31/08

TRANSCRIPT FOR ENGLISH ASSESSMENT TASK 3

Good morning/afternoon fellow peers, My name is Brooke Anderson and today I am here to discuss the ways
that poetry can change and stimulate the mind and heart. In this presentation, I will be analyzing and
comparing two different poems with nearly the same message about change. The first poem is I Still Rise by
Maya Angelou, and the second poem is called The Catholic Women by Atef Ayadi. Both of these poems
address the issue of racism and mocking of a certain religion

In the poem I Still Rise, the author Maya Angelou engages us readers through the understanding of the
ongoing problem of racism against African Americans, which started from the Civil Rights Movement. This
moment luckily had a positive outcome with the removal of segregation policies and discrimination towards
them. As in all other protest poetry, the poem I Still Rise uses a wide range of techniques that affect the
reader's heart and mind. These techniques are noticeable throughout the whole poem in which a line saying
“I rise, I rise, I rise” symbolizes a concept of not backing down and not fearing. Throughout this whole poem,
there is a demonstration of confidence, pride and boldness. This can create an image in the reader's head
through the symbolism of wealth. Through the picture, the readers automatically have a sense that the
woman has no right to be not confident but with the use of emotive language in the lines “see me broken”
and “lowered eyes”. This gives a sense of emotion in the heart which causes us to feel sad for the women and
many other African American people. Sadly there are still protests against African Americans within
mainstream USA society which allows us to have a powerful voice to change. As regards the second poem
written by Atef Ayadi called The Catholic Women, there is a similarity between the two. The line in the poem
“Explain first, how you feel being a woman.” tells the reader how some people may feel different and
ashamed for being a Catholic woman. This then draws attention to the reader by planting an image of this in
the reader's head, through the line “How you feel being a woman” shining a light on women’s lives and how
many people are ashamed.

Following the last paragraph of the poem called The Catholic Women, the author Atef Ayadi can engage the
readers of this poem through the upbringing of many young Catholic Women along with many people
mocking many Catholic women for being Catholic. This is continued with many people in the 20th century
finding it funny and cool to mock many religions of Christ including Catholics. This poem The Catholic Women
uses various techniques that have a deep meaning which can stimulate an effect on the reader’s heart and
mind to stimulate change. These techniques are used throughout this meaningful poem, As in the lines “Your
face and hands move and protest your voice betrays your vocabulary” which symbolises having a voice
because of many people saying to many Catholic women that they are not Catholic Women. Within this
poem, there is a sense of empowerment and blessing. Which gives the reader a sense of an appreciation for
many women becoming Catholics. But within the poem there is a sense of a change in emotion in the line
“What does being Catholic, being a woman or being a Catholic woman mean?” This gives the reader a change
in emotion in the heart for what Catholic women have to hear. Sadly many people in this generation continue
to mock many Catholics and not just women.

By presenting the ideas of racism and mocking of a certain religion, through protest poetry. Many poets can
express change by engaging the heart and mind because many generations may have to live a very different
life to what the world used to be and that can be done through protest poetry.