Maya Angelous Imagery in Poetry - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 4 Words: 1248 Downloads: 7 Date added: 2019/10/30 Category People Essay Level High school Tags: Maya Angelou Essay Did you like this example? Maya Angelous Imagery in Poetry Maya Angelou, author of the poems Still I Rise and Phenomenal Woman, was not only a well-known poet, but was also an autobiographer, songwriter, playwright, dancer, singer, director, and a civil rights activist among other professions. Born in 1928 as Marguerite Johnson in St. Louis, Missouri, Angelou had a tough childhood growing up, dealing with many difficulties that would later impact her works of literature. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Maya Angelous Imagery in Poetry" essay for you Create order Angelou had a broad career but was famously known for her work I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1970) which depicts her early life (Wedin). However, that childhood trauma didnt stop her from finding strength and confidence to speak up about things that were important to her. Angelou was known to have written poems that depicted black beauty, the strength of women, and the human spirit; criticizing the Vietnam War; demanding social justice for all (Maya Angelou) among other things. In her later years, Angelou became a civil rights activist, fighting against social injustice and issues that affected many people. She performed an original poem for the presidential inauguration of Bill Clinton in 1993, On The Pulse of Morning (Wedin) that called for better future and greater things that can be accomplished together by everyone. In this clear social statement, Angelou showed her feeling towards social injustice of race, and gender. Phenomenal Woman and Still I Rise are prime examples of this. The poem Phenomenal Woman seeks to empower women, although they may not be the ideal woman in societys standards, they can still have confidence and strength in being themselves. On the other hand, the theme for Still I Rise is that no matter what anyone may do to the narrator, she will not be defeated but will rise against any oppression with confidence and self-respect. In both poems, Phenomenal Woman and Still I Rise, Angelou has inspirational themes to encourage others in their struggles. The quality of Maya Angelous poetry comes from imagery she uses to express confidence, self-empowerment, and streng th to overcome any obstacle. In Phenomenal Woman, Angelou uses imagery to empower women and explains that despite her not being societys image of beauty, she is not any less of a woman and keeps her head held high with confidence and power. Angelou starts the poem with Pretty women wonder where my secret lies./Im not cute or built to suit a fashion models size (Angelou 1-2), explaining that she is not societys standard of beauty. Many women can relate to this poem as societys standards of beauty increase and become more absurd. In each stanza Angelou uses imagery first to show her confidence and then to state what parts of her body shows her confidence and inner strength. In the second stanza as the narrator walks into a room just as cool as you please (Angelou 15) men start to stand and gather around her. Angelou uses imagery to describe the narrator, Its the fire in my eyes,/And the flash of my teeth,/ The swing in my waist,/And the joy in my feet. (Angelou 22-25). In this quote the image of a confident woman appears walking into a room proud and feeling good about who she is. The reader can then picture Angelous confidence and strength based on the images she uses. In this poem to womans beauty, the self-confident narrator reveals her attributes as a phenomenal woman (Bloom) playing on the dual meaning of phenomenal; physical and attitude-wise. The most memorable image in her poem occurs in the fourth stanza, I dont shout or jump about/ Or have to talk real loud./ when you see me passing,/ it ought to make you proud(Angelou 48-51). In this quote Angelou explains why she does not have her head bowed down; instead she is calm and confident in herself and does not need to attract the attention of others for people to look and wonder about her. Despites Angelous hard background, she does not lose her confidence and strength, knowing she has an inner beauty that cannot be seen or understood by other but herself. Angelou still hold her head high with self-respect and beauty despite all the obstacles society and men have put her way. In Still I Rise, Angelou uses imagery to depict the theme that no matter what happens nothing can bring her down and that she will rise against anything with confidence and self-respect. Angelou starts the poem with this quote, You may write me down in history/ with your bitter, twisted lies,/ you may trod me in the very dirt (Angelou 1-3), showing her confidence in rising despite what is done to her. As she continues, she asks the readers rhetorical questions that further her confidence and show just how she will not be defeated. The literary critic Jacqueline Thursby, in her article Critical Companion to Maya Angelou, states that the I of Black poetry is not a singular or individualistic referent but a symbol for the idea of a Black collective. Using this collective voice and imagery, Angelou reaches her readers and brings confidence even in an event of verbal or physical abuse and to continue even if this seems hopeless or not possible (Thursby).   