...Poetry Analysis – ‘Africa’ by Maya Angelou In her poem, ‘Africa’, Maya Angelou describes the plundering of Africa’s resources and spirit by European imperialists and their slave trade. She is the poem’s narrator, and at times the narration seems almost omniscient. She progresses from describing the continent’s majesty in the first stanza, to cataloguing the assaults visited upon Africa by the Europeans. In her final stanza, she declares that despite her trials, Africa will rise again and be restored to her glory. In Maya Angelou’s personification in “Africa,” the continent acquires real emotional appeal, and the reader’s empathy is aroused. The first stanza enacts the personification. Africa is “sugar cane sweet” with deserts for hair, golden feet, mountains for breasts, and two Niles for her tears. The reverential and meditative tone with which she speaks of Africa is conveyed through her elegant diction ‘thus she has lain’, and the reader cannot help but to venerate the continent’s beauty. Africa is a woman – eternal and eternally beautiful. Stanza one is quite regular, consisting of eight lines, each with four syllables. The abcbdeae rhyme scheme is relatively predictable, and it evokes the endlessness that Angelou is trying to sketch. The second stanza details the Western world’s desecration of Africa’s people and her spirituality. The distressing tone of the stanza is conveyed by Angelou’s descriptions of the brutal ‘brigands’ coming through frost and icicles with...
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...The Nobel Prize in Physics 2012 Serge Haroche and David J. Wineland "for ground-breaking experimental methods that enable measuring and manipulation of individual quantum systems" The Nobel Prize in Physics 2011 Saul Perlmutter, Brian P. Schmidt and Adam G. Riess "for the discovery of the accelerating expansion of the Universe through observations of distant supernovae" The Nobel Prize in Physics 2010 Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov "for groundbreaking experiments regarding the two-dimensional material graphene" Did You Know? 104 Nobel Prizes in Chemistry have been awarded between 1901 and 2012. 63 Chemistry Prizes have been given to one Laureate only. 4 women have been awarded the Chemistry Prize so far. 1 person, Frederick Sanger, has been awarded the Chemistry Prize twice, in 1958 and in 1980. 35 years was the age of the youngest Chemistry Laureate ever, Frédéric Joliot, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1935. 85 years was the age of the oldest Chemistry Laureate, John B. Fenn, when he was awarded the Chemistry Prize in 2002. 57 is the average age of the Nobel Laureates in Chemistry the year they were awarded the prize. Did You Know? 93 Nobel Peace Prizes have been awarded 1901-2012. 2 Peace Prizes have been divided between three persons. 15 women have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize so far. 62 is the average age of the Nobel Peace Prize Laureates the year they were awarded the prize. 11 Peace Prize Laureate, Le Duc Tho, has declined...
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...Running head: Analysis of “Still I Rise” 1 Analysis of “Still I Rise” When reading, “Still I Rise”, by Maya Angelou, I immediately get a sense of perseverance and pride. The author seems to be addressing her adversaries directly through her words. I love the imagery used in this poem. I can almost see the dust rising and can feel the swelling of the black ocean that the author mentions. “Cause I walk like I got oil wells pumping in my living room”(Angelou, 1978), and, “Laugh like I’ve got gold mines diggin’ in my own back yard” (Angelou, 1978), tells me that the author feels that her life is joyous and priceless, and can’t be taken away. As the phrase, “I Rise” (Angelou, 1978), is repeated again and again, it’s as if I can hear the author’s voice becoming louder and louder, declaring that her spirit will not be broken. It is the voice of someone who has not only persevered, but has triumphed and now thrives! “Still I Rise” was published in 1978, during the postmodern era. This was a period that saw much political and social change, particularly for African Americans. The 60’s brought about desegregation and the signing of the Civil Rights Act in 1964. Maya Angelou lived in the South, Arkansas, for a time during her childhood. There was much white resistance to the ending of segregation in the Southern states. During the 60’s and 70’s, many American cities were swept by race riots. Civil Rights activists organized marches and protests around the country...
