8/3/2019 Mthodologie au plan Still I rise
1/1
Mthodologie au plan / au commentaire de texte
Essay correctionStill I Rise
[Note : Ce commentaire est incomplet car il ne contient que les
lments tudis
en premire lecture. La lecture plus pousse du pome permettra de
compltercette analyse]
(Introduction)This poem was written by Maya Angelou in 1978. She
was also a Black
American activist who defended Blacks rights during segregation.
In her
poem, she protests against Whites persistent racism.
First of all, we will focus on her motives for writing this
poem. Then, we
will deal with her / Blacks relationship with White racist
people. Finally,
we will concentrate on her attitude towards them as opposed to
her
ancestors.
(A)Why protesting? Angelous motives.)First of all, we may
suppose that Maya Angelou herself is speaking
because she uses the first person narrative: me (1), I (4).
Besides,
allusions enable to identify the person as a Black woman:
sexiness (25),
black ocean (33). Even if she says I, she represents all Black
people since
she defends their cause.
She decided to write this poem because of Whites never-ending
racism
towards Blacks. Indeed, she evokes her slave ancestors: Bringing
the gift
that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave
(39 -40)
to underline the fact that Whites have been mistreating them for
ages.
Besides, she refers to this period as: historys shame (29) so as
to showthat slavery was unfair and inhuman.
(B)Blacks vs Whites: Submission vs supremacy)Nevertheless, the
end of slavery and segregation havent changed the way
Whites behave towards Blacks, according to her: they still seem
to feel
superior and despising: You may trod me in the very dirt(3).
They do not
respect them and treat them like animals. Moreover, she uses a
ternary
rhythm and gradation to prove how violent they can be: You
mayshoot
me / cut me / kill me with your hatefulness (21-23): Whites are
cruel and
mean.
(C)Reversing the balance of power)Yet, unlike her ancestors who
had to be submissive and to obey Whites
laws, Maya Angelou refuses to do the same and rebels. Indeed,
the
repetition of the phrase I rise evokes both pride and getting up
again
after mistreatment. The anaphora aims at emphasizing that in
spite of
their insults, violence and hatred, she will not accept their
supremacy. In
her poem, she reverses the balance of power: she is a free Black
American
citizen.
(Conclusion)
This poem ends with a promise to Black people but also a message
of hope
for a better future: I am the dream and the hope of the slave
(40) .
Contrary to their ancestors, Black people can be optimistic for
their future.
Remarques:
Evitez les longues biographies inutiles.
Votre plan doit suivre la logique du texte etnon la linarit.
Les titres doivent tre thmatiques (dissociezFOND et FORME)
Dbutez votre commentaire par le dbut :traitez dabord les
informations gnrales /essentielles pourensuitealler vers limplicite
/les informations moins videntes
Utilisez des connecteurs logiques pourorganiser votre
propos.
Citer le texte loral : ON line 29 / line 29
La citation ne constitue pas un lmentdanalyse elle seule, elle
sert appuyer /justifier cette analyse.
Il faut systmatiquement indiquerla lignelorsque lon cite le
texte.
Les figures de style doivent tre (1)identifies, (2) justifis
laide du texte et(3) analyses(Pourquoi lauteur a choisidutiliser
cette figure de style? Que souhaite t-ilexprimer ainsi ?)
