Life Lessons in Maya Angelous Graduation Essay - 1709 Words

Life Lessons in Maya Angelous Graduation Throughout life we go through many stepping stones, Maya Angelous autobiographical essay Graduation, was about more than just moving on to another grade. The unexpected events that occurred during the ceremony enabled her to graduate from the views of a child to the more experienced and sometimes disenchanting views of an adult. Upon reading the story there is an initial feeling of excitement and hope which was quickly tarnished with the abrupt awareness of human prejudices. The author vividly illustrates a rainbow of significant mood changes she undergoes throughout the story. From the outset of the story there is an overwhelming sense of hope that has enveloped the entire community†¦show more content†¦It was such very special time for the community that even the preacher had prepared a special sermon for this moment. Even the author was looking up to the arch of heaven so religiously [her] neck kept a steady ache (835). Pride had also entered into her character as she explained her smiling soreness, as she had taken to smiling more often and [her] jaws hurt from the unaccustomed activity; (835). As a member of the winning team (the graduating class of 1940) (835) she was moving headfirst toward the future. It was obvious that she was delighted that she had accumulated a plethora of achievements displayed with colored stars on the bulletin board. Even though Henry Reed had been awarded valedictorian, instead of being disappointed [she] was pleased that [they] shared top honors (836). A sense of approval flowed though her and she was genuinely and deservedly happy; she was headed for the freedom of open fields (835). The author also reflected upon the tradition of graduation. The giving of gifts for those children moving from one grade to the next and for those who were at the top of their class this became even more important. In the store she was the person of the moment (835) and customers lavished her with nickels and sometimes even dimes. She could also feel the love from her family. They were treating her like royalty.Show MoreRelated Comparing Maya Angelous Graduation and Liliana Hekers The Stolen Party1020 Words   |  5 PagesComparing Maya Angelous Graduation and Liliana Hekers The Stolen Party    Maya Angelous Graduation and Liliana Hekers The Stolen Party share a common theme. Each author demonstrates through young girls that lifes experiences, especially as a child, teach important lessons. Although Angelous Graduation and Hekers The Stolen Party share a distinct resemblance, they also differ. The main similarity is that Margaret from Graduation and Rosaura from The Stolen Party areRead MoreEssay on I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou2409 Words   |  10 Pagessegregation were a fact of life. 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Her mother, Vivian Johnson, was a registered nurse. When Angelou was three years old, her parents were divorced. They sent her and her four-year-old brother, Baily, Jr., to live with their paternal grandmother, Annie Henderson, in Stamps, Arkansas. Henderson ran a small general store and managed to scrape by. She continued to do so afterRead MoreMalcolm X And Maya Angelou And A Homemade Education1791 Words   |  8 PagesKing Jr., â€Å"Graduation† by Maya Angelou and â€Å"A Homemade Education† by Malcolm X, the authors discuss their experiences and fight against inequality. Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X and Maya Angelou were just a few of the hundreds of thousands of blacks who restlessly fought for civil rights. Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X and Maya Angelou showed that in the face of adversity to persevere you must always remain strong and steadfast if you wish to succeed. Even with Malcolm X and Maya Angelou facingRead MoreI Know Why the Caged Bird Sings - Maya Angelou6502 Words   |  27 PagesAnalysis: Chapters 1–5 The lines from the poem Maya cannot finish, â€Å"What are you looking at me for? I didn’t come to stay . . .† capture two of the most significant issues she struggles with in her childhood and young adulthood: feeling ugly and awkward and never feeling attached to one place. First, Maya imagines that though people judge her unfairly by her awkward looks, they will be surprised one day when her true self emerges. At the time, she hopes that she will emerge as if in a fairy-taleRead MoreAnalysis Of Maya Angelou s Angelou 2396 Words   |  10 Pagesmarriage and Father shipped us home to mother† (Angelou 7). 1. This excerpt comes from the beginning of chapter one. The narrator, who is also the main character Maya Angelou, informs her reader of her family status. 2. The author informs us that she is currently living with her Father’s mother due to the separation of their parents. 3. Maya Angelou includes this passage to show that there is no perfect marriage and provide knowledge as to how hard it was live back then. This passage is significantRead MoreOutliers-The Story of Success, by Malcolm Gladwell Essay1894 Words   |  8 PagesFor example, his first assignment required him to cover fashion, instead of attending a high-end fashion show he opted to write a story about a man who sold $8 t-shirts. This shows his interest to research why certain people chose different paths in life. Gladwell could have written about high-end fashion and the people behind it but he chose to write about the man who sold cheap t-shirts in order to find out why he also didn’t pursue a career in high fashion. Another reason that I feel Gladwell is