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And Still I Rise

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'And Still I Rise' by Maya Angelou is a collection of powerful poems that celebrate life, pride, love, struggles, and success. The poems focus on themes of uplifting oneself regardless of the situation, with a strong emphasis on empowerment and resilience. Maya Angelou's writing style is described as vivid, graceful, and emotionally impactful, touching on topics such as sexuality, gender, race, and poverty in a clear and vibrant manner.

Characters:

The characters represent broader identities, reflecting strength, struggle, and resilience.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is vibrant and lyrical, combining both traditional rhymes and free verse.

Plot/Storyline:

The central themes focus on resilience and empowerment, particularly reflecting the experiences of black women.

Setting:

The setting is metaphorical, deeply embedded in personal and socio-historical contexts.

Pacing:

The pacing of the collection is varied, balancing between concise emotional expressions and more expansive reflections.
Pretty women wonder where my secret lies. I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size But when I start to tell them, They think I’m telling lies. I say, It’s in the reach of my arms, The span...

Notes:

Maya Angelou recorded the audio for her poetry, adding a personal touch to the experience.
Some poems in the collection were not included in the audio version, leading to curiosity about changes over time.
Many readers feel inspired and gain wisdom from Angelou's work, often reflecting on personal experiences.
The anniversary of Maya Angelou's passing is May 28, which evokes strong emotions in her readers and fans.
Readers appreciate the powerful themes of race, gender, and personal struggle in her poetry.
Angela's poetry is known for its vivid language and emotional depth, making it accessible even to those who don't usually read poetry.
Listening to Angelou read her own poems enhances the emotional impact and richness of her work.
The poem 'Still I Rise' resonates deeply with readers, representing resilience and strength.
The poems are often described as uplifting, focusing on overcoming difficulties and celebrating life.
Many readers express a desire to read more of Angelou's works after experiencing her poetry.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings for the collection include discussions of racial issues, historical pain, and personal struggles which may be sensitive for some readers.

From The Publisher:

Maya Angelou's unforgettable collection of poetry lends its name to the documentary film about her life, And Still I Rise, as seen on PBS's American Masters.

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.

I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size

But when I start to tell them,

They think I'm telling lies.

I say,

It's in the reach of my arms,

The span of my hips,

The stride of my step,

The curl of my lips.

I'm a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That's me.

Thus begins "Phenomenal Woman," just one of the beloved poems collected here in Maya Angelou's third book of verse. These poems are powerful, distinctive, and fresh-and, as always, full of the lifting rhythms of love and remembering. And Still I Rise is written from the heart, a celebration of life as only Maya Angelou has discovered it.

"It is true poetry she is writing," M.F.K. Fisher has observed, "not just rhythm, the beat, rhymes. I find it very moving and at times beautiful. It has an innate purity about it, unquenchable dignity. . . . It is astounding, flabbergasting, to recognize it, in all the words I read every day and night . . . it gives me heart, to hear so clearly the caged bird singing and to understand her notes."

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About the Author:

Maya Angelou was raised in Stamps, Arkansas. In addition to her bestselling autobiographies, including I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings and The Heart of a Woman, she wrote numerous volumes of poetry, among them Phenomenal Woman, And Still I Rise, On the Pulse of Morning, and Mother. Maya Angelou died in 2014.

 
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