Readers-Response Theory

Example:

Still I Rise -Maya Angelou

Still I Rise by Maya Angelou

You may write me down in history With your bitter, twisted lies, You may trod me in the very dirt But still, like dust, I’ll rise.Does my sassiness upset you? Why are you beset with gloom? ‘Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells Pumping in my living room. Just like moons and like suns, With the certainty of tides, Just like hopes springing high, Still I’ll rise. Did you want to see me broken? Bowed head and lowered eyes? Shoulders falling down like teardrops. Weakened by my soulful cries. Does my haughtiness offend you? Don’t you take it awful hard ‘Cause I laugh like I’ve got gold mines Diggin’ in my own back yard. You may shoot me with your words, You may cut me with your eyes, You may kill me with your hatefulness, But still, like air, I’ll rise. Does my sexiness upset you? Does it come as a surprise That I dance like I’ve got diamonds At the meeting of my thighs? Out of the huts of history’s shame I rise Up from a past that’s rooted in pain I rise I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide, Welling and swelling I bear in the tide. Leaving behind nights of terror and fear I rise Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear I rise Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave. I rise I rise I rise. Interpretation: Reader's response focuses primarily on the reader's reaction to a text. Based on what I've read, this poem is all about discrimination. All of us encountered discrimination and this poem wants us to realize that we should be strong and don't mind those negative comments about us because whether we do good or bad to people, some will always say something about us. We just need to learn to ignore them and be strong to overcome this kind of obstacles. This poem is very straightforward which makes the message that much more meaningful and affective. Angelou did a great job because she got the readers to get involved in the poem, because while reading this poem you will realize that you also discriminate others and you will realize what is the feeling of being discriminated and while reading this you will feel guilty about it.