Biography-Born April 4th,1928 in St.Louis.Maya Angelou is a great poet, novelist, educator, dramatist, producer, actress, historian, filmmaker, and civil rights activist. Maya is the daughter of Bailey and Vivian Baxter Johnson and grew up with one brother. Mayas original name is Margarette Johnson.
Writer's Style-
In her peoms she tells stories. Mostly stories of her life that most likely will relate to others.Her vocabulary is easy to understand for a person of a higher reading level. Its also important that some of her poems be read by an older audience because of what she says. She's a very honest and open woman as you can see if you read most of her poetry.She's an emotional person , that is very inspirational.
_Favorite Poem_
Still I Rise
You may write me down in history With your bitter, twisted lies, You may trod me in the very dirt But still, like dust, I'll rise. Does my sassiness upset you? Why are you beset with gloom? 'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells Pumping in my living room.
Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides, Just like hopes springing high, Still I'll rise. Did you want to see me broken? Bowed head and lowered eyes? Shoulders falling down like teardrops, Weakened by my soulful cries? Does my haughtiness offend you? Don't you take it awful hard 'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines Diggin' in my own backyard. You may shoot me with your words, You may cut me with your eyes, You may kill me with your hatefulness, But still, like air, I'll rise. Does my sexiness upset you? Does it come as a surprise That I dance like I've got diamonds At the meeting of my thighs? Out of the huts of history's shame I rise Up from a past that's rooted in pain I rise I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide, Welling and swelling I bear in the tide. Leaving behind nights of terror and fear I rise Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear I rise Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave. I rise I rise I rise. In Maya Angelou's poem " Still I Rise" she is saying no matter how much people say nothing can bring her down, and she remains strong. This poem is a very strong poem and I highly relate to it thats why I chose to do this poem. In the poem Maya uses similies. repetition, rhyme and imagery.
Maya Angelou -
Biography-Born April 4th,1928 in St.Louis.Maya Angelou is a great poet, novelist, educator, dramatist, producer, actress, historian, filmmaker, and civil rights activist. Maya is the daughter of Bailey and Vivian Baxter Johnson and grew up with one brother. Mayas original name is Margarette Johnson.
Writer's Style-
In her peoms she tells stories. Mostly stories of her life that most likely will relate to others.Her vocabulary is easy to understand for a person of a higher reading level. Its also important that some of her poems be read by an older audience because of what she says. She's a very honest and open woman as you can see if you read most of her poetry.She's an emotional person , that is very inspirational._Favorite Poem_
Still I Rise
You may write me down in historyWith your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise.
Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.
Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I'll rise.
Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops,
Weakened by my soulful cries?
Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don't you take it awful hard
'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines
Diggin' in my own backyard.
You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I'll rise.
Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I've got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?
Out of the huts of history's shame
I rise
Up from a past that's rooted in pain
I rise
I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.
In Maya Angelou's poem " Still I Rise" she is saying no matter how much people say nothing can bring her down, and she remains strong. This poem is a very strong poem and I highly relate to it thats why I chose to do this poem. In the poem Maya uses similies. repetition, rhyme and imagery.