Maya Angelou Still I Rise Who is Maya

Maya Angelou Still I Rise

Who is Maya Angelou? She was a woman of many talents: dancer, singer, writer and poet. She was involved with the Civil Rights Movement alongside Martin Luther King Jr.

In the 1970 s, she was famed for writing poetry that addressed issues of racial and gender inequality. In 2010, then-President Barack Obama awarded her the Medal of Freedom.

One of her most famous poems is Still I Rise Maya Angelou performs a shortened version of Still I Rise The impact of “Still I Rise” was felt so strongly, that Nelson Mandela read this poem at is 1994 inauguration, after having spent 27 years in jail.

Still I Rise BY MAYA ANGELOU (shortened version) 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. 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.

What is this poem about? Who is the audience? What is Maya Angelou trying to tell the reader? What do you think makes the poem so powerful? What literary devices is the author using?

The poem refers to the unshakeable spirit of black people that is used to rise above racism and adversity. The author is referring to centuries of oppression and mistreatment of black people. She is directly addressing the oppressor ‘YOU’ But essentially it is a poem about triumph about adversity, about strength and resilience. It offers hope for the oppressed and downtrodden: no matter what, there is always hope!

Literary devices – can you find them? Address Modal verbs Personification Simile Metaphors Repetition for effect rhythm

Task: Look at your own goals and your fears and worries. How can you address them to be achieved (goals) and to be overcome (fears). Write your own ‘Still I Rise’

Toolkit: § § § Direct address of the reader Repetition, e. g I’ll rise, I ‘ll try I will Personification Similes Keep the broad structure Aim: your poem should have the same message as Maya Angelou’s: inspire resilience and determination People should be able to recognise that you based your poem on ‘Still I’ll Rise’

Maya Angelou’s impact is still felt strongly four years on from her death.