Maya Angelou I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is perceived by many literary critics to be one of the most important books of two generations. It is the first in a five volume autobiography about author Maya Angelou’s life. Maya Angelou is not only a well known author‚ but also a poet‚ actress‚ director‚ playwright‚ film producer‚ and civil rights activist. Maya is also an accomplished spokeswoman‚ traveling the country taking on taboo topics such civil rights‚ or gender equality. She is one of the
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Africa by Maya Angelou describes the country Africa from the point of view of African Americans. In the first stanza Angelou uses the geographical make up of the land to give humanizing features to the continetnt. She describes the mountains of Africa as her breast and her hair is the deserts. Line six‚ "two Niles her tears" describes the Nile river as flowing tears and reflects her pain. "Thus she has lain" in this stanza describes an African American woman’s struggle in Africa. This phrase is mentioned
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Maya Angelou spreading an attachment to honesty‚ civil rights‚ savoring life and writing the experiences‚ a dominating woman became a motivation to all. Maya Angelou’s words were always destined for honor and praise for centuries yet to come. Her writings continue to promote equality‚ soul-searching and friendship. Maya created a way to express herself freely and instill character and integrity in people by doing so. She found happiness and a way out through her writings and commanded her voice to
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Maya Angelou is a phenomenal woman. She was born into a devastating decade‚ that suffered numerous tragedies. Not only had society shaped her as a woman‚ she has also shaped our society and influenced many lives. She is still living today‚ yet I believe her legend will never die. Furthermore I will share with you what motivated her and some of her gratifying experiences. How she was effected by society‚ and what she did about it. Also how the time period she was born into made her the extraordinary
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I chose Maya Angelou. I chose her because she is an inspiration to me. She has lived a hard life but battled through and that is really inspiring. Maya Angelou was born on April 4‚ 1928 in St. Louis‚ Missouri. Her birth name was Marguerite Ann Johnson but she changed her name to Maya Angelou in her twenties. She was the daughter of Vivian and Bailey Johnson. In 1931 after her parents divorced‚ her and her brother had to go live with their grandmother in Stamps‚ Arkansas. Maya was a skinny black
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Close Reading Assignment #2 Christian Jacob The following passage that I have submitted to a “close” analysis shows the pain and thoughts of the author as she replays the feelings she had as she is reflexing and reminded of the conditions she and other Blacks were going through. “Then I wished that Gabriel Prosser and Nat Turner had killed all the whitefolks in their beds and that Abraham Lincoln had been assassinated before the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation‚ and that Harriet
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anthology‚ explore and analyse the use of feminism in Woman Work by Maya Angelou In this essay I am going to explore and analyse how Maya Angelou uses feminism in Woman Work to represent the typical day of a housewife and their thoughts on their domestic responsibilities. The poem was published in 1978 in part two of her book‚ “And Still I Rise”. The poem focuses on a hopeful determination to rise above difficulty and expectations. The poem is an escape from reality for the speaker. She is tired of the
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society. Maya Angelou‚ for instance‚ is a “caged bird” who has been unable to express herself to others. Maya is adjusting to her surroundings that can be interpreted by her use of metaphors and symbolism. Her use of metaphors and symbols has allowed for her to gain confidence and change her ability to no longer be a caged bird‚ but a free bird. Maya Angelou transforms from a silent child into a strong independent black woman throughout her autobiography. In I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings‚ Angelou uses
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Influences on Maya Angelou 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. Bailey was someone
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Maya Angelou’s poem‚ “Phenomenal Woman”‚ is a compelling form of art. Angelou tends to write about topics that are often disregarded and unexplored by others. Her poem illustrates the love a woman has for herself even though she isn’t considered beautiful. The language and tone indicate that the speaker was abused. Her pride has risen from the torture and neglect she experienced. Instead of being ashamed and blaming herself‚ she has gained hope. The scholarly essay by Kelly Holland Cecil analyzes
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