Still I Rise, By Maya Angelou

The Persistent Ascension Of A Woman There are many forms of telling stories and illustrating points in literature. These literary works are meant to convey the author’s thoughts and emotions. One of the most common and easily recognized literary works is, “the poem.” There are many elements that can be used to assemble a poem. For example, in Maya Angelou’s, “Still I Rise,” she utilizes the elements of repetition, figurative language, and rhyme scheme to advocate rebellion and resilience when faced with life’s trials and tribulations, as well as in opposition to her oppressors. Initially the title of the poem, “Still I Rise” is a stark example of repetition; she uses “I Rise” or a line containing “I Rise” over ten times throughout this poem.

Rhyme scheme contributes to the pattern of the sounds and the structure of the poem. “Still I Rise” contains multiple rhyme schemes. “Still I Rise” begins with the rhyme scheme a-b-c-b and it continues with this rhyme scheme through the next six verses. This can be explained simply as the rhyme in the verses only occurs with the second and fourth lines of the verse, hence the a-b-c-b. The rhyme scheme in verse eight changes to a-b-a-b-c-c because of lines one and three rhyme, lines two and four rhyme, as do lines five and six. The rhyme scheme again changes in the final verse to a-b-a-b-c-c-b-b-b, which means that lines one and three rhyme, lines two, four, seven, eight, and nine rhyme, and lines five and six rhyme. Maya Angelou states in lines nine through twelve, “Just like moons and like suns,/ With the certainty of the tides,/ Just like hopes springing high,/Still I’ll rise.” In these four lines, Maya compares the certainty of her rise after being knocked down by life’s obstacles to the certainty of the rising of the sun, the moon, and the tides. The rhyme scheme in this verse is a-b-c-b because her rhyming words are tides and rise. This is also such a strong comparison because she is as certain of her resilience and perseverance as she is of the absoluteness of the rising of the sun, the moon, and the tides. The comparison of hopes springing high is strong because her hopes are the same as her goals and intentions in

She demonstrated a mastery of the literary elements with her rhythmic wordplay, her unparalleled comparisons, and her sleek repetition. In this epic depiction of her belligerence to her oppressors and a picture painted of her perseverance being put on display for ALL African American women that have encountered the stigma of being born a female with melanin in their skin. She pours out her persistence in response to life’s impediments by asserting her mantra, “Still I rise!” This is a literary gem that exudes rebellion and resistance, and it will be analyzed and broken down for decades to come. This poem possesses several other literary elements; it can also be deciphered in many different contexts. One thing is for certain, anyone who reads this poem will have it forever etched in their memory, that no matter what obstacle that may be incurred, “Still I