The most memorable image in her poem occurs in the fourth stanza, Did you want to see me broken?/ Bowed head and lowered eyes? Shoulders falling down like teardrops,/ Weakened by my soulful cries?(Angelou 48-51). In this quote Angelou creates an image of someone defeated and asks her oppressors if this is image of her would be to their liking. Angelou paints the picture and adds the soulful cries that deepen this picture by adding an auditory layer so the audience can invoke an image and sound to this defeated scene. This powerful image is part of Angelous theme in not being defeated and that she will rise against her oppressors. Throughout the poem she is also mocking her oppressors into seeing how she cannot be defeat; this contributes to the theme of the poem, that nothing will break or bring her down and that continue with confidence and strength. This poem like Phenomenal Woman provides an inspirational emotion that can be appreciated by many though Still I Rise can relate to a broader audience both poems carry the important social messages that were important to Angelou. Angelou was not only a poet, but also an author, director, and a civil rights activist among other professions. She lived a harsh childhood and adulthood but despite this she became a beloved author finding strength and confidence to speak up about things that were important to her. She fought against social injustices affecting many people because of race or gender and called for a better future and for greater things that can be accomplished by everyone. Her poems Phenomenal Woman and Still I Rise are great examples of these social injustices and her stand on them. In Phenomenal Woman the poems theme is to empower women although they may not be the ideal woman in societys standards, they can still have confidence and strength in being themselves. On the other hand, the theme for Still I Rise is that no matter what anyone may do to the narrator, she will not be broken or brought down but will rise against all these obstacles with confidence and self-respect. In both poems Phenomenal Woman and Still I Rise, Angelou writes inspirational poems to encourage others in their struggles to find the strength and confidence to not be defeated.

The Contribution Of Ruskin Bond - 1499 Words

The contribution of Ruskin Bond to the cause of environment is noteworthy in that he raises many an ecological concern in his shorter fiction. His tales are elegies in prose which register his protest against the hazards to the environment caused by urbanization and industrialization. As an avowed protagonist of ecosystem, he voices anguish over the depletion of forests and of the natural resources and the relentless extinction of fauna and flora. According to M.H. Abrams, nature writing refers to ‘the intimate, realistic and detailed description in prose of the natural environment, rendered as it appears to the distinctive sensibility of the author’ (Abrams: 82). A classic example of this genre is Thoreau’s Walden. Ruskin Bond’s†¦show more content†¦Bond observes thus : And I would praise God for leaves and grass and the smell of things – the smell of mint and bruised clover – and the touch of things – the touch of grass and air and sky, the touch of the sky’s blueness (Bond:262) Nature nurtures and sustains him. He perceives a kind of serenity in nature which the civilized world lacks. He admits why he takes refuge in Mussoorie, â€Å"a little haven for wild life’ : I had lived in cities too long and had returned to the hills to renew myself, both physically and mentally. Once you have lived with mountains for any length of time, you belong to them, and must return again and again. (Bond:258) Bond’s love for the lower Himalayas is due to the fact that it resembles the English countryside. He remarks: I was beginning to feel that the place belonged to me, that dominion was mine (Bond:260). Ruskin Bond, like other Anglo-Indian writers is caught between the two worlds – one that rejected him (the British) and the other which views him with apprehension (the post-Independence India). Relegated to the periphery of Indian milieu, Bond opts for nature. Thus Bond’s affinity with nature is an existential imperative. Nature accepts him unconditionally: As I had not come to take anything from the forest, the birds and animals soon grew accustomed to my presence; or possibly they recognised my footsteps (Bond: 259). In â€Å"TheShow MoreRelatedRepresentation Of The Feminine Of Select Ghost Stories Of Ruskin Bond1552 Words   |  7 Pagesof the Feminine in Select Ghost Stories of Ruskin Bond Ruskin Bond is one of those rare authors whose writings have been loved and accepted by readers of all ages and groups. His depiction of small town life in India and of ordinary individuals struggling to make their lives and dreams worthwhile has an almost undeniable sense of appeal and beauty. 