Still I Rise

Submitted to:

Ms. Nikki Robiego

Submitted by:

Jake Anthony M. Maala

Nicole D. Pansoy

Rex Demetrick S. Pelahiyao

Zac Lucas Angelo C. Postigo

Francesca Shamelle B. Ragasa

Rhael R. Romasanta

Mikaella Marie L. Samonte

Yvette Vera E. Samonte

Yvonne Mae E. Samonte

Marie Claire M. Yadao

"If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor."
(Tutu 1931) If you are the victim of oppression will you stand for yourself? Or will you live
in history's shame? Maya Angelou was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on April 4, 1928. Her
life was in a mess when her parents divorced when she was three, with her brother they
were transferred from one location to another. Including her grandmother's house. At the
age of eight she came back to St. Louis and her mother's boyfriend freeman, sexually
assaulted her. The Freeman just spent one day in jail, yet he was killed after his release.
Angelou became mute after the Freeman's murder, she thought that her voice had killed
Freeman to the point that she was speechless. In that difficult time of her life got
Angelou's passion for poetry and writing started to grow. "Still I rise" wrote by Maya
Angelou during 1970's when she develop into the human rights. This poem explores
themes of self-worth and assurance, it is highlighting resilience in overcoming
challenges. Maya Angelou did not live in history's shame instead she stands for herself.
She shows everyone that a black woman has a power. This poem "Still I rise" by Maya
Angelou manifest the formalism, moralism, feminism, readers response, and historical
literary approach. This poem discusses about inequality between blacks and whites in
Africa. She empowers her readers to rise and fights for their rights as a black woman.

FEMINISM

The fourth stanza shows a feminism because in this stanza it shows that everyone, even
the whole society want to see Maya Angelou in a weakened state, they do not like
seeing Maya Angelou's strength, freedom, they only want to oppress and silenced
Angelou, this stanza represents a discrimination against one’s identity and dignity. Also,
in the ninth stanza it shows that Maya Angelou is showing a transition from darkness
into the light, Maya Angelou is standing up against oppression and fighting back against
discrimination, this stanza also shows that no matter how many people discriminate,
oppress Maya Angelou, she will still stand up for her liberty and dignity. We also include
the seventh stanza, because this shows how she valued herself gender wise being a
female.

FORMALISM
In the line “But still Like dust I will rise" shows imagery, with the help of the word "dust"
Maya Angelou make her point the nobody can control the dust when the revolutionary
wind blows. "Does my sexiness upset you? Does it come as a surprise that I dance like
I've got diamonds at the meeting of my thighs?" Through this stanza, it symbolizes
womanhood that are prized for their beauty and grants it power no matter what society
say. " I rise" a repeated phrases in this poem that conveys the theme of resilience and
hope in the face of racial injustice.

MORALISM

The stanza "You may write me down in history / With your bitter, twisted lies, /You may
trod me in the very dirt / But still, like dust, I'll rise" highlights the importance of
embracing our individual experiences and abilities and the idea that we should rise
above fabrications and overcome criticism from others. Another moral that this poem
shows are that there is always a room for improvement, despite any obstacles that may
arise. "Does my sassiness upset you? / Why are you beset with gloom? / Cause I walk
like I’ve got oil wells / Pumping in my living room?" Through this stanza it implies that
Maya Angelou's self-improvement and resiliency are the outcome of her own efforts.
Finally, the line "I am the hope of the slave / I rise" emphasizes the significance of taking
personal responsibility, the capacity to surpass any difficulties, and the ability to succeed
without depending on others but by making their own choices and actions.

HISTORICAL

Still I Rise is written during the Post-Civil Rights Movement Era in the late 1970s,
Angelou have traveled abroad, were she witness many form of discrimination around the
world, this inspired her to write the poem Still I Rise, which aims to give voice to the
underprivileged and empower them to advocate for their rights. Discrimination still
happens today, we still see discrimination based on race, gender, religion, social status
and other factors, people continue to face unequal treatment. In addition, in the stanza
8th the writer talks about the past-the reason why she is oppressed and still connected
to the past.

READERS RESPONSE
The author makes us realize that be who really you are. If you are black, then be black.
If you are white, then be white. If you are a sassy, naughty, or anything then be it, show
to entire world that this is who you really are. Do not be ashamed who you really are, do
not listen to every people judge you, do not be afraid to show who you really are,
because your ancestors give it as a gift to you. And fight for what you stand for.
Moreover, it made me happy because it highlighted how despite being a woman, she
fought for what she wanted and proved that even in the face of harm to others, she did
not care if she got what she desired.

In the final analysis, this poem consists of Formalism, Feminism, Moralism, Historical
and readers response that inform everyone to rise even if everyone does not like you,
rise until everyone bow to you. This poem reminds us to be who we really are and what
we want to be. This poetry can be read by a child, therefore I hope she will be more
considerate about the words she uses and arrange them more appropriately. Like in
stanza two and stanza five, the words "sassiness" and "haughtiness" are not
immediately understood by children, and they will have a hard time understanding it until
someone told them the meaning.