Structure & Poetic Techniques

Structure

Stanza Form:

• "Still I Rise" is composed of nine stanzas of varying lengths. The regularity of the shorter stanzas and the longer, more expansive final stanza reflect the momentum of the speaker's rising spirit.

Poetic Techniques

1. Simile: The simile "But still, like dust, I'll rise" compares the speaker's resilience to dust rising.
2. Metaphor: The metaphor "I am a black ocean, leaping and wide" illustrates the speaker's strength and spirit. By comparing herself to an ocean, she highlights her power and vastness, suggesting that her strength is deep and uncontainable.

3. Anaphora: The use of anaphora (the repeated phrase "I rise,") highlights the speaker's resilience and unwavering determination. This repetition creates a rhythmic and emphatic structure that reinforces the poem's message of empowerment and defiance.