that demands respect and adoration. For Angelou’s audience, the everyday woman is presented equipped with all the necessities to thrive and shine in the face of adversity. In Maya Angelou’s works “Phenomenal Woman”, “Woman Work”, and “Still I Rise”, audiences are able to connect to the strength and virtue of the woman that is brought to life through the praising of femininity, and through its power to make an impact on society.
Maya Angelou's life growing up was not always perfect. Given the birth name of Marguerite Ann Johnson, Maya Angelou was borin in St. Louis, Missouri on April 4th, 1928. Although she was born there, she spent most of her childhood in Stamps, Arkansas with her Grandmother, Annie Henderson and in San Fransico, California with her mother. Maya Angelou is still living today and teaches at Wake Forest University in North Carolina. Maya had to deal with many hard things growing up and although it wasn't perfect, she's lead a very eventful life.
Like in the song Don’t Rain on My Parade sang by Lea Michele says, “I know what I want and I’ve got the perseverance to do it and nothing is going to stand in my way.” Then it says “And if I'm fanned out Your turn at bat, sir At least I didn't fake it Hat, sir, I guess I didn't make it But whether I'm the rose Of sheer perfection Or freckle on the nose Of life's complexion The cinder or the shiny apple of its eye I gotta fly once I gotta try once Only can die once, right, sir?” This song tells me not to let anyone bring me down and, no matter what I can accomplish anything I put my mind to. It also tells me that it will take my trying to know if something is for me or if it is going to lead me to my future.
" Marguerite was taken back by this since it was not normal for someone to want to talk to her over her sister Bailey. Later on in the text she even goes onto say, "I was liked, and what a difference it made. I was respected not as Mrs. Henderson's grandchild or Bailey's sister but just for being Marguerite
The poem "Phenomenal Woman is a poetic poem that women can relate to. It is a celebration of womanhood and femininity It expresses the jealousy, difference, and attitude that women see towards each other and how mean persee them. Every stanza is filled with explanations on how a woman should be confident with the way she looks and reveals woman 's attributes as a phenomenal woman. Angelou tries to show her confidence by stating the body parts that show that confidence and inner strength. This can be seen every line of the poem. This shows her strong self-confidence when expressing the way she feels personally about herself. She shows that even though she is not the cute, petite, women that modern society deems as highly valuable, women do not have to look like a model to consider themselves beautiful, worth looking at. Women today put themselves down because they
It is said that when we look in the mirror, we see our reflection; but what is it that we really see? Some people look through the glass and see a totally different person. All across the world identity is an issue that many women have. Woman today must be skinny, tall, thick, fair skinned and have long hair in order to be considered beautiful. Maya Angelou feels otherwise, as she gives women another way to look at themselves through her poem "Phenomenal Woman".