Through the inner city to the suburbs

Question 1

Highlights the…

Answer 1

artificial and solemn lives of white people

Question 2

The poet portrays the journey…

Answer 2

as a moment to reflect upon… (3 BIG IDEAS)…

Question 3

4 Big Ideas

Answer 3

• Visually drastic changes between life in the suburbs and inner city life
• challenged conventional ideas of the inner city and the suburbs. Angelou encourages readers to subvert from our traditional views of stereotypes
• Compares the significantly different habitual lives of the upper class and the lower class.
• African Americans are unable to improve their lives as they are restricted and bounded by their race.

Question 4

Overall ideas of this poem:

Answer 4

• memorable and special experience
• celebratory tonal register
• slavery and discrimination

Question 5

“Secured by sooted windows”

Answer 5

The metaphor conveys the comfort brought upon the speaker by the train journey. - Further evident in the verb, “Secured”

Question 6

Sibilance in : “Secured by sooted windows”

Answer 6

May mirror the soft hissing noises of the train

Question 7

The diphthong in, “sooted”, alongside the sibilance may depict….

Answer 7

the speaker´s relaxation as she travels to an unfamiliar location : the suburbs.

Question 8

The lexical field of a translucent view is further established in the adjective, “frosting”. In isolation…

Answer 8

the adjective may hold negative connotations as the unclear view, may produce discomfort and unease. However, combined with the noun, “Delicious”, Angelou symbolises the train journey as being a magical experience for the speaker. One which is pleasurable and sweet.

Question 9

“It is / Delicious.”

Answer 9

The short syntactical phrase is emphatic

Question 10

Due to the enjambment in : “It is / Delicious.”, placing emphasis upon the adjective, Angelou might be highlighting…

(+ Alternative)

Answer 10

the train journey as being consequent to the speaker´s synaesthesia.

OR

The enjambment may illustrate the train´s rapid pace.

Question 11

“People. Black and fast. Scattered”

Answer 11

The imagery is of the speaker observing people from her window seat.

Question 12

The caesura, alongside the short, simplistic phrases, in : “People. Black and fast. Scattered”, increases the pace of the poem. Which may portray…

(+ D.I. and context)

Answer 12

the energetic lives of African Americans and their dynamic daily routines.

DEEPER IMPLICATIONS

The lives of African Americans are vibrant and full of momentum, (and in parallelism with the train´s fast movements).

OR

Their lively habitual lifestyle may express their readiness and eagerness in hope for rapid changes in how people perceive black people. They await a more progressed and developed society

CONTEXT

Angelou is celebrating the lives of the black community

Question 13

The adjective, “Black”, connotes that the inner city is…

(+ context)

Answer 13

populated by African Americans.

Contextually, Angelou is illustrating the racial divide and segregation that occurred in the 20th century - there was no integration between races.

Question 14

“Stolen gems / Unsaleable and dear”

Answer 14

The metaphor reminds the reader of the harsh realities the black community had to face daily.

Question 15

The adjective, “stolen”, may refer to…

Answer 15

the slave trade and how the lives of African Americans were seen as worthless.

Question 16

“dear”

(+ D.I)

Answer 16

The noun produces ambiguity as it may emphasise Angelou´s deep affection towards African Americans

OR

It may symbolise how Angelou depicts the lives of African Americans as being “unsaleable” and of a high value.

Question 17

Universal message for “Stolen gems / Unsaleable and dear”

Answer 17

Angelou suggests that white people have stolen the precious and expensive lives of African Americans; Their identities have been stripped away from them.

As the speaker witnesses this from the train´s window, it is evident that the speaker holds a sense of rage and anger towards white people as she sees the injustice inflicted upon African Americans and their community.

Question 18

“…[nights], damp dancing, the juicy / secrets of black thighs”

(+ D.I.)

Answer 18

Through the imagery, Angelou portrays a sensual and spirited atmosphere.

DEEPER IMPLICATION

Despite the oppression faced, black people have been able to build a sense of community, and through a celebratory tone, she portrays the dignity and joy African Americans have.

Question 19

Due to the celebratory tone, Angelou links the line, “…[nights], damp dancing, the juicy / secrets of black thighs” to….

(A DIFFERENT POEM FROM HER COLLECTION)

Answer 19

“Country lover”, which also conveys the vivid, colourful atmosphere that African Americans lived with - A life that profoundly resonates with the speaker, emphasising her love and passion she has for the inner city.

Question 20

The abstract noun, “secrets”

Answer 20

may highlight the freedom black people have within their community and how they have the liberty to express their sensual desires freely without judgement.

Question 21

“Thighs” references to physical attributes which is a common feature in Angelou´s writing…

Answer 21

Similarly to Phenomenal Woman, Angelou vividly depict the beauty in African Americans’ physical characteristics as a way to honour her cultural heritage as a black woman.

Question 22

The varied stanza lengths may portray…

Answer 22

the drastic changes between inner city life and life at the suburbs.

Question 23

” ´I had a coloured / Mammy ´…”

Answer 23

The dialogue portrays the disrespectful and condescending perspectives white people had upon African Americans.

Question 24

The abstract noun, “Mammy”, alludes to the…

Answer 24

racial caricature black females were given. This, however, only portrays the false narrative that black women were happy as slaves, and tied to the constraints of being a working maid.

(link to Woman work)

Question 25

“Grinning.”

Answer 25

The refraining adjective shows how African Americans are able to express their pleasure and joy in their life.

Question 26

The adverb, “still”, from : “And grinning. Still /”, confirms that…

Answer 26

in spite of the discrimination they might still face, they are able to defy societal´ s oppressive regimes by “Grinning” and being appreciative of life.