What Does Girl On Fire Mean

Alicia Keys's song “Girl on Fire '' emphasizes the idea of self-belief and perseverance. Through her song, she demonstrates the concept of continuing to believe in yourself and your own opinions to reach your dreams. Keys founded her music on the power of self-sufficient women and was inspired by struggles in her personal life. She believed that women like her must be strong role models who keep themselves motivated. This song encourages women worldwide to stay strong regardless of the circumstances.

Some wonder why her song was named “Girl on Fire”. As her lyrics emphasize, a woman always remains firm throughout her struggles. “Girl on Fire” is a simple exaggeration that summarizes a woman's boldness and courageousness regardless of the

She even states they are “hotter than a fantasy” (1.2). These two lines compare the power of a girl and the strength they obtain that is as great as a fire. Afterwards, Keys sings about difficulties faced by women while fighting through situations. For example, she says, “Lonely like a highway / She's livin' in a world and it's on fire / Filled with catastrophe” (1.3-5). Through these lines, Keys explains how women have to face challenges and overcome burdens on their own. Also, Alicia Keys describes the world as a place full of catastrophe where women still shine like a bright fire. Alicia Keys ends her first stanza with the influential line, “But she knows she can fly away” (1.6). This emphatic line suggests that no matter how hard her life is, a woman will always find a way to figure things out. Alicia Keys uses the words “she can fly away” (1.6), to show that a woman will discover her freedom by solving her problems and finding solutions.

The second stanza of “Girl on Fire” reads:

Oh-oh, she got both feet on the ground
And she's burnin' it down
Oh-oh, she got her head in the clouds
And she's not backing down
This girl is on

In Alicia Keys's song “Girl on Fire,” several poetic devices such as imagery, repetition, hyperboles, and similes are used. Keys begins her song with a metaphor and similar: “Hotter than a fantasy / lonely like a highway” (1.2-30. Additionally, the metaphor compares a woman's beauty to a fantasy. Fantasies are known to be magical places that people elude in to rid themselves of their problems momentarily. Similarly, women are known to be magical in a sense and allow others to feel great around them. Furthermore, the simile “lonely like a highway” (1.3), compares the struggles women go through to an empty highway. People often face problems and are expected to resolve their issues for themselves. In particular, women face difficulties that can create rough situations. Even then women will continue to drive on just like a lonely highway that stretches into the horizon. Another example of a poetic device used in “Girl on Fire” is repetition. The use of repetition indicates an important point or message the author is trying to convey. In these lyrics, the words “this girl is on fire” (4.1-2), are frequently repeated. Also, the lines summarize the song’s message and emphasize that a woman is so courageous, bold, daring, and powerful that she is practically an invincible roaring