MAYA ANGELOU ‘STILL I RISE’
LESSON OBJECTIVES
To understand the contrasting themes of ‘oppression’ and
‘determination’ in the context of the poem
How these themes are portrayed by the poet in the poem
WHAT IS DETERMINATION, AND WHAT IS
OPPRESSION?
Oppression: prolonged cruel or unjust treatment.
Determination: having made a firm decision and being resolved
not to change it
STARTER – CIRCLE 1 PHRASE THAT DEPICTS DETERMINATION
AND UNDERLINE 1 THAT DESCRIBES OPPRESSION
But a bird that stalks
down his narrow cage
can seldom see through
his bars of rage
his wings are clipped and
his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.
When it is confined and
restricted in this way, the
only thing it can do, is utilize
its throat to sing its song.
Despite its confinement, it
does not give up hope, but
strives to attain whatever
freedom is available to it,
and in this case it is its voice.
In the case of the author, it is
her writing, and her own
sheer will.
The adjective narrow
signifies limitation in
space, and the noun cage
emphasizes this limitation,
and depicts confinement
But a bird that stalks
down his narrow cage
can seldom see through
his bars of rage
When a birds wings are
clipped, it is deprived of
its ability to fly.
When ‘feet are tied’ we
envision been unable to
walk, or move. There is a
sense of restriction
his wings are clipped and
his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.
STILL I RISE – MAYA ANGELOU
Read the poem
IDENTIFY THE CONTEXT OF THE POEM
1. Slavery
2. War
3. Love
IDENTIFY THE CONTEXT OF THE POEM
1. Slavery
2. War
3. Love
2 POETIC DEVICES THAT EMPHASIZE THE CONTRASTING
THEMES WITHIN THE POEM
Repetition
Repetition is poetic technique that sees poets reuse words, phrases, images, or structures
multiple times within a poem.
Repetition helps poets communicate specific messages, tones, moods and more. By
using repetition alongside imagery and word choice, a writer can ensure readers understand
exactly what they intended. Repetition is a useful device that helps emphasize a specific
feeling or experience the speaker, or characters, in a poem are having.
Simile
A simile is a comparison between two unlike things that uses the words “like” or
“as”.
The biggest difference between metaphor and simile is that similes say that
something is “like” something else or “as” something else rather than actually being
that thing. These comparisons are used, just as metaphors are, to create a chain of
images within the reader’s mind. These images should help to paint the larger
emotional, conceptual landscape of the poem.
WHICH IS REPETITION AND WHICH IS A SIMILE?
I found a dimpled spider, fat and white,
On a white heal-all, holding up a moth
Like a white piece of rigid satin cloth-Assorted characters of death and blight
Mixed ready to begin the morning right,
Like the ingredients of a witches'
broth-A snow-drop spider, a flower like a froth,
And dead wings carried like a paper
kite
Design – Robert Frost
The woods are lovely dark
and deep
But I have promises to keep
And miles to go before I
sleep,
And miles to go before I
sleep
Stopping by the woods in the
snowy evening – Robert Frost
SIMILE
I found a dimpled spider, fat and white,
On a white heal-all, holding up a moth
Like a white piece of rigid satin cloth-Assorted characters of death and blight
Mixed ready to begin the morning right,
Like the ingredients of a witches'
broth-A snow-drop spider, a flower like a froth,
And dead wings carried like a paper
kite
Design – Robert Frost
REPETITION
The woods are lovely dark
and deep
But I have promises to keep
And miles to go before I
sleep,
And miles to go before I
sleep
Stopping by the woods in the
snowy evening – Robert Frost
ON YOUR SHEETS IDENTIFY ANY REPETITION AND/
OR SIMILE THAT PORTRAYS DETERMINATION AND/
OR OPPRESSION IN THE POEM, BE PREPARED TO
EXPLAIN YOUR ANSWERS
WHY REPETITION?
The significance of ‘I Rise’
She will not lose hope and will ‘rise’ to fight against discrimination. Like the bird chooses to sing, she
chooses to write.
For emphasis: that she will not surrender to the constraints and restrictions put upon
her
Shows her own strength, and that of her peoples (as she is representing black women in the poem
WHY SIMILE?
Similes are able to evoke vivid imagery in the readers minds. This is because it is
often easier to relate the way one feels with something that exists in the real world,
something accessible and well known, which allows the reader to picture a scene
without much difficulty
Dust and Air: used to describe the way in which the speaker ‘rises’ against all
adversities. Although dust and air are hard to see, and visualize, the author is able to
depict a quiet, subtle, and inevitable rise, that is constant, and continuous.
MORE POETIC DEVICES
Metaphors: a comparison of two unlike things, but WITHOUT using ‘like’ or ‘as’
 e.g. the hotel is a diamond in the sky
She’s got a heart of stone
Words cut deeper than knife
Personification: giving human qualities to an animal, object, or idea
E.g. the flowers danced on the lawn
Spongebob is a personified character – because human qualities are given to a sponge
Hyperbole: an exaggerated statement used to make a point
E.g. An apple a day keeps the doctor a way
I could sleep for a year
This book weighs a ton
Imagery: when a writer invokes the 5 senses
E.g. the smell reminded him or rotting tomatoes
The fence was uneven, like baby teeth growing awkwardly in. (Also a simile)
ANY QUESTIONS?