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...“Still I Rise” Maya Angelou I could tell right away from the poem’s description, imagery, and repetition that she was directing her thoughts towards someone who was trying to hurt her. “Still I Rise” and “I rise” were her saying over and over you can keep trying to put me down but I’m going to keep getting up. She portrays a strong woman with supreme attitude and stresses that the person didn’t like her how she was. She identifies that she has a strong attitude with words like “sassiness”, “haughtiness” and “sexiness”. Her self-described attitude can be compared to today’s reference of a “Diva”. I am interested in her strength in an era where the woman’s movement was just beginning. She was so far ahead of her time and willing to talk about it. I can tell in her words that she has been brought down in the past by this person. She describes being shot down by their words, being glared at and having hate directed at her. She keeps telling the other person that I will not let you bring me down and every time you do, I will get stronger and stronger. She references that she creates waves like the moon and the sun, that she is challenging and the other person doesn’t like it. She felt the other person was trying to break her down and be dominating but she was a strong woman and would not let that happen. In the end, she says she is leaving all her negatives in the past and focusing on the future. She is a wanted person and she has pride. Maya Angelou was an author and...
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...Ma 2(1565443) Maya Angelou is known as the “most visible black female autobiographer/poet.” She was born, Marguerite Ann Johnson, on April fourth, 1928 in St. Louis, Missouri. Her parents divorced when she was three, and she and her brother were sent to live with their grandmother in Stamps, Arkansas. Seeing all the racial discrimination in the American south strengthened her passion for poetry, music, dance and performance. Maya writes about the struggles people face, racism and freedom. At age eight, Angelou went mute for five years when she believed that her words killed a man. These years of silence helped develop her extraordinary memory, love for books and literature, and her ability to listen and observe the world around her. At age fourteen, Angelou dropped out of high school to be San Francisco’s first African-American cable car conductor. Maya returned to school, but became pregnant and graduated a few weeks before giving birth to her son Guy. She left her home to raise her son as a single mother. During this time Angelou worked as a waitress, and a cook, to make a living for her and her son. When Martin Luther king Jr. was assassinated on her fortieth birthday, it left her devastated, but also determined to keep the civil rights movement going so everyone could have equality in the United States. The poem, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” by the poet Maya Angelou, uses the following poetic devices: symbolism and lyric that give meaning to poem. The first poetic...
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...Name of Institution Analysis of Two Poems by Maya Angelou Name of Student Course Name and Number Name of Professor Paper Due Date In Maya Angelou’s poem “They Went Home”, the persona has her reference on married men whom think of her as a friend and nothing more. Not a woman to them but a girl (Zefferino). However, they have a high perception of her personality but don’t have feelings for her like she does for them. “I had an air of mystery”. The men referenced had the persona think that the relationship that they had could turn out to be more than it seemed to be. They think of her as kind, clean and humorous. Despite this they don’t want to be in a relationship with her. The men that the poet references in the poem liked the persona because of her physical attributes and wanted to get involved with her physically, sexually. They wanted a physical relationship (Zefferino). “They liked my smile, my wit, my hips”. The attributes in this line specify in order the number of men that the persona desired, three men. The imagery keys the picture of a woman that receives the kind of love that she thinks she ought to be given. The persona is insecure and has a low self-pride because of the rejection that she faces. Men want to lay with her but do not want to stay with her because they all return to their wives. The last sentence of the first two stanzas, shows that the persona is willing and expecting to be used sexually by men that she...
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...11/06/2011 Maya Angelou •Born: 4 April 1928 •Birthplace: St. Louis, Missouri •Best Known As: Author of I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings Name at birth: Marguerite Johnson Maya Angelou's 1969 autobiography, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, was nominated for a National Book Award and made her a symbol of pluck and pride for African-American women. In the 1950s Angelou had been a dancer and stage actress, and she was active in the civil rights movement (she became a coordinator for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, thanks to a request from Martin Luther King, Jr.). During the 1960s she spent five years in Africa, working as a journalist and a teacher. Angelou returned to the United States and in 1969 published I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings. In 1972 she was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for her collection of poetry, Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water 'fore I Diiie. Since then, Angelou has continued teaching, writing, acting, producing, recording (she won Grammy Awards for the spoken word for the years 1993, 1995 and 2002) and collecting honorary degrees from across the United States. Since 1981 she has been the Reynolds Professor of American Studies at Wake Forest University in North Carolina. At Bill Clinton's request, Angelou wrote a poem -- On the Pulse of Morning -- for his 1993 inauguration as U.S. president. I chose one of Maya Angelou (Phenomenal Woman) for two reasons. One I feel that Maya is still one of the best poets in the world whose poems are studied...
