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Analyzing Maya Angelou's Poems

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Jianellie Manalastas
Dr. Serafin Roldan
ENC 1102
28 Feb. 2015
Comparative/Critical Essay Using Elements of Poetry Although she passed in late May of 2014, Maya Angelou’s poems will continue to live in the hearts of many. Ms. Angelou is considered to be one of America’s greatest poets because of her phenomenal work. One, however, really does not understand the depths of her writings until they research Angelou and discover the extraordinary woman she really was. Upon researching the life of Angelou, I learned that not only was she a writer but she was also a dancer, singer, actress, composer, activist, and a mother (Contemporary Authors Online).
Even though Angelou had many accomplishments, she first had to overcome a difficult childhood of …show more content…

Each poem has a dominant figurative language that the reader may pick up as they read the literatures. According to Clark, authors frequently develop mental pictures through the use of symbolism (Clark). In “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” for example, one can automatically perceive that Angelou utilized symbolism. Other than the birds representing the human race, both the sky and the fat worms symbolize the endless opportunities freedom can bring. The “bars of rage”, clipped wings, and tied feet, however, are all restraints of what keeps the second bird from discovering what the world has to offer. Just as we cry out for help or attention when we feel trapped, the caged bird sings so that others can hear it, far and wide. Moreover, in “Still I Rise,” she mainly included similes and metaphors in almost every stanza. “I am a black ocean,” says Angelou. Throughout the whole poem, this is her most influential line and it happens to be her thesis statement. An ocean is commonly acknowledged for its immensity and powerful waves. In this metaphor, she is referring to her own strong and sassy personality. This sets the tone for the whole poem, which enables the reader to sense the strength of Angelou’s persistent character. Lastly, when reading “Phenomenal Woman”, she employs hyperbole when she describes how men react to her presence. Her inner-beauty either makes the men stand or fall down on their knees and it causes them to swarm around her like a “hive of honeybees.” This emphasizes how much her “inner mystery” attracts those around her. Her “inner mystery” is another example of a hyperbole, because of the fact that men and women wonder what makes her so alluring. No one can seem to figure out that her physical attributes have nothing to do with it. Angelou’s secret is simple: Her inner mystery is her inner beauty. No one can comprehend this, even when she’s attempted to explain because it

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