Introduction:

The poem ‘Still I Rise’ written by Maya Angelou fixates upon the
oppression and the persecution of the society directed towards the African
American – especially woman – in her time.

This poem strongly elucidates – while obliterating the social inferiority of

the African American – that no matter what the constitution or the level of
injustice, there will always be those who will ‘rise’ up from these tyrannies and
evolve and change the nature and course of the society for the better; something
which Maya Angelou achieved in her lifetime.

Maya Angelou was a historian, a songwriter, a novelist, a playwright, etc.

She has written extensively and all her works are critically acclaimed and widely
renowned and acknowledged.

In this article I will try to conduct a thorough and concised analysis of her
poem: ‘Still I Rise’.

This article will first enumerate the literary devices corresponded with the
poem and then expound upon the analysis and its format conducted by the author.
 Still I Rise
BY M AYA AN GE LO U

You may write me down in history

With your bitter, twisted lies, Commented [Up1]: First person pronoun.
Choice of words: ‘bitter’, ‘twisted’ shows the poet’s timidity and
You may trod me in the very dirt uncaring attitude of what people think of her.

But still, like dust, I'll rise. Commented [Up2]: Use of similie.

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.
Commented [Up3]: Use of rhetorical question. Intended to
mock the society and its people.
Commented [Up4]: Use of metaphor. Intended to boast about
the poet’s success and rub it into the faces of those who
disapprove.

Just like moons and like suns, Commented [Up5]: Use of similie.

With the certainty of tides,

Just like hopes springing high, Commented [Up6]: Use of similie.

Still I'll rise. Commented [Up7]: Use of repetition. Suggests the constant
drilling into those who disapprove that no matter their persecutions
the poet will still rise to do what she wants.

Did you want to see me broken?

Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops,
Weakened by my soulful cries?
Commented [Up8]: Use of rhetorical question with a tone of
sarcasm. Suggests the true intentions of the society and what they
expect from the poet to oblige to.

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 backyard.
Commented [Up9]: Use of sarcasm. Intended to offend and
mock.
Commented [Up10]: Use of metaphor. Like before, intended to
taunt the society and boast about her success. This also shows that
the members of the society didn’t like it for the poet to succeed.

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. Commented [Up11]: The entire paragraph is written very
boldly with strong use of words.
‘Still I’ll rise’, suggests that no matter what happens the poet will
not abandon her hopes and objectives.
Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I've got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?
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. Commented [Up12]: Use of repetition. Suggests that the poet
is trying to call upon those who are mistreated to take action and
come forth like she did. Not to remain in the dark and oblige to the
unjust constitution of the society.
 Analysis:-

To begin with, what intrigued me extensively whilst I first embarked upon

my analysis of the poem was the three word title of the poem itself: ‘Still I rise’.
The title – if pondered upon correctly – conceives the summary and the initial
message running throughout the poem.

Therefore, for the purpose of my analysis, I have decided to analyse the

entire poem while fixating upon the title itself and discerning how the very title of
the poem resonates with the message and allusions trying to be portrayed
throughout the poem by the poet.

This section will be divided into three parts as per the three words forming
the title of the poem: ‘Still I Rise’.

Section 1-‘Still’:

The word ‘still’ refers to ‘something happening for longer than expected’ or
‘a situation or action that continues to the present because it has not finished’.

The poet uses the word ‘still’ to connotate the perpetuity of the tyrannical
oppression of the society. By stating “bitter” and “twisted lies” she mocks and
taunts the society for making racial as well as sexist and discriminating comments
and judgments. The poet also states: “write me down in history” referring towards
the notion that history is written as per the society and its curriculum, and that
those opposing it are always portrayed as the antagonist and wrongdoers. Also,
beautifully, referring towards the superiority of the superior class and the
inferiority of the inferior class, and how in the eyes of the people the former are
always correct and how the latter are always wrong no matter what the situation.

