Analysis of Maya Angelou's Poem 'When Great Trees Fall': Exploring Stylistic Elements | Schemes and Mind Maps Stylistics

~ 62 ~

WWJMRD 2021; 7(3): 62-65

www.wwjmrd.com

International Journal

Peer Reviewed Journal

Refereed Journal

Indexed Journal

Impact Factor SJIF 2017:

5.182 2018: 5.51, (ISI) 2020-

2021: 1.361

E-ISSN: 2454-6615

ALI Furqan Syed

Lecturer, The University of

Lahore, Sargodha Campus,

Pakistan.

Muntazir Ahmad

M. Phil Scholar, The

University of Lahore,

Sargodha Campus, Pakistan.

Muhammad Javed Waseem

M. Phil Scholar, The

University of Lahore,

Sargodha Campus, Pakistan.

Saira Sajid

Lecturer, University of

Education, Joharabad

Campus, Pakistan.

Muhammad Ali Shahid

Principal, The Hope College of

Science & Management

Sillanwali, Sargodha, Pakistan.

Correspondence:

ALI Furqan Syed

Lecturer, The University of

Lahore, Sargodha Campus,

Pakistan.

Stylistic Analysis of Maya Angelou’s Poem “When

Great Trees Fall”

ALI Furqan Syed, Muntazir Ahmad, Muhammad Javed Waseem, Saira

Sajid, Muhammad Ali Shahid

Abstract

Stylistic analysis of the poem helps the readers delve deep in between the lines to have a better

understanding of the poem and the deep-seated intention of the poet in writing the poem. The aim of

the study was to analyze the poem, “When Great Trees Fall” by Maya Angelou from stylistic point of

view. Graphological and phonological levels of stylistic analysis were identified from the poem.

Furthermore, the study was to describe the importance of literary techniques used in the poem.

Analysis and discussion of the poem has resulted in that the poem is full of the emotions of death,

sorrow, violence, depression and dejection. The stylistic analysis of the poem provides a logical and

scholarly understanding of the poem. Future implications of the research are: it would be beneficial

for the scholars, researcher and the students of literature and linguistics as it will enhance the insight

in concerning linguistic competence of the keen learners.

Keywords: Stylistics, Graphological level, Phonological level, linguistic competence

1. Introduction

Stylistic analysis was used before 20th century to analyze the literary text only but since the

beginning of 20th century stylistic analysis was applied on non-literary text like newspapers

and magazines. The study of style in text is done through this branch of applied linguistics.

The style is used to interpret the text besides to describe the formal features of text. The oral

and written texts are studied in stylistics. Jaafar (2014) defines the stylistics in her research

article “A Stylistic Analysis of Two Selected Poems” published in Journal of College of

Education for Women in 2004, as per Widdowson (1975):

“The study of discourse in the perspective of linguistic orientation is stylistics. Stylistics and

literary criticism are poles apart from each other in characteristics at one hand and on the

other hand is works as a bridge to join them as evident from the morphology of the word

stylistics which proclaims style in relation with the former and ‘istics’ concerning to the

later.”

Coyle et. al. (1993) add stylistics was mostly done in poetry in the very begging as it

required much to extensive explanation both for the formalism and structuralism. Phonetic

and grammatical structure was emphasized in linguistics and that can easily be applied on

poetry. Stylistics is one of the branches of applied linguistics that is used not only to interpret

all type of texts and the linguistics but also the tonal action of all spoken languages is

discussed. Different individuals use particular variety of language is in different physical

settings. Stylistics is a part of Linguistics which represents the broader discipline; to help the

readers for the discovery of the hidden clues about the language; and to understand the entire

text by putting it into smaller parts that can easily be understood. The meaning of a certain

literary work can be interpreted through the help of stylistic devices. According to the

concept of Short and Candlin (1989), “study of literary texts a linguistic approach is called

stylistics”. Style according to Chaika (1982) the messages the words that are not conveyed

easily. There is no concern with what has been said but the main concern is that how a

speaker or writer says. Each style is used to produce certain aesthetic effect in a literature.