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Children with autism look physically normal however they display a series of behaviours that are autism related (Brill, 2008); doctors usually identify autism by looking at a variety of signs that point to the condition andRead MoreRecent Developments in the Professionalisation of Teaching Have Emphasised the Importance of Values. in the Light of Your Own Experience Examine the Extent to Which Personal Values Support or Conflict with Professional Objectives.3235 Words   |  13 Pagesof ignori ng a teacher who is passionate about teaching and caring about student learning. To try and comprehend we need to look back at post-compulsory education history. In 1976 the then Labour Prime Minister, James Callaghan, made a speech at Ruskin College, Oxford that became know as ‘Towards a national debate’. 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If you want a sneak preview, there re excerpts from the guide books by renowned authors, including the likes of Prabhu Ghate, Ruskin Bond and Jug Suraiya. outlookmoney.com: outlookmoney.com takes forward the philosophy and beliefs ushered in by Intelligent Investor (the personal finance magazine that was launched in mid-1998, now known as Outlook Money). The site has six channelsRead MoreExample of Product Strategy13854 Words   |  56 Pageswith the Companys Tribeni Tissues Division to form the Paperboards Specialty Papers Division. ITCs paperboards technology, productivity, quality and manufacturing processes are comparable to the best in the world. It has also made an immense contribution to the development of Sarapaka, an economically backward area in the state of Andhra Pradesh. It is directly involved in education, environmental protection and community development. In 2004, ITC acquired the paperboard manufacturing facility

Well Done Is Better Than Well Said (by Moshood) Free Essays

Well done is better than well said Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, panel of judges co-debaters’ and my fellow audience a salaam alaykun. It gives me a great pleasure to speak for the motion quoted well done is better than well said. Well done is better than well said; says who, this is a famous quote of the popular old printer Benjamin Franklin. We will write a custom essay sample on Well Done Is Better Than Well Said (by Moshood) or any similar topic only for you Order Now I strongly belief in the saying action speaks louder than voice I don’t believe in words I believe in action, do you believe in words?!!! We have been living in a world of unfulfilled promises, a world where liberty only lies in words, have we not heard enough of the sweet coated words of our governments and president, how long are we going to remain in this? , there are billions of promises yet to be fulfilled by our leaders, if we had known that their words were nothing we would not have voted for them!!! How much do you all trust your political leaders, whose sugar coated has no meaning save empty and pseudo promises. The government promises peace but yet killing of men is like that of killing chickens, the death rate has is on the rise and the burial ground keeps receiving visitors, well its so sad to know that words are easily said, forgotten and betrayed but actions are not. What would you say about the rising rate of unemployment, can you count the times government have promised employment opportunities, well don’t be surprised because words however sweet and pleasant will remain word if not accompanied with action. We need action to change the bearing of this country, we are potentially endowed yet the words of our leaders play little to bring us to the share of progress. Honorable judges, People easily speak about what they can’t do, why cant men let their action speak for them, wise men don’t speak their action speaks for them, because action removes the doubt that theory cannot solve. Coming down the stairs to our social lives; deceit, betrayal and lies has become a day to day activity, the three words â€Å"I LOVE YOU â€Å"has ended up many homes hopeless , unhappy and has even lead to so many torn homes , he claims to love her but never show care, he claims to love her but have no time for her, he deceived her with the words â€Å"I LOVE YOU â€Å" only to make her suffer and unhappy, he betrayed her trust in his words, he made her wish she knew the devil inside him but no, she only saw his sweet coated words initially, now she knows that its not what we say that shows who we really are, but rather what we do. Daddy tells me a thousands time I love you but has always been busy in is office and has no time to spend with me, no time to share problems together, no time to tell me stories and teach me about moral values. Would you prefer a thousand words to a good deed? I would rather stick to a good deed rather than a thousand words. Let me remind you of the fact that winners have program but losers have excuse, why should one preach what one can not do, doing something well is more powerful and effective than saying it well, all talk no action makes someone a boastful idiot that tries to build the skyscraper with his or her mouth. How to cite Well Done Is Better Than Well Said (by Moshood), Papers

Acid Rain (1631 words) Essay Example For Students

