Africa by Maya Angelou Analysis

Africa by Maya Angelou AnalysisThus she had lainsugar cane sweetdeserts her hair flourishing her feetmountains her breasts 5two Niles her tears.Thus she has lainBlack through the years.Over the white seasRime white and cold 10Brigands ungentledicicle boldtook her daughtersSold her strong sonschurched her with delivery boy 15bled her with gunsThus she has lain.Now she is risingremember her painremember he losses 20her screams loud and vainremember her richesher muniment slainnow she is stridingalthough she had lain 25ExplicationMaya Angelou, an African American poet, wrote the poetry Africa about the tragic events held by the European men who invaded Africa. Angelou uses rhyme techniques as well as tomography and metaphors to describe the actions made in African history. With those techniques she helps us with an image of what it was care to live in Africa during this time period.The poem is separated into three stanzas and twenty-five lines. Each stanza contains vivid words t o instal a certain image in your head. Angelou uses metaphors to compare the continent, Africa, to a healthy woman. This comparison between continents and women are employ a lot to describe the state or well being of it. Each stanza shows slight variations to show the transitions of tone. Within those twenty-five lines, Angelou uses the rhyme scheme ABCB. The rhyming of this poem helps with how it is structured.In the first stanza, the woman is being brought into character. She is being described as different landmarks in Africa with the use of metaphors. Angelou uses landmarks such as mountains (5), deserts (3), and the Nile River (6) to give the woman vivid description of her physical appearance. Two Niles her tears (6) in this line she is comparing the way her tears flow to the way the Nile River flows. The use of imagery is used throughout this stanza.The first four lines in the second stanza, Angelou uses rime (10) and cold (10) to give us a brief description of the setting w hen the brigands (11) came to Africa relieve oneself to take away from the land. The next four lines are the about the actions the brigands (11) done to the women in Africa. Lines 14 and 15 state, took her young daughters / sold her strong sons to give us off the idea of slavery. This transition of tone gives the unpleasant and unwanted aspect of this part in the poem. At the end of this stanza, line 17 just like the first stanza, line 7 Thus she has lain which shows the uncomfortable effect to what the white men did to her.In the last stanza, she talks about her oercoming the obstacles. Even though only the harshness she has been through, now she is striding. This stanza is in present tense unlike the other stanzas. This shows her progress from the pain she has endured. The tone in this stanza is more of accepting the fact and bosom what the white men did. In lines 19 and 20, she uses the word remember twice so that we remember what happened to her. The ending of this stanza sta tes the same line, although she has lain in reference to her overcoming all the frightful that she encountered. This line also helps us see that she is moving forward from everything that has happened.In conclusion, African American poet, Maya Angelou, uses descriptive detail and convincing evidence to convey her thoughts about the country of Africa. Within this poem holds three stanzas which contain the explanation of the various usage of color imagery, metaphors, and other forms of literary elements. As we begin to journey into the poem with the first stanza, this is where Mrs. Angelou compares the likeness of a woman to the geological structures of the country itself. As in the second stanza the writer provides bits of imagery while explaining how the land was taken over as well as the actions taken upon women during this time. Finally, she comes to conclusion in the last stanza to show all the country has fought for and being able to overcome the obstacles set on their paths.