Question

lines 21-24
a. write: how is this stanza similar to stanza 1 (lines 1-4)?
b. find evidence: highlight the simile in this stanza.
lines 29-43
a. write: what is the speaker referring to in lines 29 and 31?
b. find evidence: highlight the repetition in these lines.
c. turn & talk: what change do you notice about the lines with
ise\ after line 28?
after the first read:

1. on the poem itself, label the rhyme scheme.
2. what do you notice about the poems rhyme scheme?
3. in general, what stands out the most to you after you listen to the poem?

\still i rise\ from and still i rise: a book of poems. copyright © 1978 by maya angelou. used by permission of random house, an imprint and division of penguin random house llc. all rights reserved.
¹bear (verb): to give birth to

Explanation:

1. The rhyme scheme is identified by assigning a unique letter to each new ending sound in the poem's lines.
2. The rhyme scheme shifts after line 28 to emphasize the speaker's rising resolve.
3. The most striking element is the repetitive, triumphant refrain "I rise" that builds emotional power.

Answer:

1. Rhyme scheme labeling (lines 21-43):

Lines 21-24: A, B, A, B
Lines 25-28: C, C, D, D
Lines 29-32: E, F, E, F
Lines 33-34: G, G
Lines 35-38: H, I, H, I
Lines 39-43: J, K, L, L, L

1. After line 28, the rhyme scheme becomes more irregular, and the final lines abandon a paired rhyme structure entirely to focus on the repeated, unrhymed (in a paired sense) "I rise" to emphasize the speaker's unbroken momentum.
2. The repetitive, declarative refrain "I rise" stands out most, as it builds a powerful, unyielding tone of resilience and triumph over oppression.