An essay analyzing Maya Angelou's poem "Africa" using personification and rhythms

Maya Angelou's "Africa" describes Africa being destroyed by Europeans who took the children of Africa into slavery. Personification and rhythm enhance both the imagery and tone of the poem. The continent of Africa is personified to create vivid images and the rhythmical patterns contribute to the changing tone from pleasant to unpleasant to contemplative. Africa is personified to create vivid imagery and to give human emotions to a continent. Simultaneously, the entire poem is a …

…on the word "rising". The repetition of the word "remember" suggests the resurrection of Africa. The rising meters in the last stanza also emphasize the importance of remembering the past. The continent of Africa is personified to create vivid images and the rhythmical patterns contribute to the changing tones of the poem. The tones move from cheerful to displeasing to reflective. The rhythm and three movement patterns enhance the changes in tone of the poem.