Still I Rise

"Still I Rise" title (4 points)

1. Choice of word

2. Use of the word still shows that there are challenges and despite these she will 'rise'.

3. Use of the word 'rise' shows progress, resilience

4. has connotations of the phrase 'rise above' and being morally superior.

"You may" (2 points)

1. Direct address to the reader

2. The direct address has a confrontational tone, she is speaking to the white oppressor

"may" (2 points)

1. Modal verb

2. The writer uses a modal verb when referring to the white oppressor, showing that it is a choice on their part.

"you may" (part 2) (2 points)

1. starting lines 1 and 3 in the same way with the same phrases (anaphora)

2. This reiterates the power of the oppressor, repetition draws attention and emphasises.

"bitter, twisted lies" (3 points)

1. assonance

2. gives this line a feeling of attack and gives a feeling of a knife or stabbing.

3. The use of these brings to mind the damage and hurt caused by lies and malicious words

"I'll rise" (2 points)

1. Word choice, position

2. Placing at the end shows that despite what has gone on before she/black women will overcome; it has a defiant tone and is almost like a mantra.

"Does my sassiness upset you" (2 points)

1. Rhetorical question

2. Has an antagonistic and sarcastic tone, not needing reply.

"sassiness" (3 points)

1. vocab choice

2. sassiness shows bold confidence.

3. Sassiness is a word that had been used in an insulting way that she is re-claiming as a positive thing within the poem,

"Cause I walk like I've got oil wells" (3 points)

1. Simile

2. oil wells capitalism society symbolise wealth and power.

3. By saying she walks as if she has oil wells, she is saying that confidence is her wealth.

"Just like the moons and suns". "....tides" (2 points)

1. Similies

2. Uses similes and words connected to nature to bring to mind the idea of an unstoppable force or a force of nature to describe herself.

"still I rise" (not title) (2 points)

1. Repetition

2. Ending stanza in the same way as stanza 1 to emphasise and draw attention to the idea of defiance, resilience and overcoming whatever barriers are erected or created.

"broken" "Bowed head". "lowered eyes?" "Shoulders falling down like teardrops" "soulful cries" (3 points)

1. emotive description

2. Language use creates images of shame, sadness, weakness

3. this is how the white oppressors want the black community to feel.

"Did you want........?" (3 points)

1. Rhetorical questions

2. These have an accusatory tone, of what the white oppressors want to have done to the black community.

3. There is an edge to the tone saying that the black community will not be weak or shamed.

"Don't you take it awful hard" (3 points)

1. Use of mockery and sarcastic tone

2. The white oppressors want her/the black community to feel ashamed of being black.

3. She is mocking their reaction when the black community refuse to comply and have pride in being black

"Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines" (3 points)

1. Similie

2. Creates images of wealth and links this with laughter and happiness.

3. This symbolises the belief that happiness comes from within and again she is wealthy in regard to happiness.

listing and anaphora structure (2 points)

1. Listing and anaphora

2. List gives both the impression of a relentless pressure and emotional language that escalates (shoot, cut, kill)

"but still like air I'll rise" (3 points)

1. repetition

2. emphasising that they will not be held down, they will overcome, they will not give up.

3. Reference to nature with air.

"huts of history's shame" (3 points)

1. Sibilance and alliteration

2. Creates a hushed sound.

3. It is in reference slavery and how society has tried to brush that period of history under the carpet.

"I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide," (3 points)

1. Metaphor

2. Creates impression of wildness, freedom, strength.

3. Suggests the power comes from 'blackness' and is celebrating being black

"Welling and swelling" (3 points)

1. Internal rhyme

2. Creates an impression of internal motion and strength.

3. Symbolising black people being stronger, moving forward and changing things.

"Leaving behind nights of terror and fear". "Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear" (3 points)

1. Contrasting emotive language

2. There is a contrast between what was and what hopefully will be in the future.

3. This contrast represents hope.

"I am the dream and the hope of the slave" (2 points)

1. declarative sentence, emotive language

2. Embodiment of their wishes, shows hope for change and a better future and present.

"I rise" (3 points)

1. repetition, present tense

2. A persistent refrain that is crescendoing.

3. it symbolises continually progressing and the overcoming of a racist society.

Increasing line length in stanzas structure (3 points)

1. Shift in stanza length

2. refusal to conform to black stereotypes

3. refusal to give in is reflected in the refusal to stick with one stanza length