Still I Rise

 VIVKANANADA COACHING CENTRE

CLASS:- XI ; SEMESTER :- II 

VERSE:- STILL I RISE.

POET:- MAYA ANGELOU.

PREPARED BY :- SWAPAN KUMAR RAY (M.A , B.ED)

A. Answer the following questions:- (2marks)

1. Who is 'You' addressed in the poem "Still I Rise" ? ( ---- + Aux + V3 + Obj)

Who is 'I' in the poem "Still I Rise " ? ( Sub + Aux + V3 + P + ----)

Ans:- The oppressor, white Americans are referred to here in the poem Still I Rise.

In the poem 'Still I Rise' I referred to the oppressed , Black Afro-American person. Here the poet was a representitive of them. 

2. " I bear in the tide " --- What does the tide suggested here ? (Sub + V2 + -------)

Ans:- The poet declared that she can tolerate everything and overcome any oppression like the tide.

3. " Does my sassiness upset you ? " --- What does the expression suggest ?  { Sub + (V+es/s) + That + ------)

Ans:- The expression suggests that the poet's sassiness may  upset the white Americans. Her beauty , confidence and fearless attitude may upset them because they wanted to see the Afro-American broken and bow down their head. 

4. " I walk like I have got oil wells / pumping in my living room." --- What does the line suggested ? (V+es/s) + That + ------)

Ans:-  The poet Maya Angelou compares her walking style with a wealthy person who has got oil pumping in her living room. Actually she shows  her power , self confidence in this line. 

5. " Just like hopes springing high." --- What does the poet mean here ? (V+es/s) +------)

Ans:-  As  a person of the Afro-American origin ,  the poet faced  a lot of contempt , pain by the white Americans.  Even then, he is quite optimistic that he will overcome all the odds and win.

6." You may shoot me with your words."  What does the poet mean here ? (V+es/s) +------)

Ans:-   As  a person of the Afro-American origin ,  the poet faced  a lot of contempt , pain by the white Americans. She said that even if the white people try to kill him with their words , he will not give up.

7. "I am a black ocean, leaping and wide." --- Who is the black ocean ? (---- + Aux + Obj )

What figure of speech is used in this line ? (---- + Aux + V3 + Obj)

Ans:- The Maya Angelou is the Black ocean.

 The poet compares himself to the Black Sea because he is a member of the Black American community. He feels proud to be a member of this community. Like an ocean, he is vast, powerful, and mysterious.

8. " You may kill me with your hatefulness" --- What does the line suggested ? (V+es/s) +------)

Ans:-As  a person of the Afro-American origin ,  the poet faced  a lot of contempt , pain by the white Americans. She said that even if  the white people try to kill him with their hatefulness , he will not give up.

9. " You may trod me in the very dirt." --- Who is referred to here as you ? ( ---- + Aux + V3 + Obj)

Ans:- The oppressor, white Americans are referred to here as 'You'  in the poem Still I Rise.

10. " Did you want to see me broken ? " --- What does the poet suggest here ? (Sub + V+es/s) +------)

Ans:- The poet sarcastically says that the oppressors want to see him broken , bowed head and lowered eyes. They want to see her shoulders falling down like teardrops. The poet sarcastically says that the oppressors want to see him broken , bowed head and lowered eyes. They want to see her shoulders falling down like teardrops. 

But the poet is quite optimistic that he will wake up like a new dawn after overcoming all these.

11. " Does my sexiness upset you ?" --- Whose sexiness upset whom ? (---- + V2 + -----)

Ans:-  The poet's sexiness upset the oppressor, white persons.

12. How does the poet laugh in the poem " Still I Rise" ? {Sub + (V+es/s) + As + -------)

Ans:- The poet considers himself the owner of a gold mine. And he is smiling as if he has found a gold mine in his living room. In fact, here he is talking about his infinite courage and patience in this line.

13. How does the poet describe her walking in  the poem " Still I Rise" ? {Sub + (V+es/s) +Obj + As + -------)

Ans:- The poet Maya Angelou compares her walking style with a wealthy person who has got oil pumping in her living room. Actually she shows  her power , self confidence in this line. 

14. What does the poet mean by ' History's shame' ? {Sub + (V+es/s) + -------)

Ans:- The shame of history refers to the history of slavery. The history of torture portrays the shame and humiliation for slaves.

15. How does the poet describe her dancing ? {Sub + (V+es/s) + Obj +  -------)

Ans:- The poet dances as if she has diamonds in her thighs. Her dance seems to symbolize her strength, beauty and sexuality. It seems to portray a protest against the oppression of the white Americans.

16. Who were the ancestors of the poet ? (Sub + Aux + ----)

What gift did they give her ? (Sub + V2 + -----)

Ans:- The ancestors of the poet were the dead persons of the slaves who had faced a lot of contempt , pain by the white Americans.

They gave the poet hope and dream as a gift. She has the responsibility to carry on their dream and hope for long way.

17. What do 'Oil wells in the living room ' signify ? (Sub + V2 + ----)

Ans:-   The poet Maya Angelou compares her walking style with a wealthy person who has got oil pumping in her living room. Actually she shows  her power , self confidence in this line. 

18. Why has the poet compared his rising with dust ? (Sub + Aux + V3 + Obj + -------)

Ans:- The oppressor white Americans want to crush the Afro-Americans under their feet like dust. But the poet will rise like dust. That is, the poet declares that even after White man's oppression, their rise cannot be stopped. He will rise like dust.

