Still I Rise by Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou’s poem "Still I Rise" included in the WBBHSE Class XI Semester 2 syllabus, is a powerful declaration of resilience, self-respect, and triumph over oppression. In this post, you will find a detailed Bengali explanation, a summary, and important two-mark question-answers to help students grasp the poem’s meaning and prepare effectively for exams.
About the author Maya Angelou:
An acclaimed American poet, storyteller, activist. She worked as a singer, dancer, actress, composer, and Hollywood’s first female black director, but became most famous as a writer, editor, playwright, and poet.
About the poem Still I Rise:
'Still I Rise‘ by Maya Angelou is an inspiring and powerful poem that celebrates self-love and resilience. Through a series of bold statements, the speaker asserts her strength, confidence, and unwavering spirit. She embraces her identity, acknowledges past struggles, and triumphs over adversity with unwavering determination.
“Still I Rise” Summary or Stanza wise explanation in Simple words:
You have the ability to shape how history remembers me with your hurtful, warped lies. You have the power to walk all over me, crushing me into the dirt itself. But even so, I will rise up from the ground just as dust rises from the earth.
Does my bold and cheeky attitude offend you? Why are you so miserable? Maybe it's because of the confident way I walk, as if I had oil wells right in my living room.
I am like the moon and the sun, the rises of which are as inevitable as the rise of ocean tides. Just like high hopes, I will keep rising.
Were you hoping to see me looking sad and defeated? Did you want to see me in a submissive posture, with my head bent and eyes looking down rather than up at you? Did you want to see my shoulders slouching down in the same way that tears fall down, my body having been weakened by all my intense sobbing?
Is my pride making you mad? Are you so upset because I am so happy and joyful that it seems as though I must have gold mines in my own backyard?
You have the ability to shoot at me with your words, which are like bullets. You have the ability to cut me with your sharp glare. You may even kill me with your hatred. Nevertheless, just as the air keeps rising, I will keep rising.
Does my sex appeal make you upset? Are you taken aback by the fact that I dance as though I have precious gems between my legs?
I rise up out of history's shameful act of slavery. I rise up from this deeply painful past. I am as vast and full of power as a dark ocean that rises and swells and carries in the tide.
I rise up, and in doing so leave behind all the darkness of terror and fear. I rise up, and in doing so enter a bright morning that is full of joyful wonder. With the personal qualities and grace I inherited from my ancestors, I embody the dreams and hopes of past enslaved peoples. I will rise, and rise, and rise.
“Still I Rise” Bengali Explanation:
তোমার হাতে হয়ত সেই ক্ষমতা আছে তোমার বিকৃত, কষ্টদায়ক মিথ্যার মাধ্যমে ইতিহাসে আমাকে কেমনভাবে মনে রাখা হবে সেটা ঠিক করার। তুমি আমাকে মাটির সাথে মিশিয়ে ফেলতে পারো, পায়ে দলে ফেলে আমাকে ধুলোর মতো ছড়িয়ে দিতে পারো। তবুও, ধুলো যেমন মাটি থেকে উঠে আসে, আমিও উঠে দাঁড়াব।
আমার সাহসী ও আত্মবিশ্বাসী মনোভাব কি তোমাকে বিরক্ত করে? তোমাকে দুঃখ দেয় ? হয়তো এটার কারণ আমার আত্মবিশ্বাসী চলার ভঙ্গি-যেন আমার নিজের ঘরেই তেলের কূপ রয়েছে।
আমি চাঁদ ও সূর্যের মতো, যাদের উদয় ও অস্ত যেমন নিশ্চিত, সমুদ্রের জোয়ার-ভাটার মতোই আমার ওঠা-নামাও অবধারিত। উঁচু আশার মতো, আমি বারবার উঠে দাঁড়াব।
তুমি কি আমাকে দুঃখী ও পরাজিত দেখতে চেয়েছিলে? চেয়েছিলে আমি মাথা নিচু করে, চোখ নামিয়ে বসে থাকি? চেয়েছিলে আমার কাঁধ ঝুঁকে পড়ুক, ঠিক যেমনভাবে কান্নার ফোঁটা ঝরে পড়ে, আমার দেহ যেন গভীর শোকে দুর্বল হয়ে পড়ে?
আমার অহংকার কি তোমাকে কষ্ট দিচ্ছে? আমি এত আনন্দে থাকি যে, মনে হয় যেন আমার নিজের উঠোনেই স্বর্ণখনি আছে—এটাই কি তোমাকে বিরক্ত করছে?
তুমি তোমার কথার গুলি দিয়ে আমাকে আঘাত করতে পারো, তোমার তীক্ষ্ণ দৃষ্টিতে আমাকে ক্ষত-বিক্ষত করতে পারো, এমনকি তোমার ঘৃণার মাধ্যমে আমাকে শেষও করতে পারো। তবুও, বাতাস যেমন চিরকাল উঠে চলে, আমিও উঠে দাঁড়াব।
আমার আকর্ষণ কি তোমাকে অস্বস্তিতে ফেলে? তুমি কি অবাক যে, আমি এমনভাবে নাচি, যেন আমার দুই উরুর মাঝে মূল্যবান রত্ন রয়েছে?
