ON AGING Maya Angelou THEME Aging with dignity

ON AGING Maya Angelou

THEME Aging with dignity. Just because someone is old doesn’t mean they are helpless.

TONE v. Angry because of how people treart her. v. Dignified wants to be treated with the necessary respect that the elderly deserve. v. Proud even though she is struggling physically, she is still proud of the life she has lived and what she is still able to do. v. Too proud to ask for help

STANZA 1 v. Line 1 – 2: v. Simile v. Left forgotten, no one cares about her or visits anymore. v. Line 3 – 4: v. Chattering doesn’t need you to make small talk with her just because you feel sorry for her. v. Line 5 – 6: v. She doesn’t want your sympathy, and feeling sorry for her just because she is old. v. Line 7 – 8: v. She wants to be understood allows the elderly dignity and respect. v. Understanding acknowledging the fact that it’s natural to age and that it happens to everyone. v. Sympathy pity; don’t want to be in their situation not accepting

STANZA 2 v. Line 9 – 10: v. Characteristics of aging v. Line 11 – 12: v. Doesn’t want anyone's help. v. Examples of American English in the poem? v. Where are they?

STANZA 3 v. Line 14 “study”, don’t make incorrect assumptions v. Line 15 just because old people don’t move a lot, it does not mean they're lazy. v. Line 16 don’t assume that they might die every time you see them.

STANZA 4 v. Line 17: v. Aging doesn’t mean you change who you are. v. Line 18 – 19: vphysically you look different, but your personality stays the same. v. Line 20: v. Celebrates life. v. She can still enjoy life even though she is not as lively and mobile anymore.