English Composition: Equality Short Story Analysis

This essay provides a detailed analysis of Maya Angelou's poem 'Equality,' exploring its central ideas, themes, and use of literary devices. The analysis delves into the poem's three stages, highlighting Angelo's desire for equality and her critique of discrimination. It examines the use of metaphors, such as the 'padding' on the ears and 'blinding vision' of white people, and the symbol of the 'drum' representing the message of equality. The essay also discusses the poem's imagery, particularly the military-like imagery at the beginning, and its phonological and grammatical elements, emphasizing the use of 'You' and 'I' to represent different classes. The analysis concludes that the poem conveys a message of hope and urgency for racial unity and equality, using various literary techniques to reinforce its powerful message.

Running head: English Composition 1
Equality- short story
Student Name
Institution

English Composition 2
Equality- A Short story
Narration:
I was delighted in reading this poem by Maya Angelo since that she feels enormously
determined to accomplish the outcome she wants completely. Rhyming examples are extremely
tempting and the conclusion of the last couple of lines of each stanza " I will be free and
equality" truly demand Angelo's principal objective in stanza: to make things all the more
reasonable or sensible. I appreciate Maya Angelo for tending to her sentiments specifically in
this poem and beating around. Actually, she needed to accomplish this part while composing this
poem and I am certain that he has satisfied her objective.
Central Idea:
In the first stage, Angelo requested more affection and to consider and hear about her
sentiment. She clarifies that the subject of equality is near her heart and she is the one for which
she will never quit fighting.
In the second stage, the Angelo demonstrates that if the opponent's methodology does
not, at any rate, try to realize where it is originating from, things will never show signs of
change.
At last, in the third stage, Angelo gives wishes to the individuals who are guilty of
tolerating discrimination, they know about the pain on numerous individuals, and Angelo again
reminds the people that she firmly has faith in their motivation and never stops.
Theme and use of Metaphors:
Maya Angelou in her poem “Equality the short story” communicated the theme of racism,
equality and discrimination through repeat and the utilization of metaphors. There are three times
repetition of expression I will be free and Equality' in this poem. It highlights that all Angelo

English Composition 3
needs to be independent of discrimination and needs to be equivalent to everybody. The writer
speaks to 'I' as an American-African race and the word ‘YOU’ highlights to the people who are
white. At the point when the poem says, ‘Take the blinders from your vision, take the padding
from your ears, and confess you’ve heard me crying, and admit you’ve seen my tears', this
directly points towards white people, and their ears 'padding' and blinding vision imply that they
are blocking and ignoring Americans-Africans.
It is utilized as a metaphor for highlighting to white individuals who are ignorant towards
American- African and demonstrating them racism. The writer has referred to 'drum' as a symbol
that she may be beating the message of equality for everybody. This demonstrates he is against
discrimination and needs to be treated with everybody and he will keep on spreading the
message until the point when it is settled. At the point when Angelo says, but if I’m just a
shadow for you, can you ever understand? here she is highlighting towards Americans- African
as a shadow for white individuals. It tells the message of discrimination and Negros is dealt with
less attention than white individuals and they put a shadow on all since they are less. The real
utilization of repetition and metaphors in this section makes a feeling of a drive for equality
which makes a solid message for equal rights among everybody.
It really gives the writer a chance to overcome the sentiment of motivation with the terror
of equality. Maya Angela’s poem leaves the tone of optimism and hope that one day everybody
will be equal. It makes urgency that there must be racial unity and equality and it will occur. The
utilization of vowels makes for the positive end that the issue of discrimination will be settled.
Imagery: There are numerous instances of imagery that offer clarity to Maya Angelo’s
poem. Firstly, we get imagery identified with officers, which are enrolled constantly. At the

English Composition 4
beginning of the poem, the speaker is "standing boldly ", " marking time and trim " recommends
a team of an infantry, follows each rule and everything was done effortlessly.
As per phonological level, a few recurrences, stanzas, consonance, and the repetition of
poetry in isolation were utilized to tune in to the dream of Angelo’s about freedom for dark
individuals. In the level of graphological, the utilization of real marks of punctuation in 9, 6 and
3 stanzas underscored the equality as she expected the freedom requirement.
In the level of grammar, Angelo utilized the pronoun You and I as keywords in writing
the poem, uncovering different classes of the experienced writer in the nation. The metaphors
used in writing the poem conveyed the same sense to voice, racism, effort and freedom which
dark individuals have faced in the US (Isti'anah, 2017).

English Composition 5
Bibliography
Isti'anah, A. (2017). Stylistic Analysis of Maya Angelou’s Equality. Lingua Cultura, 11(2), 85-
89. Retrieved 10 24, 2018, from
http://journal.binus.ac.id/index.php/lingua/article/view/1602