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...Analysis of "Still I Rise" Initial Thoughts I have always enjoyed Maya Angelou's poetry. After reading "Still I Rise" I have a feeling of joy and pride. I picture the struggles she must have gone thru throughout her life. I imagine the pain and hurt she has endured and yet she is still a confident, secure, black woman. I feel as though she is taunting and chastising those that have ridiculed her: "Does my sassiness upset you?," "Does my haughtiness offend you?," and "Does my sexiness offend you?". I picture her speaking these words to those that have hindered her with a smile on her face, filled with confidence. I rejoice in her strength. I applaud her for standing up for herself and others that have gone thru the same suffering. I love how she states an insult that she has received and comes back with self assurance and a relentless stance: "still I'll rise." The wittiness is comical and clever: "'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells Pumping in my living room," "'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines Diggin' in my own back yard," and " That I dance like I've got diamonds At the meeting of my thighs?" Historical Context Angelou, a Postmodernism poet, wrote "Still I Rise" in 1978. Maya Angelou was born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1928 as Marguerite Johnson (Biography.com). Angelou grew up during an age with racial prejudice and gender inequality in the United States. African Americans did not get the right to vote until 1965. Even to this day, there are still racial tensions...
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...English 322.001 December 4, 2014 “Phenomenal Woman” Poem Analysis “Phenomenal Woman” by Maya Angelou celebrates the feminine qualities of womanhood, and highlights the different traits for a woman to become ‘phenomenal.’ Maya shows the reader despite what society tells her she still feels great about herself. She believes that it is your inner beauty that makes the woman “phenomenal” instead of your outer beauty. Throughout the poem Maya illustrates how no one seems to understand what it is that makes her attractive because she is not considered to be physically beautiful by society’s standards. So what exactly makes this woman phenomenal? The woman in the poem is appealing to others because of her internal beauty and how she feels about herself. What makes her so phenomenal is that she does not care how others view her society, as well as the opposite sex. Even other woman try to understand what it is about this woman that makes her so attractive, because she does not portray what is considered beautiful by society standards when you look at her. The poem opens up by saying “Pretty women wonder where my secret lies. I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size” She tells the reader in the beginning that it is not her physical attributes that make her attractive. “Men themselves have wondered what they see in me. They try so much but they can’t touch my inner mystery.” This line illustrates that it is not an actual feature that makes her attractive to men...
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...Poetry Analysis of “Caged Bird” by Maya Angelou and “I, Too” by Langston Hughes Two stunning poems; “Caged Bird” and “I, Too” are shown through imagery, figurative language, and more. “Caged Bird” is about a lonely bird that is caged up, wondering what it would be like to be free. Maya Angelou explains throughout her poem what the bird is feeling and seeing through his bars. In the poem; “I, Too”, Langston Hughes lets you imagine his poem about a black boy feeling very lonely, and wondering why he is being treated differently. In these two poems, the bird should be free and flying, but instead is being kept in a cage, while the other birds are free and they “dare to claim(s) the sky.” The black boy wants people to know he is not any different, he is beautiful too. Both poems have a way of expressing one main theme. “Caged Bird” and “I,Too” have Imagery, which is a big way that you can see the theme throughout these poems using your senses. In “Caged Bird” you can almost...
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...This poem, “Alone” is carefully measured verses describe the general alienation of people in the twentieth century. “Alone” is not directed at any particular sector of society but rather is focused on human condition in general. The poet cautions that no one can live in this world alone. Angelou begins by looking within herself and discovering that her soul is without a home. Moving from an inward glimpse to an outward sweep, she recognizes that even millionaires suffer from this modern malaise and live lonely lives whit “heart of stone”. Finally she warns her readers to listen carefully and change the direction of their lives. Moreover she says human race must break down barriers and rescue one another from loneliness. The only cure, Angelou says, is to acknowledge common interests and work toward common goals. Interpretation: When I found and read this poem, I just thought about title “Alone”, because this word made me remember my first year in the United States. At that time, I just worked for money because I wanted to keep my study. So I didn’t have enough time to meet friends for sharing my loneliness at all. Indeed, my English skill was so poor. I though that Americans would laugh at me, if I spoke with funny pronounce. That made me lonelier. Every night, after work, I could not sleep so I went out and walked on the street for 2hours. Now I am thinking that I was alone in the world. Almost the end of my first year in the United States, I met a friend who became my...
