STILL I RISE - worksheet
You may write me down in history 1. What is the meaning of her first two lines?
With your bitter, twisted lies, Think about how books have portrayed African
You may trod me in the very dirt Americans in history.
But still, like dust, I'll rise.
I think the meaning of the first two lines is
2. The last two lines of this stanza set the tone
for the whole poem. What is the tone?
A. Wistful
B. Defiant
C. Jubilant
Does my sassiness upset you? 3. Look up the phrase “rhetorical question.” Write
Why are you beset with gloom? the definition you found.
'Cause I walk like I've got oil
wells Pumping in my living room.
Just like moons and like suns, 4. How does the simile help give the idea of
With the certainty of tides, determination in the stanza? (think about “rising”)
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I'll rise. Comparing herself to the _ and the
shows determination
because_ __
Did you want to see me broken? 5. Who is the “you” the speaker is addressing in the
Bowed head and lowered eyes? two rhetorical questions?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops,
Weakened by my soulful cries? The “you” is _
BONUS QUESTION (10 points) How does the use of
rhetorical questions as well as the other two lines
in the stanza add the tone of defiance?
Does my haughtiness offend you? 6. Look up the word haughty. Does the speaker
Don't you take it awful hard thinks she is haughty or is she accusing others of
'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines viewing her as haughty?
Diggin' in my own backyard. ______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
You may shoot me with your words, 7. Look at the violent verbs (“shoot”, “cut,” “kill”).
You may cut me with your eyes, What was the author’s purpose for using them?
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I'll rise. The author’s purpose for using violent verbs was
Does my sexiness upset you? 8. Why would the “you” be upset by the speaker
Does it come as a surprise showing her femininity?
That I dance like I've got diamonds _______________________________________________________________
At the meeting of my thighs? _______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
Out of the huts of history's shame 9. What is the allusions to the “huts of
I rise history’s shame?”
Up from a past that's rooted in pain
I rise The “hut’s of history’s shame” is alluding to
I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
10. Explain the metaphor in the final two lines
of the stanza.
Angelou compares the speaker to a black ocean
because
Leaving behind nights of terror and 11. What is the theme of the poem?
fear I rise
Into a daybreak that's wondrously The theme of the poem is
clear I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors
gave, I am the dream and the hope of the
slave. I rise
I rise
I rise.
0.“Still I Rise”
“What Beyonce Taught Me About Race”
Your post can be a singular statement, OR it can be a reaction to a post you disagree with or
agree with, OR it can be a back-and-forth scenario with someone who agrees with or disagrees
with you. You know how these posts look. Create a version that fits for you. Regardless of the
format, YOUR reflection on the current social crisis must be at least 300 words and refer to
at least 3 of the above-named texts we engaged with. While I know some of your language
choices become more colorful outside of the classroom, I do ask that you refrain from
gratuitous obscenities and remain appropriate for a school assignment.