Rising Above Poetry Analysis with Maya Angelou

Rising Above Poetry Analysis with Maya Angelou

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson you should be able to apply your understanding of poetry terms and analysis to the poem: And Still I rise by Maya Angelou.

Introduce the learning objective of the lesson.

What do you already know about analyzing poetry?

What is a sonnet?

1. A 16-line poem with no meter
2. A 10-line poem with a specific rhyme scheme
3. A 14-line poem with a specific rhyme scheme
4. A 12-line poem with no rhyme scheme

What is alliteration?

1. Repetition of initial consonant sounds
2. Repetition of entire words
3. Repetition of final consonant sounds
4. Repetition of vowel sounds

What is a metaphor?

1. A comparison between two like things using 'as'
2. A statement that contradicts itself
3. A comparison between two unlike things without using 'like' or 'as'
4. A comparison between two unlike things using 'like'

What is personification?

1. Giving animal characteristics to inanimate objects
2. Giving non-human characteristics to human things
3. Giving human characteristics to non-human things
4. Giving human characteristics to other humans

What is a simile?

1. A comparison between two like things without using 'like' or 'as'
2. A statement that contradicts itself
3. A comparison between two unrelated things
4. A comparison between two unlike things using 'like' or 'as'

Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou was an American poet, memoirist, and civil rights activist. She is best known for her series of seven autobiographies, which focus on her childhood and early adult experiences.

Introduce the poet and her importance in the literary world.

And Still I Rise

And Still I Rise is a poem by Maya Angelou, published in 1978. It is one of her most famous and empowering poems, celebrating the strength and resilience of African Americans throughout history.

Introduce the poem and its significance.

Title Analysis

The title of the poem, And Still I Rise, suggests that the speaker has overcome adversity and is still rising above it. This sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which celebrates strength and resilience.

Explain the significance of the poem's title.

Rhyme Scheme

And Still I Rise has an irregular rhyme scheme, with occasional end rhymes throughout the poem. This adds to the poem's conversational tone and emphasizes its message of empowerment.

Explain the rhyme scheme and its effect on the poem.

Repetition

The poem repeats the refrain 'I rise' throughout, emphasizing the speaker's resilience and determination to overcome obstacles.

Discuss the repetition in the poem and its effect on the reader.

Imagery

And Still I Rise is full of vivid imagery, such as 'I am a black ocean, leaping and wide,' and 'I am the dream and the hope of the slave.' This imagery serves to inspire and empower readers.

Discuss the use of imagery in the poem and its effect on the reader.

Allusion

The poem alludes to historical events and figures, such as slavery and the Civil Rights Movement, to emphasize the strength and resilience of African Americans.

Discuss the use of allusion in the poem and its effect on the reader.

Metaphors

The poem uses metaphors, such as 'I am a black ocean' and 'I am the sun,' to emphasize the speaker's strength and power.

Discuss the use of metaphors in the poem and their effect on the reader.

Symbolism

The poem uses symbolism, such as the rising sun and the moon, to emphasize the speaker's resilience and determination to overcome obstacles.

Discuss the use of symbolism in the poem and its effect on the reader.

Tone

The poem has a defiant and empowering tone, celebrating the strength and resilience of African Americans throughout history.

Discuss the tone of the poem and its effect on the reader.

Message

The message of the poem is that no matter what obstacles we face, we can rise above them with strength and resilience.

Summarize the message of the poem and its impact on the reader.

Analyzing the Poem

Now that we have analyzed the poem, let's try analyzing it in more detail. Look for examples of imagery, metaphor, and allusion in the poem.

Provide students with an opportunity to analyze the poem in more detail.

Discussing the Poem

What did you think of the poem? How did it make you feel? Did you find any particular parts of the poem inspiring or empowering?

Facilitate a discussion about the poem and its impact on the students.

Reflecting on Poetry Analysis

What did you learn about analyzing poetry from this lesson? How can you apply these skills to other poems?

Encourage students to reflect on what they have learned and how they can apply it in the future.

Assessment

Write a short analysis of And Still I Rise, using examples of imagery, metaphor, and allusion from the poem.

Assess students' understanding of the poem and their ability to analyze it.

Further Reading

If you enjoyed And Still I Rise, you might also enjoy reading other works by Maya Angelou, such as I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings or Phenomenal Woman.

Provide students with additional reading suggestions to further their engagement with poetry.

Resources

Here are some resources for further learning about poetry analysis: (list resources here)

Provide students with additional resources for learning about poetry analysis.

Thank You

Thank you for joining us in this lesson on poetry analysis and Maya Angelou's And Still I Rise.

Wrap up the lesson and thank students for their participation.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.