Performing Maya Angelou's ‘Still I Rise’ | English

Starter quiz

One of Maya Angelou's poems is called 'Still I ______' ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').
- 'Rise' ✓
What word does Maya Angelou's 'Still I Rise' start with? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')
- I
- You ✓
- Rise
- Still
- And
Match these words to their definitions ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').
- sassy
  
  ⇔
  
  lively, bold, cheeky ✓
- gloomy
  
  ⇔
  
  downhearted ✓
- bitter
  
  ⇔
  
  resentful, angry, hurt ✓
- broken
  
  ⇔
  
  in pieces, severely damaged ✓
- haughty
  
  ⇔
  
  proud ✓
In 'Still I Rise', what are some of the things the speaker compares herself to? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')
- the ocean ✓
- air ✓
- teardrops
- gold
Match the stanzas from Maya Angelou's 'Still I Rise' to what they explore ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').
- Stanzas 1-2
  
  ⇔
  
  speaker says she's been treated like "dirt" but she’s still "sassy" ✓
- Stanzas 3-4
  
  ⇔
  
  compares herself to "suns"; asks if oppressors want to see her broken ✓
- Stanzas 5-6
  
  ⇔
  
  speaker says she is full of laughter, despite being attacked ✓
- Stanza 7
  
  ⇔
  
  speaker says she is sexy, "dances" to show her valuable body ✓
- Stanza 8
  
  ⇔
  
  speaker compares herself to an "ocean"; direct references to slavery ✓
- Stanza 9
  
  ⇔
  
  compares herself to a "dream" and repeats the title over and over ✓
A ______ question is a question that is used for dramatic effect, rather than one expecting an answer ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').
- 'rhetorical' ✓

Exit quiz

Which of the following are good pieces of advice for someone who wishes to perform a poem? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')
- project your voice ✓
- vary your pace ✓
- maintain the same tone
- learn your material off by heart ✓
- read your material from a script
What does it mean to project your voice? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')
- to read off by heart
- to vary your tone
- to speak loudly ✓
- to speak clearly ✓
- to shout at your audience
What is the final word of Maya Angelou's poem 'Still I Rise'? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')
- I ✓
- You
- Rise ✓
- Still
- And
Does Angelou use rhetorical questions in 'Still I Rise'? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')
- Yes: she asks herself questions.
- Yes: she asks her oppressors questions. ✓
- Yes: she starts the poem with a rhetorical question.
- No: the questions are meant to be answered.
- No: only the title is a rhetorical question.
How does the speaker describe herself in Maya Angelou's 'Still I Rise'? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').
- sassy ✓
- gloomy
- bitter
- broken
- haughty ✓
The speaker in Maya Angelou's 'Still I Rise' says her oppressors tell lies about her. How does she describe these lies? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')
- as "sassy"
- as "gloomy"
- as "dirty"
- as "twisted" ✓
- as "bitter" ✓

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Lesson Details

Key learning points

There is a contrast between the way the speaker and those who have oppressed her are presented in 'Still I Rise'.
When performing a poem, you should consider how you want to engage with your audience.
You should make informed decisions about the pace, volume and tone of your voice.
You should aim to know your material off by heart so you can look at the audience most of the time.

Common misconception

Performing poetry is just about reading it aloud.

Watching people perform poetry is very popular. The most engaging performers carefully consider how they will say the poem, and how they will engage with their audiences.

Keywords

Resilient - being able to cope, withstand and recover from difficult physical or mental challenge
Oppress - to treat someone, or a group of people, unfairly
Project - to speak loudly and clearly