Oppression. Empowerment. Growth. Change. What do these four things have in common? While the poems “Still I Rise” and “Unwelcome” contain noticeable differences in style and tone, they share similarities in them and sound.
In literature, writers tend to use tone to paint a picture of what their writing is about. Throughout Maya Angelou's poem “Still I Rise” she uses a writing style that helps achieve a tone of empowerment. Over the course of Angelou’s life she was belittled and a victim of oppression. As the poem nears the end she states, “Leaving behind nights of terror and fear, I rise”(Stanza 9). This word choice emphasizes that no physical bonds can bring her down; she highlights the overall tone of empowerment through this diction. In contrast, “Unwelcome” by Mary Elizabeth Coleridge takes on a somber tone. This differs greatly with “Still I Rise”. Instead of an empowering tone that lifts the author up, it has a sad approach to the changes people go through in life. For example, this grim description of what appears to be a party states “The cups of red wine turned pale on the board, The white bread black as soot”(Stanza 3). This quote showcases the dark tone the poem contains by figuratively representing how change can be bitter. …show more content…
During the poem “Still I Rise” Maya Angelou emphasizes the strength she gains through her internal growth. This is proven when she says, “You may write me down in history...But still, like dust, I'll rise”(Stanza 1). The theme of changing and how you grow throughout life is made known. While Angelou’s poem approaches theme in a figurative manner, Coleridge’s poem “Unwelcome” takes a more literal approach to the theme of changing. In the beginning, she states, “We were young” and “let me lie, where the dead dog lies”(Stanzas 1 and 4). The contrast between the beginning and end accentuates the theme that life is ever
In literature, writers tend to use tone to paint a picture of what their writing is about. Throughout Maya Angelou's poem “Still I Rise” she uses a writing style that helps achieve a tone of empowerment. Over the course of Angelou’s life she was belittled and a victim of oppression. As the poem nears the end she states, “Leaving behind nights of terror and fear, I rise”(Stanza 9). This word choice emphasizes that no physical bonds can bring her down; she highlights the overall tone of empowerment through this diction. In contrast, “Unwelcome” by Mary Elizabeth Coleridge takes on a somber tone. This differs greatly with “Still I Rise”. Instead of an empowering tone that lifts the author up, it has a sad approach to the changes people go through in life. For example, this grim description of what appears to be a party states “The cups of red wine turned pale on the board, The white bread black as soot”(Stanza 3). This quote showcases the dark tone the poem contains by figuratively representing how change can be bitter. …show more content…
During the poem “Still I Rise” Maya Angelou emphasizes the strength she gains through her internal growth. This is proven when she says, “You may write me down in history...But still, like dust, I'll rise”(Stanza 1). The theme of changing and how you grow throughout life is made known. While Angelou’s poem approaches theme in a figurative manner, Coleridge’s poem “Unwelcome” takes a more literal approach to the theme of changing. In the beginning, she states, “We were young” and “let me lie, where the dead dog lies”(Stanzas 1 and 4). The contrast between the beginning and end accentuates the theme that life is ever