Maya Angelou: Interpretation of Poetry

Maya Angelou Dr. Maya Angelou, innate(p) April 24, 1928, was a phenomenal poet, memoirist, novelist, educator, dramatist, producer, actress, historian, filmmaker, and civil rights militant known as one of the superior voices of renaissance. She experienced harsh racial distinction passim her lifetime, and moreover in the middle of her trials she never loses self-respect or confidence. by her powerful delivery of words she dually embodies her enthralling soulality and demeanor. Alto micturateher, her works are representations of who she is and what she be falsehoodves in.Sandra Cookson is the infor human extendt of an article featured in man sort Literature Today, published by the University of Oklahoma, who does a wonderful job of illuminating Angelous impactful messages that lie within her song Still I pilfer. In addition, Kelly Holland Cecil, a learner who attended University of North Carolina in 1998, conducted a thorough compendium on numerous of Angelous Poems. C ecil provides a door of under stand up as she analytically goes into depth on explaining Dr. Angelous poetry, phenomenal Woman.Through careful study and analysis of Angelous poetry followed by question obtained from research an understanding of who she was and the message she was trying to get across may be developed. To fetch with, Angelou believes that being phenomenal does not puzzle from the beauty that is authoritative from others unless from ones substantial uniqueness. The persona in phenomenal Woman, portrays a strong, high-minded charwoman of modesty and humility which is un questionedly Angelou. She displays this in the beginning(a) agate take in of the poem, when she says Pretty women wonder where my secret lies. The attendant purposely separates herself from the in-crowd, which in this case is charming women. Thus, suggesting that she does not even consider herself as attractive. Then, in line 2 she reassures the meeter of her disposition when she writ es Im not cute or built to suit a means models size. afterwards initially reading these first two lines, it is possible for them to be fictitious for insecurities, but as one reads further, it is sop up that Angelou is not ashamed of her individuality but indeed exuberantly modest.Its in the generate of my arms The span of my hips, The stride of my step, The attract of my lips. Im a woman phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, Thats me. After reading the lines above, there is no doubt that the she does not view herself as a woman with model beauty, but, in her perspective, a phenomenal woman. Looking at lines 1-4 above, quite a than the traditional looks that are generally accepted from men of female models, she illuminates the less marked features of her body that make her unique in a special way.Although an exact identification number was unmentioned, she specifically refers to her height in line 3 above. Angelou was an imposing woman standing at about six feet tall(Cecil 1998 ). This is yet another display of Angelous feature proving that she is proud of the physical features she has that make her inimitable. Furthermore, the Angelou uses repetition which gibe to Cecil helps give the poem a pass and makes it seem more familiar and lyrical. The person repeats the following lines at the end of all(prenominal) stanza Im a woman Phenomenally Phenomenal womanThats me. Due to Angelous history of musicality she incorporates this expression of repetition skilful as a hook or chorus to a song. She does in such a personal manner that almost postures the auditor to say it with her and in conclusion acknowledge that she is not a bewitching woman, but a phenomenal woman/ phenomenally. According to Cecil, This may have been influenced by her career as a dancer and as a Broadway actress. Furthermore, Cookson quotes that, The musical currents of blues and jazz, the rhythm of beg songs, and the language of the Bible mingle in her poems. Through the creativity of similes and imagery in Angelous poem Still I Rise she is able to paint a cast of herself that reveals her as a strong woman of color by displaying her level of purpose and perseverance to overcome racial secretion. In the first stanza of this particular poem, she has an attitude that exemplifies her unregenerate character as she refers to the m both things that she has encountered throughout her lifetime. In line 4 of the poem she declares that despite her circumstance still bid the dust of the ground she shall nurture.Thus, proving statements made by Cookson when she writes The language of the bible mingle in her poems. Biblically speaking, God made mankind through the dust of the ground, so in warmness Angelou is using imagery to show that just as God made man rise from dust, no matter what force is against her she can still rise up and be triumphant. By taking the lyrics of Angelous poem into consideration, one may notice that she expresses herself in a way that corr esponds to the harsh discrimination she endured.In the words of Cookson, Still I rise is a poem about the excerption of black women despite every kind of humiliation America has subjected them since the days of thrall(800). With this statement in mind, there should be no question of the auditor in her poem, as it seems to be the predominating white race in America. In the following lines Angelou reveals her effect to tolerate discrimination You may wink me with your words, You may cut me with your eyes, You may toss off me with your hatefulness, But still, like air, Ill rise.Angelous takes this as an chance to convey her feelings towards the discrimination She has endured. In the above stanza, she illuminates that she has been hated on, looked down upon, and utter to harshly because of her color. But, she doesnt allow herself to be lowly by the circumstances she gifts. In any event, she rises. By venting on Angelous poetry analytically, one can see that her character symbol izes a woman who is strong, tolerant, modest, and perseverant in the face of adversity. In her poem Still I Rise she goes on to say I am the dream and the hope of the buckle down.This is Angelou bold stating that where others have failed, she has prospered because of her perseverance and lading to herself to be who she is&8212A Phenomenal Woman, Phenomenally. Works Cited Cecil, Kelly Holland. Maya Angelou -1928. 1998. 20 4 2012 <http//www. uncp. edu/ mob/canada/work/canam/angelou. htm>. Cookson, Sandra. World Literature Today. Vol. Vol. 69. declivity World Literature Today, 1995. Penguin Creative. Dr. Maya Angelou, The Official Website . 2012 . <http//mayaangelou. com/bio/>.