Furthermore, the poet uses rhetorical questions such as “does my sassiness

upset you?” to taunt the racial society more. The entire fourth stanza can be taken
into account at that matter. The poet delineates for the readers the expectations of
the society after analyzing it herself. She states: “want to see me broken…lowered
my eyes…shoulders falling down…” This surmises for the readers the abusive
society of that time and their harassment.
 In the sixth stanza when the poet states: “shoot…words”, “cut…eyes”,
“kill…hatefulness”, the readers are fully capable of comprehending the fact that
the persecutions still haven’t ended. They are ongoing, infact they are inflicted
upon the victims in every manner: “words, cuts, and hatefulness”. This choice of
words and use of tone intensifies the effect of the poem and adds a different layer
to it; giving it more emotion and integrity.
Section 2-‘I’:

The entire poem is composed in first person narrative. The letter ‘I’ in the
title informs the readers about the ensuing format of the poem.

Maya Angelou uses the first person narrative to her advantage in a very
skillful manner in order to boast about her success “oil wells…”, to rebuke the
society and their unjust customs “want to see me broken” and finally informing the
world that no matter the persecutions and sexist discrimination “still I’ll rise”.

Moreover, through this format, the readers are able to notice the poet’s tone
of sarcasm – “don’t you take it awful hard” – In a much better way while also
noticing the poet’s strong and tedious tone in the fourth, fifth and the sixth stanza.
This helps the readers to deduce that maybe Maya Angelou’s problems with the
society and its people ran deeper than it appeared on the outside.

Furthermore, the poet’s consummate use of first person narrative is most

effective towards the end of the poem when she compares herself to a “black
ocean” stating that she “bear’s” the “tides”. In the previous stanza, the poet
similarly compares herself to the “moons” and “the suns” and mentions the
“certainty” of their “tide”. These two stanzas and comparison’s, when juxtaposed
together, could possibly allude towards the same meaning: “the tides” referring to
the disputes, obstacles and tyrannical oppression of the society. The “black ocean”
and the “moons” and “the suns” referring towards the poet’s constant adherence
and resilience; as the cycle of the sun and the moon rotates in an on-going
perpetuity; similarly, the “ocean”, no matter the raging tides, still flows whilst
adhering to the magnitude of the tides formulating within it.

Through this, the readers are able to comprehend and perceive the layers of
symbolism and allegories endowed within the poem by the poet for the readers and
the world to discern.
Section 3-‘Rise’:

The third word in the title of the poem is perhaps the most influential and
critical in accordance to the poem and the message which it is striving to convey.

The definition of ‘rise’ in the English Language is: “An upward movement;
an instance of rising”. Throughout the poem the readers witness the various
patterns in which the poet urges those who are stifled within the shackles of
oppression to ‘rise’ and take action. As an example, the poet ridicules the society
and their customs – as discussed above – and rubs her success into their faces.
Hence, she rises from within the persecution and the harassment and urges others
to do so too.

Towards the beginning, the poet enumerates the society’s oppression and
then, in the likes of a fatal incursion, she defiantly states that: “like dust, I’ll rise”,
“like air, I’ll rise”. Amongst those various reasons of comparing herself to “dust”,
one could be the fact that dust consists of small particles, yet it is fully capable of
causing harm, for example blinding someone’s vision. Likewise, by comparing
herself to “dust”, one could suggest and allude that she was infact warning the
members of the society; warning them not to think of her as a child; warning them
not to think of her as dirt because “like dust” she may be small but she is fully
capable of causing them – and anyone else with such intentions – harm; something
which is clearly evident and portrayed in the fifth and the sixth stanza of the poem,
while also relevant throughout.

Moreover, ‘rise’ generally refers to an action. For example, a man was

sitting down and then he ‘rose’ up. Which forces the readers to ponder, from where
or what does the poet talk about rising from? The answer to this particular question
can be obtained from the last few stanzas of the poem: “History’s shame…”, “Past
that’s rooted in pain…”, “Nights of fear…” and “daybreak…wondrously clear”.

The poet talks about rising from within these oppressive and smothering
situations towards a better and brighter future that is “wondrously clear”. Her final
repetition of the sentence “I rise” three times explains the whirlwind of emotions
blowing inside of her and her dream of being treated as equal and with just.
 Conclusion:

Hence, in these ways, the very title of the poem surmises the message and
allegories running throughout the poem for the readers to contemplate.

I would also like to mention that these analysis are based upon my own
perspectives and opinions. They may be wrong but according to my understanding
they are corrects and accounted for.