And Still Rise Short Questions)
1. What is the poem 'Still I Rise' mainly about?
Ans. The poem "Still I Rise" is primarily about self-respect and confidence. In the poem,
Angelou reveals how she will overcome anything through her self-esteem. She shows how
nothing can get her down. She will rise to any occasion and nothing, not even her skin
colour, will hold her back.
2. What is the theme of the poem "Still I Rise"?
Ans. The major theme of "Still I Rise' is the need to defy oppressive social expectations. This
theme emerges through the speaker's tone more than her actual words.
3. What is the message of the poem "Still I Rise"?
Ans. The poem sends out the universal message that no matter what happens in life, there
is always greatness to look toward.
4. What is the symbolism in "Still I Rise"?
Ans. In "Still I Rise" Maya Angelou uses gold mines and oil wells as symbols of wealth and
confidence. She also uses natural imagery, including the sun, the moon, the tides and the
air to symbolize the inevitability of her continued rise beyond the reach of oppression.
5. Who is the main character in the poem?
Ans. There are two major characters in "Still I Rise"; the Black speaker of the poem and the
person to whom they are asking their questions.
6. Who is the speaker in the poem "Still I Rise"?
Ans. The Speaker of "Still I Rise" is a Black woman, who powerfully expresses her strength
and resilience in the face of an oppressive, racist society.
[Link] is the author's purpose in "Still I Rise"?
Ans. In the poem "Still I Rise" Maya Angelou's purpose is to convey resilience and
empowerment in the face of oppression. The poem's structure emphasizes the steady and
unyielding rise of the speaker, despite adversity.
[Link] kind of poem is "Still I Rise"?
Ans. "Still I Rise" by Maya Angelou is a lyric poem. It contains the literary techniques like
metaphor, meter and consonance and focuses on the emotional, subject-centred
experiences of the narrator.
9. What is the short summary of "Still I Rise"?
Ans. "Still I Rise" is primarily about self-respect and confidence. In the poem Angelou
reveals how she will overcome anything through her self-esteem.
10. What is the imagery of "Still I Rise"?
Ans. "Still I Rise" has become a well-loved gem of both African-American and feminist
literature. It's a nine- stanza poem separated into uneven sets of lines, conjuring luxurious
imagery of rich oil wells, celestial bodies, and gold mines in one's backyard.
11. What is the rhyme scheme of the poem?
Ans. "Still I Rise" is a nine stanza poem that is separated into uneven sets of lines. The first
seven stanzas contain four lines, known as quatrains, stanza eight has six lines and the ninth
has nine. The first seven stanzas follow a rhyme scheme of ABCD, the eight ABABCC and the
ninth ABABCCBBB.
[Link] is the mood of "Still I Rise"?
Ans. The mood of the poem is inspirational. This is because the poem uses the theme of
strength and resilience. The repetition of line "I Rise" helps to convey the mood and show
the poetic voice as confident person willing to overcome obstacles.
13. What is the feminist approach in "Still I Rise"?
Ans. In the poem "Still I Rise" there are thoughts of black feminism depicting African
American women who are courageous and eager to rise above the discrimination of the
white American majority.
14. Who is the audience in "Still I Rise"?
Ans. The audience in the poem is the white racists, the speaker addresses directly but also
implicit. The speaker invites to join her in this celebration of Black female empowerment.
15. What is the setting of "Still I Rise"?
Ans. The speaker does not describe a particular physical setting, but through the poem she
highlights several aspects of her social environment: America in the late twentieth century.
This social environment is, from her perspective, deeply oppressive and discriminatory.
16. What are the concepts in "Still I Rise"?
Ans. The speaker of the poem is a Black woman who powerfully expresses her strength and
resilience in the face of an oppressive, racist society. The theme of resilience runs like a
thread through all nine of the poem's stanzas.
17. What is the irony in the poem "Still I Rise"?
Ans. The repitition of the phrase "Still I Rise" throughout the poem shows that the speaker's
preservance allows her to overcome even the most insurmountable of obstacles. This is
situational irony in a way because society expects the speaker to be destroyed mentally,
emotionally and physically.
18. What do the first two lines of the poem "And Still I Rise" signify?
Ans. The first two lines of the poem 'And Still I Rise" signify the strength and resilience. It is
about self respect and confidence in the face an oppressive, racist society.
19. What does Angelou suggest the reader by addressing the oppressor figure as "You"?
Ans. Angelou suggests the reader by addressing the oppressive figure directly but also
implicit. She invites to join her in this celebration of Black Female empowerment.