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A level lit POETRY > Still I Rise > Flashcards

Still I Rise Flashcards

1
Q

The speaker´s strength derives…

A

from her blackness, not in spite of it

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2
Q

3 Big Ideas

(not the best but yeah…)

A
  • Fixates upon the prejudice and persecution inflicted upon African Americans
  • Is an ode to back femininity
  • critique of anti-black racism
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3
Q

Key terms

A
  • Assertion to dinity
  • Resilience of marginalised people in the face of oppression
  • Defiance
  • Celebration
  • Triumph
  • Raises awareness to society´s corrupt ideals - Angelou exposes their lies
  • Social inferiority
  • Empowerment
  • Overcoming adversities
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4
Q

The oppressor in the poem is addressed as…

A

“you”. However, Angelou uses this pronoun to universally address oppressors

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5
Q

The oppressor´s actions are witnessed in the lexical field of violence: “trod”, “Shoot”, “kill”, “cut”, where these verbs…

A

are consequences of the oppressor´s hatred and prejudice.
Also highlights white people´s active intentions to cause harm, and how they have managed to dehumanise the black community.

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6
Q

“trod”

A

Alludes to animalistic characteristics. Not only does it portray white people´s beliefs that they are superior to African Americans, but also highlights their vulgar perceptions of them

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7
Q

Context

A

Despite society´s persistent goals on inflicting challenges to the speaker´s life, the speaker continuously finds strength to fight back.

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8
Q

Transformation of “dust” to “air”

A

Reinforces the speaker´s strength and defiance. She is able to transcend above social limitations and evolve into an elemental feature -> Both as necessary for living. They are vital for our existence

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9
Q

“like dust”

(+ biblical allusion)

A

links to how African Americans were treated by white people and how they can rise above their mistreatment even if they seem incapable of doing so.

FURTHERMORE:

Biblical allusion - Humans were created from dust and once we die, we become dust. Angelou reminds us that we aren´t invincible and must embrace and embody our identities

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10
Q

“Just like moons and like suns”

A

The celestial imagery in the simile suggests that the speaker is unstoppable

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11
Q

The lexical field of nature, seen in the nouns, “moons”, and “suns”, suggests that…

A

No matter how hard or challenging events may seem, she will “rise”.

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12
Q

“Oil wells”, “diamonds”, “gold mines”, are a lexical field of…

A

wealth and luxury. Angelou challenges societal views of conventional “beauty” by comparing herself to these valuable objects, suggesting that she is a source of power

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13
Q

Universal message for: “Oil wells”, “diamonds”, “gold mines”

A

In the same way people search for these valuable items, we should also try searching for them in one another. No matter the race or sex, we must find the richness within one another

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14
Q

The rhetorical question, “Does my sassiness upset you?”, creates a…

A

mocking tone to the poem, further establishing the speaker´s confidence and pride.

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15
Q

“Sassiness”

A

highlights the speaker´s unique attributes and her radiancy. This cheeky attribute subverts from the stereotypical view of women.

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16
Q

“You”

A

Accusatory tone, which causes readers to reflect upon their roles in the racism and oppression that has been inflicted upon African Americans

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17
Q

“Weakened by my soulful cries?”

A

The rhetorical question encapsulates the ever present racism

18
Q

“my soulful cries”

A

Is emphatic as it is personal. However, Angelou uses it to voice A. A. agony and pain

19
Q

The anaphora, “You may”…

A

Defiant tone. No matter what society throws at her, she will rise above it

20
Q

“Did you want to see me broken?”

A

The rhetorical question accentuates society´s cruel manners and how she has managed to overcome these hardships

21
Q

“Did you”

A

Bitter tone in the speaker. Speaker is confused and agitates as to why society wishes bad things to happen to the black community

22
Q

“You may kill me with your hatefulness”

A

Metaphorical and literal. RAGE

23
Q

“Out of the huts of history´s shame”

A
24
Q

“Out of”

(D.I.)

A

Speaker is unafraid and resilient,

DEEPER IMPLICATION

Determined to create a better future for themselves as they know from previous experiences that white people won´t collaborate with them in searching for happiness

25
Q

Soft sibilance: “huts”, “history´s”, “shame”

(+ alternative)

A

Highlights how the crimes would go unheard of as they became rituals.

OR

How the speaker would go unheard of as she was afraid to speak up for her rights.

26
Q

“huts”

A

Links to the poor conditions black people had to live in because of unequal rights

27
Q

The noun, “shame”, means

A

humiliation. Further emphasising the speaker´s hopeful outlook in overcoming this burden

28
Q

“Still I Rise”

A

The refrain serves as a defiant anthem, further establishing the speaker´s unwavering resilience and indomitable spirit.

Also obtains a timeless message

29
Q

“Still”

A

The adverb suggests that it is a present, ongoing battle and how she will continue to fight

30
Q

“I Rise”

A

Chant - whose purpose is to re-unite all of the black community to protest for their freedom

31
Q

“Welling and swelling I bear in the tide”

A

The metaphor holds vivid imagery of a natural phenomenon, which symbolises the speaker´s recruitment of people

32
Q

“I bear”

A

Angelou implies that we must find a way to be in control of the present in order to create a significant change to our lives

33
Q

CONTEXT

A

Angelou is righting during a civil rights movement and a woman´s rights movement. Suggests that the poem´s message is still relevant today.

34
Q

“I am the dream and the hope of the slave”

A

Assertive tone. Without her, the future would remain the same. The speaker wants to pursue the dreams of those slaves who weren´t able to achieve their freedom and rights.
The speaker, therefore, holds a lot of weight as she is not only fighting for past generations but future ones too.

35
Q

“I am”

A

Emphatic and declarative

36
Q

“dream”

A

The noun conveys the speaker´s supernatural power and her unstoppable attitude towards her course in obtaining her beliefs.

37
Q

“Black ocean”

A

Imagery of the speaker´s potent symbol of authority

38
Q

“black”

A

In isolation is may hold negative connotations. However, in context with the poem, she warns white people to be alert and aware of her power.

39
Q

Rhyme schemes frequent changes

A

Signifies a change in persona or the speaker´s vocal characteristic. As she talks to a larger group of people, the speaker adopts a more casual, simplistic tone.

40
Q

9 stanza, all fairly regular in length except for the final stanza. The final stanza is the longest and may represent…

A

The large number of African Americans that are fighting alongside the speaker, or all of those African Americans whom lost their lives due to the malice and hatred inflicted upon them

A level lit POETRY (23 decks)

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