POEM ANALYZING “Still I Rise”, Lecture notes of History

Download POEM ANALYZING “Still I Rise” and more Lecture notes History in PDF only on Docsity! POEM ANALYZING “Still I Rise” Who wrote it? She is black woman with 80 years of life spent. Other than being a poet, she was also a playwright, actor, and author. She has have been active in participating Social Rights Movement. Her great grandmother, Mary Lee, was a slave and was physically and mentally harassed by her slave owner. Harsh early life with raping, death, and separation. At the age of 16, introduced to the world of literature. Repetition Repeating word, stanza, phrase, sound, syllable, sentence, or line Same things over and over throughout the poetry •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. •Just like moons and like suns, •With the certainty of tides, •Just like hopes springing high, •Still I'll rise. •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. ★Throughout the poem, the poet continues to use “still...I’ll rise.” ★This is a repetition because it is using the same phrase over and over. ★This tells us that no matter what happens, “I” will always rise. ★Emphasize how much hope and confidence she has despite the hardships Example#1 • “ 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. • ” ★ Throughout the poem, the poet repeats the word, “I rise” ★ This is a repetition because it is using the same phrase over and over. ★ This repetition is emphasizing “I rise”, therefore, giving the reader the importance of standing up again and trying over and over. Example#2 Symbolism An object or an action that stands more than itself, representing something beyond Peace Pi “ 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 ” ★“I rise” ★Rise originally means to move upward or to stand up. ★In the text, this word shows that no matter how down you might feel, you can always stand up again and get back on the road. Example#1 ★“I’ve got oil wells pumping in my living room” ★Oil wells are very valuable -> rich ★Represents confidence the poet has in herself “ 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 ” Example #2 Hyperbole exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally used for emphasizing “ 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. ” ★ The poet mentioned shooting, cutting, and killing and related to words , eyes, and hatefulness. ★ Used these powerful words to describe how brutal “you” were treating “me” and how “I” still endure it. ★ emphasize the brutal treatment Example #1 Metaphor A word or a phrase that is applied to an object or an action using “is” Directly compares two objects that seems unrelated A B is “ Does my sassiness upset you? Why are you beset with gloom? . . . . Did you want to see me broken? . . . . Does my haughtiness offend you? ; . . Does my sexiness upset you? ” ★ The following five questions shows the poet’s agony towards “you”. ★ It sounds like the poet is asking if “you” are jealous of her or not. ★ The question adds more emotions in each stanza. It adds more effect. Example#1 What’s the message? Although the author is living in a tough age for black women, she is able to endure them by her great confidence and hope. From her poem, we can learn that no matter what situation you are in, there’s always hope.