Long Questions and answers of Still I Rise

Long Questions and answers of Still I Rise

Summary /Substance 

In this stanza, the speaker describes the different ways how her oppressor tries to dominate and hurt her. The oppressor may use harsh and mean words to “shoot” her, showing how harmful words can be. He may also give her fierce, hateful looks to “cut” her, showing his rage and annoyance. Being filled with hatred, the oppressor may try to destroy her spirit with his contempt.  

Despite all this, the speaker boldly declares that she will rise. Just like air, which cannot be stopped, she will overcome all hatred, humiliation, and racism. Even when she feels broken inside, she remains determined to rise above oppression and live with dignity.

1. Comment on the Use of Imagery in the Poem Still I Rise

In Still I Rise, Maya Angelou uses vivid imagery to highlight themes of strength, resilience, confidence, and defiance against oppression.

• Dust: In the first stanza, the imagery of "dust" represents the speaker’s hidden strength and resilience. Despite attempts to suppress her, like dust, she will always rise.

• Oil Wells and Gold Mines: These images emphasize the speaker's inherent beauty, worth, and confidence. They symbolize her inner richness and value.

• Natural Imagery: References to the sun, the moon, tides, and air suggest that the speaker’s rise is as natural and inevitable as the cycles of nature, despite hatred and humiliation.

• Black Ocean: This imagery symbolizes the immense power and depth within black identity, conveying a sense of pride and strength.

Through these images, Angelou paints a powerful picture of the speaker’s unwavering spirit.

 

2."You may trod me in the very dirt / But still, like dust, I'll rise"

Explanation and Biblical Reference

• Observation and Objective: The speaker describes the brutal oppression endured by black individuals in a racist society. Despite being figuratively trampled upon and reduced to "dirt," the speaker declares that she will rise again, just as dust rises regardless of attempts to suppress it. This imagery reflects her resilience, strength, and refusal to be defeated.

• Biblical Reference: The mention of "dust" has a Biblical allusion. In the Bible, humans are described as being created from dust and returning to dust after death. By comparing herself to dust, the speaker asserts her fundamental humanity and divine creation, emphasizing that she cannot be destroyed by oppression.

These lines symbolize the speaker’s defiant and triumphant spirit in the face of injustice.

3. "You may write me down in history / With your bitter, twisted lies"

Who is the Speaker? What Does the Speaker Mean? What Relationship Is Evident?

The speaker is a black woman who has experienced racial discrimination and oppression, as portrayed in Maya Angelou’s poem Still I Rise.

• Meaning: The speaker addresses the oppressor, accusing them of distorting history by spreading "bitter, twisted lies" to demean her and deny her true worth. The oppressor manipulates facts to maintain power and degrade her dignity.

• Relationship: There is a clear antagonistic relationship between the speaker and the oppressor. The oppressor represents the forces of racism and injustice, while the speaker boldly resists these attempts to suppress her identity and voice.