On Aging

Question 1

5 Big Ideas

Answer 1

• The speaker doesn´t want to be pitied or patronised by others
• The speaker conveys that she is aging but remains independent and self-sufficient
• The speaker rejects the stereotypes about aging
• Speaker face aging with humour
• The speaker conveys that aging is a physical phenomenon but that the mind remains young

Question 2

Universal message (OVERALL)

Answer 2

TO AGE IS TO CONTINUE LIVING - It should not be feared or disregarded, but embraced.

Question 3

“When you see me sitting quietly, / Like a sack on the shelf,”

Answer 3

Simile holds a dark humorous undertone.

Old people tend to be disregarded and unacknowledged in society - elderly speaker is lecturing the younger person so that we stop having misconceptions about aging.

Question 4

“You”

Answer 4

It is implied that the elderly speaker is addressing a younger person.

Question 5

Sibilance in : “When you see me sitting quietly, / Like a sack on the shelf,”

Answer 5

Sets a quiet tone to the poem. However, this auditory appeal changes in the line, “Hold!, Stop! Don´t pity me!”

Question 6

“Like a sack on the shelf,”

Answer 6

Figure of speech

Question 7

“Sack” symbolises…

Answer 7

how old people are perceived as in society: worthless, shapeless, un-important, neglected, static, stagnant

Question 8

“Hold!, Stop! Don´t pity me!”

Answer 8

Angelou gives voice to the speaker as he rejects pity

Question 9

Anaphora “Hold! Stop!”

Answer 9

is created by imperatives which portrays the speaker´s willingness to grasp the attention of a younger audience in order to implicate a different perspective of aging…

The imperatives also reflect the speaker´s agency and power. Despite his age, he maintains the dominance as he firmly implies that he doesn´t need any company.

This characterises the speaker as independent.

Question 10

Universal message

Answer 10

Young people assume that old people need “chattering” and “sympathy”

Question 11

“Understanding”

Answer 11

is the only thing that suits the speaker. Everything else, he can live without.

Question 12

“When my bones are stiff and aching”

Answer 12

The imagery reflects the speaker´s physical fragility which on a more universal level, may suggest why many elderly people experience discomfort and unease more regularly.

Question 13

“When”

Answer 13

The speaker hasn´t adapted to this new physical state just yet.
He is just being precautious and open-minded about the new adjustments he will have to do in his life.

Question 14

“Stiff”

Answer 14

The adjective mirrors the speaker´s immobility and rigidness

Question 15

“Aching”

Answer 15

The adjective accentuates the speaker´s acknowledgement of the pain that may derive from an old age.
However, he approaches these situations with calmness as he has accepted the fact that they are universally experiences.

Question 16

“Don´t bring me no rocking chair.”

Answer 16

Grammatically incorrect -> Speaker´s character comes across more profoundly.

Furthermore, central imagery of the poem is the rocking chair.

Question 17

“…rocking chair”

(+ D.I)

Answer 17

Usually associated with old women.
Traditionally, rocking chairs symbolise nostalgia, as it serves as a way for you to reminisce about your past. The speaker´s neglect towards this, however, may suggest that she would much rather carry on living in the present than reliving the past.

The speaker doesn´t want to be treated as fragile, he wants to be independent and have agency.

DEEPER IMPLICATION:

Angelou is defying stereotypes.

Question 18

“…walking, stumbling”

Answer 18

Imagery of physical decay and limitations.

Gradual progression of physical deterioration.

Question 19

“Cause tired don´t mean lazy”

Answer 19

Firm tone - speaker is defending his work ethic.

Although she may appear slower, it is now a representation of her mind.

Question 20

“Cause”

Answer 20

Colloquial expression produces an authentic voice

Question 21

“Tired” and “Lazy”

Answer 21

May seem familiar in appearance. However, tiredness is a consequence of external factors whereas being lazy is a result of a lack of motivation and bad habits.

Question 22

“I´m the same person I was back then”

Answer 22

Declarative tone. Re-affirmation of identity

Question 23

“A little less hair, a little less chin, / A lot less lungs and much less wind.”

Answer 23

The imagery highlights the passage of time.

Humorous tone may suggest that she uses it as a coping mechanism

Question 24

“A little less”
“A lot less”

Answer 24

The inversion suggests that time is slowly taking away the next few minutes of her life.

Question 25

Caesura in : “A little less hair, a little less chin, / A lot less lungs and much less wind.”

Answer 25

Slows down the pace of the poem. May mirror her physical decay.

Question 26

Liquid and sibilance : “A little less hair, a little less chin, / A lot less lungs and much less wind.”

Answer 26

Creates a nursery rhyme quality which is used to try and capture the significance of the message being conveyed in a memorable way.

Question 27

“But ain´t I lucky I can still breathe in”

Answer 27

The statement portrays the speaker´s sense of gratitude. This produces a counterpoint to aging

Question 28

“lucky”

Answer 28

The adjective highlights his sudden realisation of how fortunate he is to have been blessed with the life he has lived.

Question 29

“Still”

Answer 29

The adverb suggests that the speaker is desperately grasping onto the remainder of his life.
As she acknowledges that he is approaching the end.

Question 30

Octet -> quatrain -> octet

Answer 30

Emphasises the importance of the key idea : the rocking chair.