A Plagued Journey
By Maya Angleou
Analyzed by Claire Ludlow
1. Meaning—
-Somewhat
forced to regain hope as the sun rises, but constantly fights to go back to
gloom and “bonds of disconsolation” with the darkness
-An
omnipresent sense of evil and darkness
-Angelou
centers on the struggle of maintaining hope in hard times
2. The setting: a dark room & throughout he poem the
room is flooded with light
-The
previous equilibrium (darkness, night) has been settled because day has come
(light)
-An
individual’s adversities between hope & despair
3. A single break in the poem shows the break between night
& day
4. Her reconciliation with hope (day) is the climax of the
poem, and is preceded with darkness once again
5.
6.
-internal struggle
-pain
-reluctance
7.
-16 sentences
-descriptors dominate the poem
-Angelou is constantly describing the sentiments of the
individual
ie.
First stanza’s focus:
-entrance
of hope (light)
-effect
on the individual (physically and emotionally)
8. The attitude towards the subject:
empathetic—her
knowledge of the struggle helps animate the plot of the poem
towards the person:
-this
creates an overall powerful meaning to the poem (via her words). Appeals to
pathos emotionally
-the
use of first person gives her ownership, passion, & strengthens the overall
theme
9. To some, Angelou somewhat reversed the roles of hope
& despair in that she begins by describing hope (light) encroaching on her
darkness—normally, a resolution ends & leaves the reader unnerved. However,
Angelou ends with the subject reconciling with darkness once again which may
seem contrary to the norm (not a denouement)
10. Hope & overcoming internal struggles are significant
themes in this poem. The subject in the poem struggles throughout the poem,
attempting to hide from the rapidly flooding light in the room (fear of
reconciling with hope)
11. Angelou could have included her opinion on the ignorance
of the subject to emphasize the theme of internal struggles
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