Maya Angelou Still I Rise Essay

Maya Angelou’s “Still I Rise” is an inspiring and uplifting poem about persevering despite your past oppression and abuse. Released in 1978, the poem reflects Angelou’s past. Throughout her life, she was repeatedly beaten down, but always chose to rise up again. Through the use of figurative language and rhythm, the poem becomes a sort of a hymn. Although some point it specifically towards causes like abolition or civil rights, it embodies the lives of many from all different backgrounds and walks of life. The message of the poem is clear no matter who or how you read it: a victim can and will always rise up against their oppressor.

From the beginning of the poem, Maya Angelou makes her tone very clear. A clear, confident, powerful speech against those who once

With the second set of lines in the stanza, she mentions hope, and the poem reflects her life a little more, about how she spent a long time working with the hope that she would be able to pursue her dream eventually. “Just like hopes springing high, Still I'll rise.” (Angelou lns 11-12/15-16) The fact that this stanza is repeated places more weight on the promise that she will persist. She then, in what I believe to be one of the most powerful stanzas in the poem, talks about how they want to see her defeated and destroyed. “Did you want to see me broken? Bowed head and lowered eyes? Shoulders falling down like teardrops, Weakened by my soulful cries?” (Angelou lns 17-20) The comparison of her fallen shoulders to teardrops adds to the almost over dramatic tragedy of this stanza, as does the over explanation of her soulful cries, bowed head, and lowered eyes. The tone of this stanza is mocking, with Angelou talking down to her abusers. The next stanza is very similar to the second, following the pattern of offending those who once burdened her and then mentioning that she acts as though she is very wealthy. The stanza after that,