Maya Angelou Research Paper

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Family may very well be the most important and valuable part of life that one gets to experience. Take a moment to appreciate all of the unbelievable sacrifices a loved one makes by working that 9-5 to make certain we’re happy, the unwavering dedication and encouragement they have for anything we might want to do, the meaningful life lessons they teach us so that day we can take on the real world on our own. A family is there for you no matter what. Back in 2012, I went through a very dark time in my life. I had always believed that my parents and I lead a perfect, joyous life where nothing could go wrong. My whole world was shattered when I found out they were getting a divorce. How could I go on without the two people that I cared and …show more content…

People like Henry David Thoreau, Mark Twain, Harper Lee, are a few of the most famous names from literature because they revolutionized the way in which the masses think about writing. This is largely in part due to the fact that they explored mature themes and abstract emotions that provided a commentary on the world around them and how it impacted not only them, but the reader as well. While there have been many great authors in history, few have been as remarkable as Maya Angelou. Angelou was one of the most widely respected authors in and out of the 20th century, known for her poems exploring the range of the human mind and emotion and the unjust prejudice against minorities. Her African-American heritage makes her achievements that much more impressive because she had to fight against all odds to follow her dreams. “Alone” is a poem by Angelou that provides a touching narrative on the importance of family and believing in yourself as well as others. The main stanza that is repeated in the poem has lines that read, “That nobody, But nobody, can make it out here alone.” (Angelou, Stanza 1) The meaning of this quote is very faceted. First of all, it cements a motif of family because interdependence and reliability are pillars needed for any family to work. Building upon that point, Angelou’s diction through words like ‘out’ and ‘but’ places a feeling of longing into the text. The author clearly incorporated this technique as part of her craft because the poem is entitled ‘Alone’ and wants to impart a message about being close to those that love and support you. Another piece of the poem which is a key element in conveying family as a central motif is near the conclusion stanza where Angelou writes, “Now if you listen closely, I’ll tell you what I know, Storm clouds are gathering, The wind is gonna blow, The race of man is suffering, And I can

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