Poetic
Analysis 1:
A quick review!
What are the three thinking steps?
1.
2.
3.
READ
DECIDE
IDENTIFY
What are the three writing steps?
1.
2.
3.
POINT
EVIDENCE
EXPLANATION
P.E.E paragraph review:
In the poem, “Still I Rise,” Maya Angelou uses similes to
show her reader that no matter what anyone tries to do to her,
nothing will ever keep her down. For example, the simile in line 4,
“But still, like dust, I’ll rise” shows how Ms. Angelou can be
stamped upon but will still rise up. She also uses similes in lines 7
and 8“’Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells / Pumping in my living
room” and 19 and 20 when she says, “’Cause I laugh like I’ve got
gold mines / Diggin’ in my own backyard” to show how people
may see her one way, but she knows she’s still happy with her
life. By using such strong similes, Ms. Angelou shows just how
strong and resilient she actually is. Just as wealth springs for those
who own gold and oil, Ms. Angelou shows her inner spirit makes
her just as rich. Finally, the humor and sense of joy that Ms.
Angelou uses in her writing elicits the same feelings of humor and
joy in her readers. It is as if anyone could be motivated to have
the same sense of strength she does!
Gallery Walk!

Walk around the room reading other peoples’ paragraphs.
What do you notice about their topic sentence? Do you see:
The poem’s name?
The poet’s name?
One poetic device mentioned?
The meaning/purpose of the poem?

Is their evidence clearly written and directly related to their
point?

Is their explanation understandable? Does it reflect what they
think and tie their evidence and point together?

Do you see any I THINK / I BELIEVE / I AM GOING TO WRITE
ABOUT language?
I think that...
I am going to write
about…
I believe that…
Poetic
Analysis 2:
Writing a second
NEVER!
(or third)
paragraph!
Creating Paragraph #2:
Same format, different idea!
 Follow
the same steps for your previous PEE
paragraph

1.
2.
3.
Remember, only ONE poetic device per paragraph!
Thinking Steps:
Read (x3!)
Decide what the poet is
telling you
Identify how and where
the poet uses poetic
devices to show their
meaning.
1.
Writing Steps:
Point
1.
2.
Evidence
1.
3.
Topic Sentence
Quotes to support your
point
Explanation
1.
What it all means to you
Let’s look at an example…
Still I Rise
By Maya Angelou
You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise.
Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.
Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I'll rise.
Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like
teardrops.
Weakened by my soulful cries.
Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don't you take it awful hard
'Cause I laugh like I've got gold
mines
Diggin' in my own back yard.

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I'll rise.
Out of the huts of history's shame
I rise
Up from a past that's rooted in pain
I rise
I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.






Leaving behind nights of terror and fear

I rise
Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the
slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.
Repetition
Rhyme
Rhyme
Scheme
Simile
Symbolism
Imagery
Hyperbole
Metaphor
Paragraph #2
In addition to similes, Ms. Angelou also uses repetition to
show how she will continue to persevere against her oppressors.
For example, the words, “I rise” are increasingly repeated
throughout the poem (lines 4, 12, 24, 30, 32, 36, 38, 41, 42, and
43). The poet does this to show us how she continually rises up
and overcomes her oppressors, no matter how much they try to
keep her down. In fact, the more they try to keep her down, the
more she will remember who she is and where she comes from.
As she does this, she gets the strength to continue to rise up
more and more. This is particularly important because—as
previously discussed—although her use of similes give the reader
a sense of humor and joy in the poet’s journey, this repetition
shows us that this is not an easy path to have to walk. However,
she will continue to walk it, no matter what!
Your turn!
Creating Paragraph #2:
Same format, different idea!
 Follow
the same steps for your previous PEE
paragraph

1.
2.
3.
Remember, only ONE poetic device per paragraph!
Thinking Steps:
Read (x3!)
Decide what the poet is
telling you
Identify how and where
the poet uses poetic
devices to show their
meaning.
1.
Writing Steps:
Point
1.
2.
Evidence
1.
3.
Topic Sentence
Quotes to support your
point
Explanation
1.
What it all means to you
Let’s look at an example…