Main idea
How do lines 20-35 answer the EQ “How can people manage unexpected challenges?”
Angelou overcame many obstacles, wether it was racism or financial problems. Yet, she states, “I rise” showing how she still pushed through and overcame those challenges.
In lines 33-34, why does Angelou make the connection between herself and bearing the tide?
Angelou makes this connection because she shows herself as persevering even in the face of hardships, which are represented as the tides.
How do lines 35-43 answer the EQ “how can people manage unexpected challenges?”?
These lines show that Angelou overcame unexpected challenges by pushing through (nights of terror and fear), staying confident in herself, and using the thought of her ancestors as motivation to keep “rising”.
This poem seems to be written to someone, and Maya Angelou addresses it to “you.” Who might “you” refer to?
Since the poem emphasizes racial struggles, “you” is likely white people in general.
What is the main theme of this poem? What should we take away when we read it?
The poem summarizes Angelou’s experience as a Black woman in America. It depicts not only her struggles, but also her eagerness to overcome them and to prove people wrong.
Why might Maya Angelou compare herself to the moon, sun, and tides when emphasizing her perseverance?
Not only are the moon, sun, and tide consistent, but they also are often symbols of power, importance, and strength. These natural phenomena never go away, and they are key parts of human life. They are necessary.
How does line 40 connect to the rest of the poem?
The knowledge that she is "the dream and hope of a slave" might give Maya some sort of motivation to persevere. She continues to want to prove people wrong, both people in the past and people in the present.
How could lines 35-37 show a wish/goal for the future?
Racism remains prominent today, so a search for "a daybreak that is wondrously clear" could be a wish that Maya has for the future. We can assume that this line is talking about the future because of the struggles that Maya has alluded to throughout the rest of this poem.