Wo rld W ide Jo urn al of Mu lti di sci pli na ry Res ear ch an d D eve lo pme nt (Ma r- 202 1)

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WWJMRD 2021 ; 7 ( 3 ): 62 - 65 www.wwjmrd.com International Journal Peer Reviewed Journal Refereed Journal Indexed Journal Impact Factor SJIF 2017: 5.182 2018: 5.51, (ISI) 2020- 202 1: 1. E-ISSN: 2454- 6615 ALI Furqan Syed Lecturer, The University of Lahore, Sargodha Campus, Pakistan. Muntazir Ahmad M. Phil Scholar, The University of Lahore, Sargodha Campus, Pakistan. Muhammad Javed Waseem M. Phil Scholar, The University of Lahore, Sargodha Campus, Pakistan. Saira Sajid Lecturer, University of Education, Joharabad Campus, Pakistan. Muhammad Ali Shahid Principal, The Hope College of Science & Management Sillanwali, Sargodha, Pakistan. Correspondence : ALI Furqan Syed Lecturer, The University of Lahore, Sargodha Campus, Pakistan.

Stylistic Analysis of Maya Angelou’s Poem “When

Great Trees Fall”

ALI Furqan Syed, Muntazir Ahmad, Muhammad Javed Waseem, Saira

Sajid, Muhammad Ali Shahid

Abstract Stylistic analysis of the poem helps the readers delve deep in between the lines to have a better understanding of the poem and the deep-seated intention of the poet in writing the poem. The aim of the study was to analyze the poem, “When Great Trees Fall” by Maya Angelou from stylistic point of view. Graphological and phonological levels of stylistic analysis were identified from the poem. Furthermore, the study was to describe the importance of literary techniques used in the poem. Analysis and discussion of the poem has resulted in that the poem is full of the emotions of death, sorrow, violence, depression and dejection. The stylistic analysis of the poem provides a logical and scholarly understanding of the poem. Future implications of the research are: it would be beneficial for the scholars, researcher and the students of literature and linguistics as it will enhance the insight in concerning linguistic competence of the keen learners. Keywords: Stylistics, Graphological level, Phonological level, linguistic competence

1. Introduction Stylistic analysis was used before 20th^ century to analyze the literary text only but since the beginning of 20th^ century stylistic analysis was applied on non-literary text like newspapers and magazines. The study of style in text is done through this branch of applied linguistics. The style is used to interpret the text besides to describe the formal features of text. The oral and written texts are studied in stylistics. Jaafar (2014) defines the stylistics in her research article “A Stylistic Analysis of Two Selected Poems” published in Journal of College of Education for Women in 2004, as per Widdowson (1975): “The study of discourse in the perspective of linguistic orientation is stylistics. Stylistics and literary criticism are poles apart from each other in characteristics at one hand and on the other hand is works as a bridge to join them as evident from the morphology of the word stylistics which proclaims style in relation with the former and ‘istics’ concerning to the later.” Coyle et. al. (1993) add stylistics was mostly done in poetry in the very begging as it required much to extensive explanation both for the formalism and structuralism. Phonetic and grammatical structure was emphasized in linguistics and that can easily be applied on poetry. Stylistics is one of the branches of applied linguistics that is used not only to interpret all type of texts and the linguistics but also the tonal action of all spoken languages is discussed. Different individuals use particular variety of language is in different physical settings. Stylistics is a part of Linguistics which represents the broader discipline; to help the readers for the discovery of the hidden clues about the language; and to understand the entire text by putting it into smaller parts that can easily be understood. The meaning of a certain literary work can be interpreted through the help of stylistic devices. According to the concept of Short and Candlin (1989), “study of literary texts a linguistic approach is called stylistics”. Style according to Chaika (1982) the messages the words that are not conveyed easily. There is no concern with what has been said but the main concern is that how a speaker or writer says. Each style is used to produce certain aesthetic effect in a literature. World Wide Journal of Multidiscip linary Research and Development (Mar-2021)

