In this article, we will be discussing the Analysis of Africa by Maya Angelou which consists of About the poem, a comprehensive stanza by stanza analysis, the themes in the poem, the tone of the poem, the figures of speech, and themes used in the poem.
About the Poem ‘Africa’ by Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou’s poem ‘Africa’ is a poem about the continent of Africa, just as the title suggests. It is a poem of three stanzas, consisting of two sets of eight lines and a set of nine. The poem has an irregular rhyme pattern, as the poet portrays different, yet coherent ideas in each stanza. Maya, in her poem “Africa”, makes use of extended metaphor, as the word ‘woman’ is used to represent Africa; the poet draws the image of Africa as that of a beautiful woman.
Read the Poem Africa by Maya Angelou HERE
Stanza by Stanza Analysis of Africa by Maya Angelou
In the first stanza, the poet describes Africa, employing personification as the continent of Africa is directly compared to a woman lying down, sweet as sugarcane, her hair symbolizing the deserts and her feet golden. Further description is made as her breasts are referred to as the mountains and her tears the Niles that split into two. The poet in each description refers to the continent of Africa, and its actual description. Just like the ‘sugarcanes’ represents the actual crop cultivated in Africa, the deserts in Sahara Africa, and the Nile river in Africa. Africa as described by the poet lain this beautiful, yet vulnerable and ‘black’ with the past experience of exploitation.
1 Comment
This is great! Very informative and easy to understand. Thank you so much!