19. " You may shoot me with your words " --- What does the line suggested ? (V+es/s) +------)

Ans:- As  a person of the Afro-American origin ,  the poet faced  a lot of contempt , pain by the white Americans. She said that even if  the white people try to kill him with their words , he will not give up.

20. " Why are you best with gloom ? " ---  What does the line suggested ? (V+es/s) +------)

Ans:-  The expression suggests that the poet's sassiness may  upset the white Americans. Her beauty , confidence and fearless attitude may upset them because they wanted to see the Afro-American broken and bow down their head. 

21. What type of poem ' Still I Rise' ? ( Sub + Aux + -----)

Ans:-  'Still I Rise' is a lyrical poem. The poet Maya Angelou told it from the perspective of the first person speaker.

22. " Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear " --- What does 'Daybreak' symbolise ? {Sub + (V+es/s ) + -----)

Ans:- Afro-Americans have faced a lot of humiliation and pain at the hands of white Americans. They have lived a life like slavery. But the poet is quite optimistic that he will wake up like a new dawn after overcoming all these nights of fear and terror.

23." I am the dream and hope of the slave " ---  What does the line suggested ? (V+es/s) +------)

Ans:- The poet sees himself as the bearer of the hopes and dreams of his ancestors, who for a long time lived in slavery, oppressed, humiliated by white Americans.

24. " Leaving behind nights of terror and fear  " ---  What does the line suggested ? (V+es/s) +------)

Ans:- Afro-Americans have faced a lot of humiliation and pain at the hands of white Americans. They have lived a life like slavery. But the poet is quite optimistic that he will wake up like a new dawn after overcoming all these nights of fear and terror.

A. Answer the following questions:- (6marks)

1. Analyse the various images as you found in 'Still I Rise''. [Still I Rise কবিতায় পাওয়া বিভিন্ন চিত্রকল্পগুলি ব্যাখ্যা করো। ]

Ans:- In the poem ' Still I Rise '  written by Maya Angelou, the poet uses various imagery to create deep impact  on the reader's mind. For example:

The poet declared that she can tolerate everything and overcome any oppression like the tide.

The poet considers himself the owner of a gold mine. And he is smiling as if he has found a gold mine in his living room. 

The poet dances as if she has diamonds in her thighs. Her dance seems to symbolize her strength, beauty and sexuality. 

The poet Maya Angelou compares her walking style with a wealthy person who has got oil pumping in her living room. 

 The poet declares that even after White man's oppression, their rise cannot be stopped. He will rise like dust.

The poet's sassiness may  upset the white Americans. Her beauty , confidence and fearless attitude may upset them because they wanted to see the Afro-American broken and bow down their head. 

2. Bring out the theme of the poem 'Still I Rise' . [Still I Rise কবিতার বিষয়বস্তু আলোচনা করো।]

Or, 

Bring out the central Idea of the poem 'Still I Rise' . [ Still I Rise কবিতার কেন্দ্রীয় ধারণা আলোচনা করো ।]

or, How is oppression potrayed in 'Still I Rise' [Still I Rise কবিতায় নির্যাতনের চিত্র কীভাবে ফুটে উঠেছে ?]

Ans:- In Maya Angelou's poem ' Still I Rise', the poet portrays a social picture of twentieth-century America, where Afro-Americans are exploited and oppressed by white Americans.In the poem, the poet presents herself as a representative of black people.The oppressor white Americans want to crush the Afro-Americans under their feet like dust. But the poet will rise like dust. That is, the poet declares that even after White man's oppression, their rise cannot be stopped. He will rise like dust.

The ancestors of the poet were the dead persons of the slaves who had faced a lot of contempt , pain by the white Americans.They have lived a life like slavery. But the poet is quite optimistic that he will wake up like a new dawn after overcoming all these nights of fear and terror.

3. ' That I dance like I've got diamonds /At the meeting of my thighs?' --- Who is referred to here as I ? How does the speaker dance ? What is the massage conveyed through the lines ? [ That I dance like I've got diamonds / At the meeting of my thighs?- আমি বলতে কাকে বোঝানো হয়েছে ? বক্তা কীভাবে নাচেন ? এই লাইনের দ্বারা কী বার্তা পাই ? ]

Or, 

'' Does my sexiness upset you?/ Does it come as a surprise? '' ---Who is referred to here as I ? How does the speaker dance ? What is the massage conveyed through the lines ? [ '' Does my sexiness upset you?/ Does it come as a surprise? '' - আমি বলতে কাকে বোঝানো হয়েছে ? বক্তা কীভাবে নাচেন ? এই লাইনের দ্বারা কী বার্তা পাই ? ]

Ans:- In the poem 'Still I Rise' I referred to the oppressed , Black Afro-American person. Here the poet was a representitive of them. 

The poet dances as if she has diamonds in her thighs. Her dance seems to symbolize her strength, beauty and sexuality. It seems to portray a protest against the oppression of the white Americans.

Afro-Americans have faced a lot of humiliation and pain at the hands of white Americans. They have lived a life like slavery. The poet sarcastically says that the oppressors want to see him broken , bowed head and lowered eyes. They want to see her shoulders falling down like teardrops. But the poet is quite optimistic that he will wake up like a new dawn after overcoming all these nights of fear and terror.