Summary of Maya Angelou's "Still I Rise"

 

Maya Angelou is an African-American poet.  She has written many poems.  She has written many poems on women and race.  ‘Still I Rise’ is a poem by the American poet Maya Angelou.  This is a protest poem.  ‘Still I Rise’ is about racial and gender discrimination. 

 

Angelou starts her poem by saying "you." She uses wordplay with "write down in history." This phrase means both "write my history" and "downplay me by lying." Even if people try to make her and other African-Americans feel small, Angelou says she will rise, just like dust, and not be defeated.

 

In the second stanza, Angelou asks if her confidence and attractiveness upset people. She walks proudly, like a rich oil baron. In the third stanza, she says she will rise like the sun and moon, and like our hopes for a better future.

 

In the fourth stanza, Angelou asks more questions. She says the addressee wants to break her spirit. In the fifth stanza, she shows her pride. She holds her head high instead of bowing. She laughs confidently, like someone very rich with gold mines in their backyard.

 

In the sixth stanza, Angelou shows her defiance. People may use cruel words and unkind looks, and throw 'hatefulness' (meaning both 'bad attitudes' and 'hate for others') at her and other black people. But they will rise 'like air': naturally and lightly.

 

In the seventh stanza, Angelou talks about her 'sassiness' becoming 'sexiness'. She shows more confidence. Now, she looks like she has diamonds between her thighs. This means her body and wealth have come together.

 

‘Still I Rise’ ends differently with fifteen lines repeating ‘I rise’ many times. Angelou says she and others rise from the shameful history of how black people were treated. She is like a powerful, vast, and energetic ocean that can handle life's challenges.

 

She is leaving behind the dark times of fear and starting a new, brighter, and hopeful time. Her ancestors, who suffered as slaves and faced racial prejudice, dreamed of this moment. Their hard work and struggles, including those of Civil Rights campaigners like Angelou, have made this dream come true.

Summary of Jawaharlal Nehru's "Tryst with Destiny"

 Introduction

Jawaharlal Nehru is the first Prime Minister of India.  He took part in India’s freedom struggle.  He is a well-educated man.  His book The Discovery of India narrates the history of India in detail.  Tryst with Destiny is a speech delivered by Nehru on 14^th August 1947 to the Indian Constitution Assembly.

 

Nehru’s Vision

Nehru opens his speech by thanking destiny or fate, which has given way to India’s freedom after a long time.  He is eagerly waiting for midnight, wherein India will be a free nation.  India will awake when the whole world sleeps.  India has achieved freedom after a long struggle.  Before British came to India, we were a better nation.  Nehru wants Indians to be idealistic and make India progress.

 

Responsibility of Indians

Nehru asks the people of the assembly to take responsibility that is given by freedom.  India still suffers from the pain that was there before freedom, yet we should think of the future and not the past.  Future of India is not an easy one.  Indians should fight against poverty, ignorance, dieses and inequality. 

 

Nehru’s Mission

Nehru calls every Indian to work hard to make the dream come true.  Indian must work hard to unite the whole world.  Indians should not blame each other over petty issues, but they should be united.  Nehru is waiting for 15^th August and he wants to rewrite Indian history through its freedom.

 

Thanking Freedom Fighters

Nehru thanks Gandhi, the father of our nation.  He asks every Indian to follow the footsteps of Gandhi and to pass his messages to the next generations.  He thanks the soldiers and volunteers, who fought for India’s freedom.  He also remembers the people, who are been sent to other countries during freedom.

 

Free India

Nehru calls every one of us to create better India in future.  Freedom and opportunity must be given to farmers and ordinary people.  India must be developed into a progressive nation with good society, economics and politics.  Everyone should work together without religious and other differences. 

 

Conclusion

            He concludes his speech by thanking the people of the world and promising them that India would help other countries to create a better world.