Summary

“Still I Rise” begins with the speaker confronting an unnamed antagonist: “You may write me down in history / With your bitter, twisted lies” (1-2). The speaker is aware of the nature of their antagonist and knows she faces the risk of being misrepresented. The speaker continues by acknowledging that her antagonist may even become physically violent, saying, “You may trod me in the very dirt” (3). However, despite these threats against her, the speaker is confident that she will be able to withstand them and rise above them.

Empowered by this confidence, the speaker moves to question the reasons for her treatment. She wonders whether it was her "sassiness" that led to this antagonization, or if it was because she walked "like I've got oil wells / Pumping in my living room” (5-8). Still, regardless of the reason, the speaker's confidence does not waiver and she...