Next, Angelou uses different types of sentences to highlight how she fights oppression with confidence. For example, Angelou asks, “Does my sassiness upset you?” (5) and “Does my haughtiness offend you?” (17). These rhetorical questions bring a level of sass and confidence to her argument. Angelou illustrates that one can exude confidence and love themselves, and if that bugs someone, that is their problem. This makes the hate from oppressors virtually irrelevant. Additionally, Angelou declares, “But still, like dust, I’ll rise”(4) and “I rise” (43). These declarative sentences show Angelou’s strength and boldness. The period at the end of these sentences makes the reader feel as though Angelou’s statements are facts, and that she will indeed…
Maya Angelou books and poems relate to real world situations. In her poem phenomenal women it talks about how you should not live in a stereotypical way of life and have confidence in yourself. You should celebrate how remarkable you are and it makes you a champion. Being a woman makes you supreme, because women are a mystery and hard to figure out. She expresses you don’t need to be loud to get attention just being yourself shows who you are. Maya Angelo works states you should embrace your purpose, practice a self-confidence ritual, and enjoy spending time alone, refuse to buy into the media’s image of a perfect woman, refuse to take anything too personally, ask empowering questions, and ask what they can do to improve the world. Her story…
Maya Angelou, the author of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings was a young influential black girl in Stamps, Arkansas. The three most remarkable people in Maya’s life were Bailey, Vivian Baxter, and Grandmother Henderson. Bailey, her brother, was there for her when she needed someone, and Vivian Baxter taught her how to express herself. Grandmother Henderson was the person who always supported Maya Angelou and taught her almost everything she knows.…
''When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time'' says marguerite Annie Johnson also known as Maya Angelou. Known for her inspiring appearances as an author, screen writer, dancer, actress and of course a poet. There were many ways Maya was born in St. Louis Missouri in 1928. She experienced racial prejudices and discrimination after moving with her grandmother when her parents split. She experienced harsh events in her life that made her the strong woman she is that led her on till her death in 2014. The spirit in her work still lives on today by those who admire her work. Using her biography as a resource, Her parents split when Maya was just a very young girl. Not only did she get raped as a child by her mother's boyfriend, She also got pregnant at the early age of 16 in a short high school relationship that left her with a handsome boy named Guy Johnson. Maya's importance was based on her 1969 memoir ''I know why the caged birds sing.'' Maya's life experiences are revealed in her work continuously. Throughout her poems of ''Phenomenal woman'', ''Touched by an Angel'', and ''Harlem Hopscotch'' her poetic language is shaped by her experiences.…
I believe everyone agrees with Maya Angelou. I, for one, can accept my own death, however I can’t accept the death of my mom, dad, sisters, or any loved ones. I think it’s the same for everyone. It’s true that if we are so angered by the death of a loved one it will lead to our death, perhaps by depression.…
Maya Angelou has become widely known for her poetry and literary works. She has written several autobiographies and numerous volumes of poetry. One volume of poetry was And Still I Rise, in this collection of poems the poem “Still I Rise” is a famously known one.…
Maya Angelou, who was the first African-American to work in the San Francisco streetcars, accomplished many things in her life. This fact proves that Angelou was a woman who believed in doing what needs to be done in order to accomplish her goals. Angelou made an impact on the world by creating books for children that could relate to most of their situations, but most importantly she fought for African American rights in the early and middle 1900s.…
Everyone’s lives are shaped by their childhood lessons and experiences. Most people are directly influenced by their parents and other important adult figures in their lives. Children are prone to have certain characteristics and beliefs because of what is told to them or a specific event which they encounter. In I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, Maya Angelou’s life evolves and is enriched because of the people who take care of her. She receives advice from many human beings, and must choose what guidance to follow. Maya is influenced the most by Momma, Daddy Clidell, and Mrs. Flowers. To begin, Momma, as her name indicates, is like a mother figure. Even though she was Maya’s grandmother, she takes on full responsibilities as if Maya were her own child. Since Maya is abandoned by her parents, Momma takes her in and teaches her many important life lessons. She always makes sure Maya puts God first and has respect for all religion. “I would have wriggled just a bit, but each time I looked over at Momma, she seemed to threaten, ‘Move and I’ll tear you up,’ so, obedient to the unvoiced command, I sat still.” (Angelou, 31) Momma always makes sure to bring her grandchildren to church and makes sure they behaved properly. Ever since Maya was a small child, it was forced upon her that church and God were number one priorities. In the future, Maya recalls all the punishments she had for her “blasphemous” actions so she remembers to keep the Lord close to her heart. Religion intertwines with another aspect of Momma’s influence on Maya. She makes sure her grandchildren are clean of body as well as clean of soul. “‘Thou shall not be dirty’ and ‘Thou shall not be impudent’ were the two commandments of Grandmother Henderson upon which hung our total salvation.” (Angelou, 21) Momma is very religious, and always brings God into her arguments whenever possible. She states that it was a sin to…
