Essay – Still I Rise

‘Still I Rise’, Maya Angelou
– Describe how techniques have been used in the text


‘Still I Rise’ written by poet and writer Maya Angelou, published in 1978 focuses on overcoming oppression and hardship, and not letting the words and actions of others affect you and alter how you see yourself. Techniques used in the poem to illustrate these themes and ideas are poetic comparison, historical reference and rhetorical devices. These techniques give the poem more artist depth and help convey the emotions present in the text.

The poem uses poetic devices and techniques to convey emotion and the message of the text. One of the most prominent techniques is poetic comparison, comparing two different subjects together to create more interesting literary devices. Prominent poetic comparisons are metaphors, similes and juxtaposition. ‘You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, you may kill me with your hatefulness,’ are metaphors. These lines intertwine two differing subjects to convey emotions and create a reaction from the readers. The two subjects compared to one another that have seemingly no similar traits or characteristics such as cutting and eyes would in other instances be incompatible but poetic comparisons and metaphors/similes allow for juxtaposition. The metaphors are illustrating the effect a person’s words and behaviour can have on someone’s self-worth and the way they see themselves.
Throughout the poem, there are a number of instances where similes are used to illustrate poetic comparison and demonstrate the atmosphere of the piece of literature. ‘But still, like dust, I’ll rise.’ is a simile comparing Angelou’s hopeful rise above oppression to floating dust. It rhythms with ‘But still, like air, I’ll rise’ which symbolise Angelou’s arc of overcoming discrimination and difficulty.

The nature of the poem conveys heavy subject matter like the hardships faced by African-Americans in the past to illustrate the discrimination of the present. The techniques used to convey the difficulties of discrimination are historical references and violent verbs. ‘Out of the hut’s of history’s shame,’ is one of the most poetic and subtle yet obvious lines in the poem. The line itself is giving reference to the slave days of America’s history, a racially divided time which gave way to the systemic racism present in the country today and back in the 70s. Slaves usually worked for rather wealthy socialites and public figures in the south who lived in huge, clean houses compared to the sometimes life-threatening conditions of slave huts. ‘Up from a past that’s rooted in pain,’ continues the discussion of institutionalised racism and the pain and horrors it inflicted on African-American’s throughout history. These lines among others are confrontational and aggressive with the way they’re presented and the subject matter present, with the purpose of teaching the reader the difficult truth of America’s history.

Arguably the most prominent poetic technique present in the poem, rhetorical questions are directed at the oppressor of the story and showcase the confidence that Angelou now has and her empowerment of herself, her history and her people. ‘Does my sassiness upset you? why are you beset with gloom?’ are rhetorical questions that spring with an atmosphere of confidence and self-acceptance. It’s Angelou empowering herself and not being knocked down by the words and actions of others. ‘Did you want to see me broken?… Weakened by my soulful cries?’, on the other hand, are used in almost the complete opposite way of many of the other rhetorical devices and questions. It marks the segment of the poem in which the words and action of other effects Angelou and leads her to feel hopeless and broken. Like all the rhetorical questions in the piece of literature, it is directed at the oppressor but now carries an immense amount of sadness and almost calm, compared with the aggression and confidence of the other lines.

To conclude, ‘Still I Rise’ is a poem that focuses on overcoming oppression and discrimination to empower yourself. The poem has a very hopeful message and feeling to it and poetic techniques throughout the poem are used to convey the said message. Poetic comparison such as metaphors and similes are used to illustrate emotion and compare to differing subjects together to create a more poetic atmosphere. As well as poetic comparisons other literary devices such as historical references and rhetorical questions are used to convey the message and emotions present in the piece of literature.