In the poem "Still I Rise" by Maya Angelou, what poetic device, besides metaphors, is significant?

In addition to the descriptive similes and metaphors Angelou uses, she also incorporates the use of repetition, questioning, assonance, and alliteration to emphasize the ideas and themes of the poem.

1.   Angelou repeats the phrase, “I rise” 10 times in the poem.  The technique of repeating words or phrases puts emphasis on the phrase and, in this case, allows the poem to build towards its conclusion.  It’s almost as if the poem is “rising” in its message as it is being read from the beginning to the end.  The poem builds and builds to a climax where the final three “I rise” statements show that Angelou has undeniably risen above the lies, the history of her people, and the stereotypes that once defined her.


2.   The use of questions in the poem also engages the reader, prompting them to think about and draw conclusions on how they feel about what Angelou is suggesting. Her questions are “in your face” type of questions that challenge her readers to argue against her ideas and confront her main premise that she is no longer going to be kept down. She challenges the reader to deal with her “sassiness” instead of the broken spirit she once had.


3.  Angelou also uses alliteration and assonance throughout the poem to give certain words emphasis as well as to create a pattern or rhythm in the poem. Alliteration is the repetition of like consonant sounds; assonance is the repetition of like vowel sounds. Some examples are:

"With your bitter, twisted lies," (assonance—I sound)

"Just like hopes springing high," (alliteration—H sound)

"That I dance like I've got diamonds" (alliteration—D sound)

"Out of the huts of history's shame" (alliteration—H sound)

"Up from a past that's rooted in pain" (alliteration—P sound)

All of the poetic devices Angelou uses in this poem create not only imagery but also creatively present the theme of overcoming obstacles and hardships and “rising” and finding one’s self-worth.