আমি ইতিহাসের লজ্জাজনক দাসত্বের অধ্যায় থেকে উঠে আসি। আমি গভীর কষ্টের অতীত থেকে উঠে আসি। আমি এক বিশাল, কালো মহাসাগরের মতো, যা ফুলে-ফেঁপে উঠে ও জোয়ার বয়ে আনে।
আমি উঠে আসি, ভয়ের ও সন্ত্রাসের অন্ধকার পিছনে ফেলে। আমি উঠে আসি, এক উজ্জ্বল সকালের দিকে, যা আনন্দে ভরা। আমার পূর্বপুরুষদের থেকে পাওয়া শক্তি ও মর্যাদার সাথে, আমি দাসত্বের শিকলভাঙা স্বপ্ন ও আশা বহন করি। আমি উঠব, উঠব, উঠব।
Still I Rise by Maya Angelou Question & Answer:
1. Who is the author of the poem ‘Still I Rise’? What is the primary theme of the poem?
Ans. The author of the poem ‘Still I Rise’ is Maya Angelou.
> The primary theme of the poem is resilience and strength in the face of oppression.
2. What do the first two lines of the poem ‘Still I Rise’ signify?
Ans. The first two lines of Still I Rise show the speaker’s struggle against her oppressors. She knows they have twisted history, but she refuses to be defeated.
3. What reflection of the society do we find in the poem?
Ans. The poem shows a society of oppression and discrimination, where a Black woman, like other African Americans, fights back, defies her oppressors, and rises above adversity.
4. Who is the speaker of the poem? Who is the speaker addressing?
Ans. The speaker of the poem is the poet, Maya Angelou, an African-American woman who speaks on behalf of all people like her.
> She is addressing the oppressor, who is addressed as ‘you’.
5. Which repetitive phrase emphasizes resilience in the poem? What effect does the poet create by the repetition?
Ans. The repetitive phrase that emphasizes resilience in the poem is ‘I rise’.
> Through the repetition, the poet shows how determined the speaker is.
or
Which phrase indicates the speaker's confidence in the face of oppression?
Ans: The phrase 'I rise' indicates the speaker's confidence in the face of oppression. It conveys her determination, resilience, and unwavering belief that no matter the obstacles, she will continue to rise above them.
6. What kind of attitude does the speaker convey in the poem?
Ans. The speaker conveys an attitude of bold confrontation in the face of oppression. Here, she is confident, daring also sassy and haughty.
7. How does the speaker respond to being trodden down in the poem?
Ans. The speaker responds to being trodden down by declaring that she will rise above like dust and maintain her dignity and confidence.
8. How does the speaker say she will rise in the first stanza of the poem?
Ans. In the first stanza of the poem, the speaker says she will rise like dust. Just as dust lifts and floats in the air, she will rise above all efforts to bring her down.
9. Why does the speaker use the symbol of dust in the poem ‘Still I Rise’?
Ans. In Still I Rise, dust symbolizes resilience and persistence. No matter how suppressed or trampled, it always rises, reflecting the speaker’s unbreakable spirit, dignity, and ability to overcome adversity.
10. What historical injustices does the speaker refer to in the poem?
Ans. In the poem, the speaker refers to the historical injustices such as slavery, racism and gender discrimination.
11. What does the expression ‘bitter, twisted lies’ suggest? What does the speaker say about the bitter and twisted lies of the oppressors?
Ans. The expression ‘bitter, twisted lies’ indicates the false descriptions by which the oppressors try to tarnish the speaker’s legacy.
> The speaker says that the oppressors’ bitter and twisted lies cannot break her spirit. She will rise above them, defying their attempts to erase her identity.
12. ‘Does my sassiness upset you?’-Why does the speaker’s ‘sassiness’ upset others?
Ans. The speaker’s ‘sassiness’ upsets her oppressors as they can't stand it. To them, her boldness appears as disrespect. It fills them with frustration, as they want to see her defeated, weak, and suffering.
13. What natural elements does the speaker compare her resilience to in the poem?
Ans. The speaker compares her resilience to the natural elements like dust, air, moons, suns and tides in the poem.
14. How does the speaker describe her laughter in the poem?
Ans. The speaker says she laughs with triumph, as if she had gold mines in her own backyard symbolizing confidence, resilience, and inner wealth. Her sarcastic laughter unsettles oppressors, defying their attempts to suppress her spirit.
15. How does the speaker view history and her legacy in the poem?
Ans. The speaker views history as a shame as it is full of twisted lies.
> She views her legacy as a source of strength and pride. So she is able to ascend out of “history’s shame” and rise into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear.
16. What does the speaker bring from her ancestors?
Ans. The speaker carries the strength and courage given by her ancestors, helping her rise above struggles and stand up against unfairness.
or
Who are the speaker’s ancestors? What does she say about them?
Ans. The speaker’s ancestors represent the generations of African-Americans who faced brutal oppression by White Americans.