What are the characteristics of a true leader? A true leader is a person who is able to share painful experience with the world. Many authors are not willing to share their personal life with billions of people, well Maya Angelou is my definition of a true leader. She is very intelligent and is a great person that many children look up to. She was born as Marguerite Johnson on April 4th, 1928, in St. Louis, Missouri. Only a true leader can express their life experience to everybody. Maya Angelou shared her personal tradict moments with over a billion people.…
On April 4th, 1928 an extraordinary woman was born in St. Louis Missouri to the late Bailey Johnson and Vivian Baxter Johnson when they seen her gorgeous face she was given a beautiful name Marguerite Ann Johnson. At the time of her birth no one knew how great she would be in our history of poetry, novels, movies, and plays. Sometime in her life she changed her name to Maya Angelou. Maya came from her brother he used to call her my-a-sister; it was his nickname he gave to her. During her years Maya has had rough times especially in her first seventeen years of life. She has been highly honored for her many bodies of work including being awarded with over thirty honorary degrees and nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for her 1971 volume of poetry, “Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water “Fore I Diiie.” (Wikipedia.org) Maya has been through trials and tribulations in her life that she has managed to get through with her head held high and a determined persona of herself. Maya is considered a legend in her own time and a powerful role model for several of our inspiring poets including Nikki Giovanni and Gwendolyn Brooks just to name a few. Maya Angelou has written six autobiographies which have all focused on her growing up and her early childhood years. In Maya’s first published book “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” Maya speaks about her family, parents divorce, her and her brother Bailey living with relatives, and the abuse and rape she endured from her mother’s boyfriend. Maya Angelou has overcome racism, rape, and being a mute and when you look at this spectacular woman and all of her accomplishments she deserve a standing ovation. Maya the Person…
Maya Angelou once said “there is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside of you”. To me this statement means “there is no greater suffering than to have to hold back all the thought that going through your mind and the pain that you feeling all by yourself”. This statement is related to my life story. Since as a child I have been through lots of dangerous accident causing me broken bones either it is falling accident, car accident, and motorcycle accident. Through it all I always show a bright smile in my face even when I am in pain I never show it to others. I remember when I had to go through my first surgery I was calm and ready, I didn’t think…
Do you like traveling or meeting new people? Most yes, everyone likes to travel, but some people are unique. Some of them devote their time in traveling to gain new experience and knowledge about different places around the world. Similarly, Paul Salopek, the writer of “Out of Eden Walk”, an excerpt from National Geographic has planned to devote seven years of his life to travel from the Great Rift Valley of Ethiopia to tip of South America. Paul Salopek about his journey and the most common that is noticeable is people, which bring sadness and fear between livings.…
With that basic idea of where Maya Angelou is going with this poem, the literary techniques and writing style can be analyzed a little further and applied to the main idea and message of the poem. The tone and diction of the poem, used in conjunction, is one of the more noticeable techniques that Angelou uses to strengthen the poem. The tone of the poem shows the somewhat fear and deep concern that arises in people…
Maya Angelou more effectively uses description and narration to portray her view of segregation as a group from the dominant culture in the location and era of her tale. Both Maya Angelou and Amy Tan used narrations and/or descriptions to describe isolations from Anglo-dominant society. Maya Angelou uses emotions of audiences in Uncle Willie’s store, exciting pace of the boxing match, and audiences’ conversations to, intensity of the game, as well as the voice from radio to narrate the story and describe isolations. Maya Angelou was a young girl, when story ‘Champion of the World’ was taking place. Segregation was incredibly widespread.…
In the poem "Still I Rise" by Maya. Angelou, Angelou uses metaphorical language, similes, and rhetorical questions to convey to readers how powerful and strong Angelou has become as a person.…