Poetry Analysis

When life throws challenges and problems at people they should not back down. Rather, stand up, do not give in and fight for what they believe in. When faced with difficulties in life one must make the decision that satisfies their beliefs and standards and not let others opinions influence theirs. Langston Hughes and Maya Angelou display this in their poems “Mother to Son” and “Still I Rise.” Both literary works use figurative language and poetic devices to portray their themes of how it is important to be strong with everything one does in life, and that there will be “bumps in the road,” but one must not back down.

In the poem “Still I Rise,” Maya Angelou portrays the idea that no matter what life throws at the speaker, whatever problems, she will overcome those challenges. Angelou’s use of metaphor when comparing her pride to gold mines in her backyard shows that the speaker is confident with herself and who she is. In lines 18 and 19, the speaker explains, “‘Cause I laugh like I’ve got gold mines/ Diggin in my own backyard.” This comparison is used to show the importance of the pride and self-confidence one must have to be strong. Even though life may be challenging at times one should see the good in life and try not to focus on the bad. Rising above the evil and difficulties in life will make all the difference with confidence and opinion. “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.(lines 1-4)” Using personification to display that the speakers confidence may be beaten and stomped on like dirt but yet again, she will rise above it like dust, shows that the speakers confidence is something that is essential to her and she has pride in herself.