12B

ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS

QUESTION PACK

Still I Rise
By Maya Angelou
1. Describe the speaker in lines 1-4 of the poem? What specific language supports your
description?

2: Why does the poet use the image of dust in line 4? How does this image contribute to the tone of lines 1-4?

3: What other images in the poem contribute to the poems tone? Explain the effect of each image.

4: The speaker poses 7 questions in the poem. What is the purpose/effect of these questions?

5: What is the effect of the repetition in the poem?

5: Who is the audience (the reader) for this poem? How does the speaker portray this audience?

7. Why do you think many people find the poem inspirational?

8. In what way can you identify with Still I Rise? Explain.

9. What dialect do the words and phrases like sassiness, cause, and awful hard represent? What
connotation would the word sassiness have for the American slave owners of the 1600s? For modern
readers?

10. The theme of the poem is about African Americans triumphing? How will/has this happened?

11. How could this poem apply to Canadas aboriginal people?

12. What is the speaker determined will happen? Is it inevitable that the oppressed shall rise up and
become respected?

StillIRise
MayaAngelou
Youmaywritemedowninhistory
Withyourbitter,twistedlies,
Youmaytrodmeintheverydirt
Butstill,likedust,I'llrise.
Doesmysassinessupsetyou?
Whyareyoubesetwithgloom?
'CauseIwalklikeI'vegotoilwells
Pumpinginmylivingroom.
Justlikemoonsandlikesuns,
Withthecertaintyoftides,
Justlikehopesspringinghigh,
StillI'llrise.
Didyouwanttoseemebroken?
Bowedheadandloweredeyes?
Shouldersfallingdownliketeardrops.
Weakenedbymysoulfulcries.
Doesmyhaughtinessoffendyou?
Don'tyoutakeitawfulhard
'CauseIlaughlikeI'vegotgoldmines
Diggin'inmyownbackyard.
Youmayshootmewithyourwords,
Youmaycutmewithyoureyes,
Youmaykillmewithyourhatefulness,
Butstill,likeair,I'llrise.
Doesmysexinessupsetyou?
Doesitcomeasasurprise
ThatIdancelikeI'vegotdiamonds
Atthemeetingofmythighs?
Outofthehutsofhistory'sshame
Irise
Upfromapastthat'srootedinpain
Irise
I'mablackocean,leapingandwide,
WellingandswellingIbearinthetide.
Leavingbehindnightsofterrorandfear
Irise
Intoadaybreakthat'swondrouslyclear
Irise
Bringingthegiftsthatmyancestorsgave,
Iamthedreamandthehopeoftheslave.
Irise
Irise
Irise.

TelephoneConversation
WoleSoyinka
Thepriceseemedreasonable,location
Indifferent.Thelandladysworeshelived
Offpremises.Nothingremained
Butselfconfession.Madam,Iwarned,
5IhateawastedjourneyIamAfrican.
Silence.Silencedtransmissionof
Pressurizedgoodbreeding.Voice,whenitcame,
Lipstickcoated,longgoldrolled
Cigaretteholderpipped.CaughtIwas,foully.
10HOWDARK?...Ihadnotmisheard...AREYOULIGHT
ORVERYDARK?ButtonB.ButtonA.Stench
Ofrancidbreathofpublichideandspeak.
Redbooth.Redpillarbox.Reddoubletiered
Omnibussquelchingtar.Itwasreal!Shamed
15Byillmanneredsilence,surrender
Pusheddumbfoundmenttobegsimplification.
Considerateshewas,varyingtheemphasis
AREYOUDARK?ORVERYLIGHT?Revelationcame.
Youmeanlikeplainormilkchocolate?
20Herassentwasclinical,crushinginitslight
Impersonality.Rapidly,wavelengthadjusted,
Ichose.WestAfricansepiaandasanafterthought,
Downinmypassport.Silenceforspectroscopic
Flightoffancy,tilltruthfulnessclangedheraccent
25Hardonthemouthpiece.WHATSTHAT?conceding,
DONTKNOWWHATTHATIS.Likebrunette.
THATSDARK,ISNTIT?Notaltogether.
Facially,Iambrunette,butmadam,youshouldsee
Therestofme.Palmofmyhand,solesofmyfeet
30Areaperoxideblonde.Friction,caused
Foolishly,madambysittingdown,hasturned
MybottomravenblackOnemomentmadam!sensing
Herreceiverrearingonthethunderclap
AboutmyearsMadam,Ipleaded,wouldntyourather
35Seeforyourself?

12B

ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS

Telephone Conversation
By Wole Soyinka
1. Paraphrase what happens in this poem, and then state what you feel is the
poems theme.

2. Once the speaker understands what the woman wants to know, what does he
ask?
3. Why does the speaker tell the woman that he is African? By making this remark, what does he
reveal about his past experience?
4. Why do you think the prospective landlord asks these questions? What does she reveal about
herself in the course of the poem? What does the dialogue reveal about the man?

5. Explain the humorous double meaning of the speakers last question.

6. This poem dramatizes a battle. Who do you think finally wins, and why?

7.Thispoemisfullofcolorsandnotjustofskin.Whatcolorsdoyouseeinthepoem?Whatdoes
Soyinkawanttocommunicatethroughtheseimagesofcolor?

8.Whatironydoyoufindinlines2326?Whatironydoyoufindinthedescriptionofthewomanas
wellbred?

9. Since the speaker was prepared for prejudice, why do you think the womans question disturbs him
so much?

10. Telephone Conversastionis a satire, a type of writing that attacks and ridicules some social evil
or human weakness. What is Soynika mocking in this poem? One of the tools of the satirist is the
absurd comparison. How does the contrast between the speaker and the landlady contribute to the
satirical message?

11. Do you think satirical writing can help change peoples attitudes? What message do you think
Soyinka wants to get across in this poem?

12. If you faced this kind of discrimination, how would you react to it?

Writing Assignment Satiric Dialogue

Write a conversation where you as the one of the speakers is faced with racist, sexist or an ageist
perspective from the other speaker. The key to your assignment is to show the unfair nature of
the racism, ageism or sexism. Keeping in mind that satire should be subtle but still mocking and
ridiculing. 300 words Remember to follow dialogue rules