Acid Rain (1631 words) Essay Acid RainWhat Causes Acid Rain? One of the main causes of acid rain is sulfur dioxide. Natural sources, which emit this gas, are Volcanoes, sea spray, rottingvegetation and plankton. However, the burning of fossil fuels, such as Coal andoil, are largely to be blamed for approximately half of the emissions of thisgas in the world. When sulfur dioxide reaches the atmosphere, it oxidizes tofirst form a sulfate ion. It then Becomes sulfuric acid as it joins withhydrogen atoms in the air and falls back down to earth. Oxidation occurs themost in clouds and especially in heavily polluted air where other compounds suchas ammonia and ozone help to catalyze the reaction, changing more sulfur dioxideto sulfuric acid. However, not all of the sulphur dioxide is changed to sulfuricacid. In fact, a substantial amount can float up into the atmosphere, move overto another area and return to earth unconverted. In the following pages I willshow the effects of acid rain on: ? Effect on Trees and Soils ? Effect onLakes and Aquatic Systems ? Effect on Materials ? Effect on Atmosphere ?Effec t on Architecture ? Effect on Humans Effect on Trees and Soils One of themost serious impacts of acid precipitation is on forests and soils. Great damageis done when sulfuric acid falls onto the earth as rain. Nutrients present inthe soils are washed away. Aluminium also present in the soil is freed and theroots of trees can absorb this toxic element. Thus, the trees are starved todeath as they are deprived of their vital nutrients such as calcium andmagnesium. Not all of the sulphur dioxide is converted to sulfuric acid. Infact, a substantial amount can float into the atmosphere, move over to anotherarea and return to the soils unconverted. As this gas returns back to earth, itclogs up the stomata in the leaves, thus hindering photosynthesis. Research hasbeen made where red spruce seedlings were sprayed with different combinations ofsulfuric and nitric acid of pH ranging from 2.5 to 4.5. The needles of theseseedlings were observed to develop brown lesions. Eventually, the needles f alloff. It was also found that new needles grew more slowly at higherconcentrations of acid used. Because the rate at which the needles were fallingwas greater than the rate at which they were replenished, photosynthesis wasgreatly affected, The actual way in which these needles were killed is still notyet known. However, studies have shown that calcium and magnesium nutrients arewashed away from their binding sites when sulfuric acid enters the system. Theyare replaced by useless hydrogen atoms and this inhibits photosynthesis. Effecton Lakes and Aquatic Systems One of the direct effects of acid rain is on lakesand its aquatic ecosystems. There are several routes through which acidicchemicals can enter the lakes. Some chemical substances exist as dry particlesin the air while others enter the lakes as wet particles such as rain, snow,sleet, hail, dew or fog. In addition, lakes can almost be thought of as thesinks of the earth, where rain that falls on land is drained throughthe sew age systems eventually make their way into the lakes. Acid rain thatfalls onto the earth washes off the nutrients out of the soil and carries toxicmetals that have been released from the soil into the lakes. Another harmful wayin which acids can enter the lakes is spring acid shock. When snow melts inspring rapidly due to a sudden temperature change, the acids and chemicals inthe snow are released into the soils. The melted snow then runs off to streamsand rivers, and gradually make their way into the lakes. The introduction ofthese acids and chemicals into the lakes causes a sudden drastic change in thepH of the lakes hence the term spring acid shock. The aquaticecosystem has no time to adjust to the sudden change. In addition, springtime isan especially vulnerable time for many aquatic species since this is the timefor reproduction for amphibians, fish and insects. Many of these species laytheir eggs in the water to hatch. The sudden pH change is dangerous because theacids can ca use serious deformities in their young or even annihilate the wholespecies since the young of many of such species spend a significant part oftheir life cycle in the water. Subsequently, sulfuric acid in water can affectthe fish in the lakes in two ways: directly and indirectly. Sulfuric acid(H2SO4) directly interferes with the fishs ability to take in oxygen, salt andnutrients needed to stay alive. For freshwater fish, maintaining osmoregulationis key in their survival. Osmoregulation is the process of maintaining thedelicate balance of salts and minerals in their tissues. Acid molecules in thewater cause mucus to form in their gills and this prevents the fish to absorboxygen as well. If the buildup of mucus increases, the fish would suffocate. Inaddition, a low pH will throw off the balance of salts in the fish tissue. Saltslevels such as the calcium (Ca+2) levels of some fish cannot be maintained dueto pH change. This results in poor reproduction their eggs produced would bedama ged; they are either too brittle or too weak. Decreased Ca+2 levels alsoresult in weak spines and deformities. For example, crayfish need Ca+2 tomaintain a healthy exoskeleton; low Ca+2 levels would mean a weak exoskeleton. The Samurai: Warrior and Ruler of Ancient Japan EssayBibliographyElliott, Thomas C., and Robert G. Schwieger (Editors). The Acid RainSourcebook. New York: McGraw-Hill, Inc., 1984. Bown, William. Europesforests fall to acid rain. New Scientist. Vol. 127. August 11, 1990. p. 17Calvert, Jack G.(Editor) SO2, NO and NO2 Oxidation Mechanisms: AtmosphericConsiderations Acid Rain Precipitation Series, Volume 3. Toronto:Butterworth Publishers, 1984.