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...The Importance of Humanities in the Professions Healthcare/Nursing Introduction Three creative works being analyzed: • Caged Bird, by Maya Angelou • “A Change is Gonna Come” by Sam Cooke • The Means to an End, by Kara Walker Intro cont.. Caged Bird ► Author Maya Angelou ► Discipline of literature ► Form of poetry Intro cont. “A Change is Gonna Come” ► Singer/Songwriter Sam Cooke ► Discipline of music Intro cont. The Means to an End ► Artist Kara Walker ► Discipline Visual Art ► Silhouette Portraits Humanities in Healthcare Understanding Diversity in Cultures Roles of Nurses ► Non-bias or opposing self-interest on patients. ► Understanding and acceptance of any and all cultures/ethnicities. ► Equal treatment of all patients ► Not conforming to stereotypes Humanities in Healthcare cont. ► Broadening your exposure to different cultures and through the arts and artifacts presented, you become more aware and better prepared to give quality healthcare amongst the diverse communities. ► The 3 works being presented will display the perseverance, struggles, and some history of the Black American ethnic group. The Literary Work Objective Analysis ► Caged Bird by Maya Angelou A free bird leaps on the back of the wind and floats downstream till the current ends and dips his wing in the orange sun rays and dares to claim the sky But a bird that stalks down his narrow cage can seldom see through ...
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...Ludwika Dorbecker Per.2 Ms.Harter April 12th, 2016 Analysis of “Africa” by Maya Angelou “Africa” by Maya Angelou poem provides a substantial amount of vivid illustrations by using rhythm and personification enhancing both imagery and tone of the poem, to describe the conflict Africa went throughout time; and how it rose to a better Africa. Throught the stanzas each have different tones through the rhythm of the meters. For example, the tones of the poem move from a pleasant to contemplative. The dactylic meter of the first stanza imitates the sound of distant drums beating in Africa, giving a tense and desperate mood. In the first stanza, Maya uses imagery and personification to describe the beautiful woman who everyone desires, “Sugarcane sweet desert, her hair, golden her feet,” (line 2-3). The reader cannot help but admire it’s beauty. The reverential and meditative tone gives us the feeling of admiration and the feeling to love this woman, in other words Africa. Although africa is shown as a woman with eternal beauty , Africa is also described as a sad and depressed woman; “Two niles her tears” (Line 6). After all Africa is passing through the violence of the Europeans, “thus she has lain, Black through the years” (Line 7-8). This shows how the colonization of Africa has been the same throughout the years, without change. This hurts africa, because her hometown and her soul are forced to change without letting her make any decisions of her own. Africa is being raped...
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...Version 1 General Certificate of Education (A-level) January 2013 English Literature A (Specification 2740) LTA1C Unit 1: Texts in Context The Struggle for Identity in Modern Literature Report on the Examination Further copies of this Report on the Examination are available from: aqa.org.uk Copyright © 2013 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. Copyright AQA retains the copyright on all its publications. However, registered centres for AQA are permitted to copy material from this booklet for their own internal use, with the following important exception: AQA cannot give permission to centres to photocopy any material that is acknowledged to a third party even for internal use within the centre. Set and published by the Assessment and Qualifications Alliance. The Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (AQA) is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (company number 3644723) and a registered charity (registered charity number 1073334). Registered address: AQA, Devas Street, Manchester M15 6EX. Report on the Examination – General Certificate of Education (A-level) English Literature A – Unit 1: Texts in Context: The Struggle for Identity in Modern Literature – January 2013 PRINCIPAL EXAMINER’S REPORT: January 2013 LTA1C The Struggle for Identity in Modern Literature The entry was around 2000 candidates, compared to nearer 7000 last summer and about 1400 the previous January, with the large majority of students choosing to answer on Duffy’s...
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...Analysis of the Themes of Loss and Gain The theme of loss and gain has always been popular among the people worldwide. In general, the majority of persons prefers gaining than losing. However, loss and gain usually come together. When losing something, do not be upset. Maybe luck will appear soon. As Shakespeare’s poem says, “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.” Everyone’s life just likes a drama, sometimes you are on top, sometimes on the bottom. In Maya Angelou’s “Graduation”, she shows her experience in high school which is in Stamps, Arkansas. Unlike white students, she cannot share an equal education. She nevertheless obtained a lot of knowledge which is essential to her success. The other text “Coming to an Awareness of Language” is written by Malcolm X and is about his loss and gain when he started to learn language with his teacher--- a dictionary. After he suffered a lot while he used a dictionary to study the language, he finally was coming to an awareness of language. Both texts have the themes of loss and gain; however, Maya’s text pays more attention about her loss but I get lots of positive information from Malcolm X’s text. In "Coming to an Awareness of Language", the theme of loss is shown through the discussion about Malcolm X improving his literacy skills. While the lack of education made Malcolm unable to convey his ideas through letters, so he did a lot effort to improve his language. During this time, he actually had a tough...
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