Still I Rise

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.

Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I'll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops.
Weakened by my soulful cries.

Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don't you take it awful hard
Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines
Diggin' in my own back yard.

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I'll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I've got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history's shame
I rise
Up from a past that's rooted in pain
I rise
I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that's wondrously 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

-Mary Angelou

Mary Angelou, being a feminist and civil-right poet, ofcourse makes that obvious in her powerful writings, specifically in "Still I Rise". I believe that she has given her poem this title to imply that nothing will stop her, nothing will bring her down; she is a strong woman, who will 'rise' to the occasion and therefore the phrase "I rise" and I'll rise" are repeated in almost every stanza. As a strong feminist, Angelou diguises woman and fertility with nature and jewels, as she does in the third stanza where she uses the words "moons" and "suns", this stanza describes a fertilation cycle because it discusses the day. When she uses adjectives such as "haughtiness", "sassiness" and "sexyness" I believe that she is generalizing all women, or atleast all feminists, which imply that they are strong ,attractive and confident but still should not be intimidating. When she uses these 'characterizing' adjectives, it ends in a question: "Does my haughtiness offend you?" which leads us to think that Angelou is saying that even people who have been hurt or mistreated can still look/feel good. The next line says "Don't you take it awful hard" which as mentioned before is for others not to be intimidated, or suprised at someone doing well.

Angelou also fits in African-American history into the last two stanzas of her poem, which in my opinion are the most effective. The first lines reads "Out of the huts of history's shame" meaning trying to improve African-American rights after slavery and captivity, and she used the words 'huts' symbolising the condition (of living), such as housing and lack of money. In her last stanza Angelou writes "Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave." I have high lighted the word 'gifts' which represents the newer generation(s) of years to come, and 'the hope of the slave' because whatever occured in the past, she's not ashamed, she is a proud and equal woman. She ends the poem with "I rise, I rise, I rise".

Mary Angelou is related to "To Kill A Mockingbird" because in many ways we have already seen (and know) how different and racial things were in the year the novel is set, and especially in the South of the United States. As we read more into the book we will realize more reference to this poem.

In addition, I chose to use a phoenix for an image to represent Angelou's poem because a phoenix is a mythical bird that when it dies, it burns, and then rises from it's own ashes and I think it comes into context with her poem and her repetitive use of the word rise.

Young Frankenstein is missing.

WILLIAM FRANKENSTEIN

Aged 8 was last seen at his house in Geneva.
Height: 1m 10 cm
Hair color: blonde
Eye color: blue
Police have suspected that a tall man of height 1m 70 with derranged, pale skin may have been the kidnapper. If this boy is spotted or found please escort him to any safe police office. A reward is in exchange.

Thank you

Paradise Lost Synopsis

An epic poem written by John Milton in the 17th century discusses God's first humans, Adam and Eve who originally live a serene life which is later on affected by the Fallen Angel, known as Satan because he has tricked the two innocents into eating from the tree in the Garden of Eden even though G-d has instructed them otherwise. The consequences of these actions being that G-d sends Adam and Eve to Earth, to prove that their life was much easier in his 'kingdom'. After Adam pleads G-d to forgive them and to send them back to the Garden, he accepts, showing mercy on them. As for Satan, he as known as the Fallen Angel because he turned against "G-d's will" and into a darker side.

By Edgar Allen Poe

A Dream Within A Dream

Take this kiss upon the brow!

And, in parting from you now,

Thus much let me avow-

You are not wrong, who deem

That my days have been a dream;

Yet if hope has flown away

In a night or in a day,

In a vision, or in none,

Is it therefore the less gone?

All what we see or seem

Is but a dream within a dream.

I stand amid the roar

Of a surf-tormented shore,

And I hope within my hand

Grains of the golden sand-

How few! yet how they creep

Through my fingers to the deep,

While I weep - while I weep!

O God! can I not grasp

Them with a tighter clasp?

O God! can I not save

One from the pitiless wave?

Is all that we see or seem

But a dream within a dream?

Homeage of the Epistolary

Garfield Street 02, Pembroke Pines
Miami, Florida
2039 P.O. Box

36 Camino Street, Denver
New Jersey
1048 P.O. Box

Dear Caleb,
I hope you and your family are well and that you're continuing your guitar lessons. You were one of my most determined and accomplished students, as I'm sure you remember.
I'm in Miami now for the end of the summer, but I'm writing to you to inform you of a music competition taking place in New York on the 1st of October. And, being your former teacher, I thought I should tell you because it would be great if you participated! The age range is from 14-19, which makes you the right age. It's not much of an effort, really. Simply choose a piece of music on either electric or acoustic guitar, one that you have never played nor practiced before; if you plan on taking part in this event, I will help you if you need me, and will also e-mail the piece of music you choose to the judges for their aprovement.
Honestly I think this will be a great opportunity for you, so please Caleb, take it into consideration.
And, incase you're wondering, the prize for 1st place is a gold trophy with a $300 award, while 2nd & 3rd place are a silver or bronze plaque.
It'll be great so take time to think about it before you make your final decision. Contact me for any questions at: kayhoward@aol.com
Regards,
Kayleigh Howard.

Dear Ms. Howards,

Thanks for your letter, I guess. Although I really don't know what you're expecting out of me; I'm sure you recall that I'M A SLACKER and most probably always will be, especially since you haven't been my teacher (or should I say mentor). At this period in my life, meaning over the past few months, I've more or less stopped any guitar playing, and now consider myself to be a terrible instrumentalist.

And by telling you this, I must decline your request for me to perfom in this so called competition.

...But, I must thank you greatly for teaching me everything about music and guitars, I miss the lessons on the weekends and I remember almost everything, I've just lost the 'will' to play, in a way. I love remembering all the times I used to jam with you in the lessons, and I really miss it.

In fact, I have a preposition for you. If you really want me to enter this competition, I'd love for you to help me again when you get back, I'm sure I'd improve rapidly! Atleast it'll be like something new, or something to change my daily routine which is basically skipping school (as I mentioned previously, I'm a slacker).

Thank you for taking time out of your holiday so send me a letter; I would prefer if we kept in contact by mail and not Internet, because I've completely banned myself from using computers and televions.

Waiting for your reply,

Caleb.

Dear Caleb,

I'm so glad you're thinking about entering! Well, I'm glad that you want to start playing guitar again, good for you.

I'm back in New Jersey on September 2nd, I will definetely contact you! Call me after that date at 538 900 146

This is gonna be great. Can't wait to teach you again, Caleb

Best Wishes,

K. Howard.