Angelou collaborated on the book with the artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, whose horrible illustrations get

at the poem's tension between courage and fear. Angelou herself once said that the poem was for
children who "whistle in the dark"-that is, for kids who put on a brave face even when they're scared.

Angelou Died on the morning of May 28, 2014, at the age of 86. The cause of her death was natural
causes, she was suffering from pain caused by her dancing career and respiratory failure.

MOOD

It is uplifting, it is because, as we read the poem. The speaker tries to encourage us that even though
there are things like shadows on the wall, and so on. The speaker tells us of everything we shouldn't be
afraid of. Because she is not frightened by the things she said.

Optimistic- it is because, as we read the poem, the speaker gives a sense of hope that no matter how
difficult situations can be, we can always find a solution if we control our own fate.

SYMBOLISM

Charm- symbolize strength, we need a charm to help us because nothing to fear at all.

Smile- symbolize power, for example someone insults you, but you just smiled back to him/her, with
that it is also an insult to someone who insulted you, because by smiling it shows that you are not
affected.

FIGURES OF SPEECH

Repetition - as you can see in the poem, the line life doesn't frighten me at all is always repeated.

Alliteration- spitting out the words, makes it scary or scary as it would be to a child.

Metaphor- wearing her heart on her sleeve and her confidence keeping her fighting her fears and
challenges.

Hyperbole- well it is impossible,it because we cannot walk into the ocean floor because we are humans
unless we are using equipments for underwater.

THEME

• Smile is extremely powerful. Just remember when you come back from school with off mood, how
your little one's smile refreshes you and you forget about all other things. Smiling brings new positivity.
• Without the challenges that we have faced and overcome, we would not be the people that we are
today.

IMPLICATION OF THE TITLE

• Being courageous means we are fearful but we choose to face our fears and take a step forward.