Maya Angelou's Poetry

African-American Studies
English > Analysis
Literature > American
Literature > Poetry

An analysis of the poetry of Maya Angelou, taking specific poems into consideration as well known representatives of her work such as "Still I Rise," "On the Pulse of the Morning," "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings," and "Phenomenal Woman".

2,253 words () | 5 sources | APA | 2005 United States

Paper Summary:

This report looks at issues of fact and fiction in Angelou's poems and sees where this poetry relates to her own biographically recorded experience and where it differs, in terms of questions of how
literature reflects reality and how reality works to craft and shape the process of creating literature.

From the Paper:

"One of the main realities that is displayed by Angelou in her poems is the theme of transcendence of the individual over difficult and adverse circumstances. As will be explored in attention to biographical details from the author's life, and especially her early life growing up in the racist south of the early to mid twentieth century, Angelou
naturally met with a lot of difficulty and adversity that others in different circumstances did not have to worry about. And in many ways her struggle to overcome these circumstances and still find a positive path forward with her life is something that is strongly reflected in her work, particularly in her poetry, which often involves themes of
transcendence. Transcendence is defined as the ability to rise above obstacles and hindrances that fate and circumstance may put in one's path, and still find a positive way to move forward spiritually and intellectually."