1.1. Research Statement The purpose of the study is to identify the literary techniques used in Maya Angelou’s poem “When Great Trees Fall”. The research is about the “Death” as it brings despair and misery in its wake. Through the technique of stylistics, the poem was analyzed by delving deep into Graphological and Phonological levels. 1.2. Objectives of the Study

To investigate graphological aspects of the poem “When Great Trees Fall”
To investigate phonological aspects of the poem “When Great Trees Fall” 1.3. Research Questions
What are the graphological aspects in the poem “When Great Trees Fall”?
What are the phonological aspects in the poem “When Great Trees Fall”? 1.4. Importance of the Study Recently, where linguistics is growing with a rapid speech in the field of literature on a larger scale, the stylistic analysis is excessively being used to deal with the literary techniques and figures of speech to understand the intention of the poet. Stylistic analysis helps the reader to reveal the true meaning garbed in figurative language used by the poet. We can say that stylistic is used as a bridge to link the field of literature with linguistics, thus it has great importance in the field of literature. The significance of this research study is to analyze the tools of stylistics and their practical application in poetry that will surely help the readers as well as the students who are connected with English language and literature. As the title suggests, the research study under consideration focuses on the linguistic aspects of the poems through stylistic analysis. Furthermore, it is expected that the Stylistic approach used in this research will help the future researchers to do the stylistic analysis of any literary work in the form of poetry. 1.5. Title of Poem In this poem falling of trees is metaphorically used to represent the idea of great loss, misery and disease. When someone dies and leave many people for crying behind him/her. The process of running of the animals is symbolized with the people when they try to find a place of shelter in the form of support from someone to decrease their sorrow after the death of their dear ones. Overall the discussion of the poem is about the Death. 1.6. Theme of Poem One of the most important themes presented in the poem is death. Death of the beloved one is described through the presentation of the fall of Great Tree. It is about the discussion of the loss we have to face in the form of death of the person who has great influence in our live. We are unable to bear the pain of their departure. 1.7. Delimitations Due to the shortage of time and according to the requirement of the study, only one poem of Maya Angelou sty, “When Great Trees Fall” has been selected for stylistic analysis. Furthermore, the study has been restricted to only two levels of stylistic analysis i.e., graphological and phonological levels to achieve the objectives of the study and to make the study more effective for language and literature learners. 2. Review of related Literature There are many articles, books and texts that deal with the stylistic analysis of different texts especially related to the poems of different poets. In this research work, we come to the facts about the importance of words for the poets garbed in hidden meanings. The words describe the purpose of the poet to write the poem and his intention can be clearly judged by his using of words of language. Poet’s personality depicts from his writing style. Poetic and non- poetic language can be differentiated through the writing style of the poets. The poet’s manipulation of the language differentiates the poetry from the ordinary language. The research deals with the usage of different languages by the poets. Stylistic analysis explores the writing style of the both poems. Recurrent features of stylistics have been discussed in the research thoroughly. More suitable words are used in these poems to convey the real message of the poets. Before proceeding towards the stylistic analysis of the poems there is a complete discussion about the stylistics and its level and elements include in it so that it will be easy for the reader to understand the purpose of the research. 2.1. The concept of Style We can define the term “Style” with different meanings they may me in and outside the literary text. Without knowing the meanings of style in a proper way, this term cannot be used in an appropriate manner with effect. The style can also be referred as a manner, a way or a particular procedure for doing something. The thoughts of a person’s mind are reflected through the style any writer adopts. The way of speaking and writing of person can also be judged by the writer style thus we can say that style shows the personality of a person. Style involves both types speaking and writing that includes literary and non-literary language. It is raftered particularly towards the literary text in written form. As said by Widdowson (1975) from linguistics orientation the study of literary discourse is called stylistics. According to Leech (1969) the way of speaking, writing and to perform something is called style. In it the wording, sentence structure and the style of speaker is discussed. According to Chapman (1973) in a certain recurring situation a number of people commonly adopt a register that is called style of writing. Between language- users of a common in relation to the product of social situation is called style. 2.2. The Concept of Stylistics According to Coyle & et.al (1993) in starting work of stylistics was mostly done on poetry because poetry was required too much detail and to build on poetry the formalist and structuralist work was easy to done. Phonetic and grammatical structure was emphasized in linguistics and that can be easily applied as a result on poetry. Stylistics is one of the branches of applied linguistics that is used to interpret all type of texts and the linguistics and tonal style of all spoken languages is discussed. Different individuals use particular variety of language and their use

