Through the inner city to the suburbs Flashcards
Travel
Highlights the…
artificial and solemn lives of white people
The poet portrays the journey…
as a moment to reflect upon… (3 BIG IDEAS)…
4 Big Ideas
- Visually drastic changes between life in the suburbs and inner city life
- challenged conventional ideas of the inner city and the suburbs. Angelou encourages readers to subvert from our traditional views of stereotypes
- Compares the significantly different habitual lives of the upper class and the lower class.
- African Americans are unable to improve their lives as they are restricted and bounded by their race.
Overall ideas of this poem:
- memorable and special experience
- celebratory tonal register
- slavery and discrimination
“Secured by sooted windows”
The metaphor conveys the comfort brought upon the speaker by the train journey. - Further evident in the verb, “Secured”
Sibilance in : “Secured by sooted windows”
May mirror the soft hissing noises of the train
The diphthong in, “sooted”, alongside the sibilance may depict….
the speaker´s relaxation as she travels to an unfamiliar location : the suburbs.
The lexical field of a translucent view is further established in the adjective, “frosting”. In isolation…
the adjective may hold negative connotations as the unclear view, may produce discomfort and unease. However, combined with the noun, “Delicious”, Angelou symbolises the train journey as being a magical experience for the speaker. One which is pleasurable and sweet.
“It is / Delicious.”
The short syntactical phrase is emphatic
Due to the enjambment in : “It is / Delicious.”, placing emphasis upon the adjective, Angelou might be highlighting…
(+ Alternative)
the train journey as being consequent to the speaker´s synaesthesia.
OR
The enjambment may illustrate the train´s rapid pace.
“People. Black and fast. Scattered”
The imagery is of the speaker observing people from her window seat.
The caesura, alongside the short, simplistic phrases, in : “People. Black and fast. Scattered”, increases the pace of the poem. Which may portray…
(+ D.I. and context)
the energetic lives of African Americans and their dynamic daily routines.
DEEPER IMPLICATIONS
The lives of African Americans are vibrant and full of momentum, (and in parallelism with the train´s fast movements).
OR
Their lively habitual lifestyle may express their readiness and eagerness in hope for rapid changes in how people perceive black people. They await a more progressed and developed society
CONTEXT
Angelou is celebrating the lives of the black community
The adjective, “Black”, connotes that the inner city is…
(+ context)
populated by African Americans.
Contextually, Angelou is illustrating the racial divide and segregation that occurred in the 20th century - there was no integration between races.
“Stolen gems / Unsaleable and dear”
The metaphor reminds the reader of the harsh realities the black community had to face daily.
The adjective, “stolen”, may refer to…
the slave trade and how the lives of African Americans were seen as worthless.
“dear”
(+ D.I)
The noun produces ambiguity as it may emphasise Angelou´s deep affection towards African Americans
OR
It may symbolise how Angelou depicts the lives of African Americans as being “unsaleable” and of a high value.
Universal message for “Stolen gems / Unsaleable and dear”
Angelou suggests that white people have stolen the precious and expensive lives of African Americans; Their identities have been stripped away from them.
As the speaker witnesses this from the train´s window, it is evident that the speaker holds a sense of rage and anger towards white people as she sees the injustice inflicted upon African Americans and their community.
“…[nights], damp dancing, the juicy / secrets of black thighs”
(+ D.I.)
Through the imagery, Angelou portrays a sensual and spirited atmosphere.
DEEPER IMPLICATION
Despite the oppression faced, black people have been able to build a sense of community, and through a celebratory tone, she portrays the dignity and joy African Americans have.
Due to the celebratory tone, Angelou links the line, “…[nights], damp dancing, the juicy / secrets of black thighs” to….
(A DIFFERENT POEM FROM HER COLLECTION)
“Country lover”, which also conveys the vivid, colourful atmosphere that African Americans lived with - A life that profoundly resonates with the speaker, emphasising her love and passion she has for the inner city.
The abstract noun, “secrets”
may highlight the freedom black people have within their community and how they have the liberty to express their sensual desires freely without judgement.
“Thighs” references to physical attributes which is a common feature in Angelou´s writing…
Similarly to Phenomenal Woman, Angelou vividly depict the beauty in African Americans’ physical characteristics as a way to honour her cultural heritage as a black woman.
The varied stanza lengths may portray…
the drastic changes between inner city life and life at the suburbs.
” ´I had a coloured / Mammy ´…”
The dialogue portrays the disrespectful and condescending perspectives white people had upon African Americans.
The abstract noun, “Mammy”, alludes to the…
racial caricature black females were given. This, however, only portrays the false narrative that black women were happy as slaves, and tied to the constraints of being a working maid.
(link to Woman work)
“Grinning.”
The refraining adjective shows how African Americans are able to express their pleasure and joy in their life.
The adverb, “still”, from : “And grinning. Still /”, confirms that…
in spite of the discrimination they might still face, they are able to defy societal´ s oppressive regimes by “Grinning” and being appreciative of life.
