Still I Rise (Edexcel IGCSE English Language A)

Revision Note

Written by: Deb Orrock

Reviewed by: Kate Lee

‘Still I Rise’ Analysis

Students studying the Pearson Edexcel IGCSE English Language A qualification will study all of the English language poetry and prose texts in Part 2 of the Anthology for Paper 2 or for the coursework option (Paper 3). Students taking the full examination route will be asked to analyse one of the poems or prose texts, which will be included on the question paper. You will have one question to answer about one of these texts in the exam, and you will be asked to analyse how writers use language and structure to achieve effects.

The following guide to ‘Still I Rise’ by Maya Angelou contains:

‘Still I Rise’ overview
‘Still I Rise’ summary
Themes, ideas and perspectives in ‘Still I Rise’
How does Angelou present her ideas and perspectives?

‘Still I Rise’ overview

Maya Angelou was an American author, poet, actress, screenwriter and civil rights activist. This poem is taken from a 1978 collection of poetry entitled And Still I Rise which explores themes of confidence, strength, resilience and the courage of Black women. It can also be read as a critique of racism and how marginalised people respond with dignity in the face of oppression.

‘Still I Rise’ summary

The speaker addresses an undefined audience challenging the fact that, even though “they” have the power to shape how history remembers them, they will still rise above it all like dust rises from the ground. The speaker then asks the listener a series of rhetorical questions, such as whether her confident attitude offends them and why they are so miserable. The speaker suggests it is the confident way she walks, and as she is like the sun and the moon, she will always keep rising above hurtful words, deeds and hatred.

The speaker suggests that the listener wants to see her crushed and broken, but although they may attack her with words, or the way they look at her, she will continue to rise. She will rise out of the shame of slavery and a painful past, leaving behind the terror and fear and rise up to honour her ancestors’ legacy.

Themes, ideas and perspectives in ‘Still I Rise’

Paper 2, Question 1 will ask you how the writer has presented a certain theme, idea or perspective in the text, with a focus on analysing the language and structure the writer has used in order to convey this theme, idea or perspective. You are expected to support your answer with close reference to the text, including brief quotations.

What are the key themes in ‘Still I Rise’?

Theme	Analysis
Oppression and defiance	Angelou implies that the speaker of the poem is a Black woman: It therefore presents the bold defiance of the speaker in the face of racism and oppression, both current and historical
	The “oppressor” is referred to throughout the poem as “you” and is directly addressed: However, despite all of the methods the oppressor might use to destroy her in mind and body, she remains defiant
	The primary message in the poem is that society continually tries to humiliate and destroy marginalised people: But the dignity the speaker shows in the face of these attempts speaks not only to Black women, but to all people facing oppression The message can be applied to anybody in a circumstance in which they refuse to be broken by prejudice and hatred
	Living life to the fullest, with love, joy, pride and dignity is in itself an act of resistance against hatred and discrimination and the embodiment of triumph over oppression: This is a message that is still relevant today, as prejudice, discrimination and hatred against individuals or groups in society still exists The poem expresses hope that one day these things can be overcome Angelou therefore speaks not only for herself, but for her entire race and gender, and for anyone facing similar oppression
Power and beauty	The speaker in this poem can be seen as symbolic of the Black community as a whole, but also as a celebration of Black womanhood’s power and beauty: The poem implies that Black women’s bodies and lives are perceived as less worthy than others
	The speaker compares herself to symbols of wealth and value, such as gold mines and diamonds: The speaker therefore assigns high value to her body and gives it power and beauty, regardless of what society dictates Her strength comes from her identity as a woman of colour

How does Angelou present her ideas and perspectives?

Maya Angelou uses a variety of language and structural techniques to present her ideas and perspectives.

Technique	Analysis
Title	The poem’s title is an emphatic declaration against the oppressors who try to dominate and suppress the speaker: The speaker in this poem represents the Black community as a whole
Form	Angelou deliberately changes the stanza length as the poem progresses: The poem therefore subverts the reader’s expectations of form just like her speaker subverts her oppressor’s expectations She further subverts expectations with shifts in rhyme scheme The poem can also be considered an ode to oppressed Black womanhood: The speaker celebrates Black women in mind, body and soul
Symbolism	Angelou uses symbols of wealth and things desired by society to indicate the inherent worth and value of her speaker: She references her speaker’s sexuality to assert that her speaker is just as capable of being loved and desired as anyone else The poet also refers to the ocean as a symbol of a powerful force of nature: It therefore represents the speaker’s power as a force of its own which cannot be controlled by others, just as the ocean cannot be controlled by humanity
Metaphor	Metaphor is used to express the things the oppressor may do to harm the speaker: For example: “You may shoot me with your words” The use of “shoot”, “cut” and “kill” reinforce the pain caused by racism and prejudice The guilty and shameful memory of slavery is also alluded to in the metaphor “the huts of history’s shame”: Again, the speaker will rise out of these “huts of history’s shame”
Rhetorical question	The speaker asks a series of rhetorical questions to make a point: She does not expect the oppressor to answer Instead, she answers with a challenge to society’s expectations This technique also serves to acknowledge those expectations while simultaneously rejecting them
Repetition	The repetition of “Still I rise” emphasises its importance at the heart of the poem: It becomes a defiant refrain that underscores the speaker’s strength and resilience The triple repetition of this phrase at the end of the poem turns the message of defiance from an individual one to a collective one
Parallelism	The repetition of similar wording or phrasing establishes the coordination of key ideas and brings a sense of order to the poem: For example: “Just like moon and like suns,/With the certainty of tides,/Just like hopes springing high,/Still I’ll rise.” The order given to the ideas gives the speaker reliability and the listener confidence that she has the resilience to rise above oppression
Imagery	The image of “dust” rising from the earth could be considered a Biblical reference, as out of “dust” humans were made and to dust our bodies return when we die The speaker’s physical, mental and spiritual power are also conveyed by her comparison to “oil wells” and the fact that she dances like she’s “got diamonds/At the meeting of my thighs?”