> She says that her ancestors gave her wonderful gifts of strength and resilience that encourage her to hope for a bright and wonderful daybreak.
17. What sentiments are conveyed through the speaker’s declaration of rising?
or
In Maya Angelou's "Still I Rise," what does the repeated phrase "I rise" convey?
Ans. In Still I Rise, the speaker's repeated rise symbolizes strength and confidence, showing how she and African Americans overcome oppression with dignity and resilience.
or
What does the poem’s speaker mean by the phrase “I’ll rise”?
In "Still I Rise", the poet shows the resilience of African-Americans and women, rising confidently against oppression and overcoming all obstacles with unstoppable strength.
or
What does the repetition of the expression ‘I rise’ throughout the poem emphasise?
Ans. The repetition of the expression ‘I rise’ throughout the poem shows the speaker's strong will and determination. It highlights how she can overcome challenges and rise above the difficulties created by society.
18. Whom does the speaker’s ‘sexiness’ upset? Why does it upset them?
Ans. The speaker’s sexiness upsets her White oppressors.
> The speaker’s sexiness upsets them because the Black women were not allowed to express their sexuality. Her overt sexiness also challenges and questions them.
19. What metaphor is used to convey the speaker’s ‘sexiness’?
Ans. The diamond metaphor highlights the speaker’s femininity and sexuality. She compares her body to precious diamonds, asserting that a woman’s beauty is valuable and deserves admiration.
20. How does the speaker describe herself in the poem?
Ans. The speaker describes herself as ‘a black ocean’ and ‘the dream and hope of the slave.’ These metaphors emphasize her strength, depth, and connection to her heritage, symbolizing the vast, unstoppable power of her identity.
21. How does the speaker describe the past?
Ans. The speaker says that the past was rooted in pain. She states it was full of sorrow, shame, terror and fear. The past alludes to America’s history of slavery and White supremacy.
22. According to the speaker, what will not hurt her?
Ans. In the poem "Still I Rise", According to the speaker, the lies and hateful words of her oppressors will not hurt her.
23. What does the speaker’s comparison of her rising to the moon and sun suggest?
Ans. The speaker’s comparison of her rising to the moon and sun suggests the tremendous and unstoppable nature of her resilience. The comparison emphasizes the speaker’s indomitable spirit and the certainty of her victory over adversity.
24. What is the significance of the speaker’s reference to her ancestors in the poem?
Ans. The significance of the speaker’s reference to her ancestors in the poem is to show her connection to a legacy of strength and survival.
25. '‘Shoulders falling down like teardrops’'-What does this expression signify?
Ans. The expression ‘'shoulders falling down like teardrops’' suggests weakness and sorrow. The White Americans want to see the Black slaves broken, oppressed and tormented with their shoulders dropped and weakened souls.
26. Who is "YOU" addressed in the poem? Who is "I"? (IMP)
Ans. 'You' in the poem refers to the oppressive white colonialists and plantation owners who felt that the African-Americans are inferior to them and treated them as slaves.
Here "I" represents the speaker, Maya Angelou herself, symbolizing the strength, resilience, and spirit of Black women or any oppressed individual who refuses to succumb to societal injustice and discrimination.
27. What does the phrase "the huts of history's shame'' mean?
Ans: The phrase "the huts of history's shame" refers to the painful history of slavery and oppression. It symbolizes the suffering of the past, but the speaker declares that she will rise above it and move toward a brighter future.
28. What is the implication of Still I Rise?
Ans: "Still I Rise" conveys self-respect, confidence, and resilience. Angelou asserts that she will overcome hardships with self-esteem, rising above oppression and discrimination with unwavering strength.
29. What does the phrase "You may kill me with your hatefulness, But still, like air, I'll rise."
"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" ?
Ans: The phrase highlights resilience against hatred. Despite insults, judgment, and hostility, the speaker, like air, remains unstoppable, always rising above oppression with strength and dignity.
30. Who is meant by "You"?
Ans: In the poem, 'You' refers to the oppressive white colonialists and plantation owners who considered African-Americans inferior and treated them as slaves.
31. What historical injustices does the speaker refer to in the poem?
Ans: In the poem, the speaker refers to historical injustices such as slavery, racism, and gender discrimination, which have oppressed marginalized groups, especially Black people and women.
32. How does the speaker relate herself to oil wells?
Ans: The speaker compares herself to oil wells, showing her strength, confidence, and endless energy, just like oil wells pump valuable resources.
33. What imagery has the speaker used to describe her rise in the poem?
Ans. The speaker uses vivid imagery of dust, air, moons, suns, and tides to describe her rise in the poem. These natural elements symbolize her resilience, persistence, and the certainty of her rise above oppression and adversity.
34. What does Angelou suggest the reader by addressing the oppressor figure as “You”?
Ans. By addressing the oppressor as "You," Angelou makes the poem personal and direct, urging readers to reflect on their own role in racism or oppression. This challenges the oppressor’s actions and forces introspection, making the message both confrontational and universal.