4. Stylistic Analysis of the poem The poem has been written in 'vers libre' which is otherwise called free verse type of poem. It doesn't utilize steady meter examples, rhyme, or any melodic example. The same is the case with the poem under analysis in this study. No rhyming scheme is used by the poet in this poem as last word of each line is totally different from the others and there is no specific pattern of meter followed in the poem as each stanza of poem is of different length. While doing analysis of the poem “When Great Trees Fall”, only Graphological and Phonological levels have observed by the researcher. 4.1. Phonological Level a. Alliteration: Many examples of alliteration can be trace in the poem as in stanza no. 2 F all, F orest, S ilence, S enses, B reathe, B riefly; in stanza No. 2 S uddenly, S harpened; in Stanza No.4 M uch, M addened, C old, C aves; and in Stanza No. P eriod, P eace, B e, B e. All the letters in Bold form are the examples of alliteration. b. Consonance: A sentence with the repetition of final consonants but has different preceding vowels. Within a sentence or phrase consonants produced the repetitive sound that is called Consonance. Examples: tree s , forest s , thing s , sense s , soul s , become s , briefl y , briefl y , unsai d , promise d , forme d , informe d , c. Assonance: Repetition is found of vowel words that are nearly related with each other, that repetition is called Assonance that creates musical color. Wh e n, gr e at tr e es, d i stant h i lls, t a ll gr a sses, ev e n el e phants, lumb e r aft e r safety, reco i l into s i lence, th e ir s e nses b e yond, f e ar st e rile, br e athe, bri e flyk, ey e s, sudd e nly sharp e ned, tak e s l e ave, madden e d, reduc e d to the unutterabl e ignoranc e , p e riod, p e ace, s e nses, r e stored, n e ver, sam e , whisp e r, th e y exist e d, w e , b e , b e tt e r and exist e d. The all underlined letter in bold form are the examples of assonance. 4.2. Graphological Level Wales (2014) expressed, "graphology is alluded to the composing arrangement of a language, as showed in handwriting and typography; and to the next related highlights noted in for example capitalization and punctuation". i. Capitalization: The words with capital letters in the poem express the stress and priority of the following words and phrases. First of all, the capitalization used in the title of the poem ‘When Great Leaves Fall’, the significance of the title can be measure from the use of title in the very lines of the first two stanzas. It intensifies the theme of death from the very inception. Other words and phrase with capitalization are: ‘Our eye’ and ‘Our memory’ in the third stanza, “Great souls”, “Our minds”, and pronoun ‘We” in the fourth stanza, and in the fifth and final stanza “Our sense”, ‘We can be and Be and be’ are the cynosure of the study which aggravate the gloominess of theme in the poem. ii. Punctuation: The poem has been written in free very style: without any specific meter and rhyme scheme. What attracts the attention of the read is the use of punctuation in the poem. a. Full stops: 17 times As the poem has been written in run-on lines, random full stop in the poem has been used at 17 places to express the completeness of the sense. Anyhow, the uneven use of full stop in between the lines the manifest the sudden halt and slowness which are the evidence of gloom prevailed in the poem. As we see the random use of in the following lines in bold letters. Full-stop is used at the end of most lines to give complete sense and each stanza. b. Commas: 27 times In the poem comma is used for 27 times to indicate the short pause. The sentential elements in the poems are also separated through the use of commas. In this poem, the excessive use of commas breaks the natural flow of speech to slowness which means as journey from life to death. Conclusion To probe in between the lines what the poet intends to say and convey to the readers, stylistic analysis of the poem ‘When Great Leave Fall’ has been done through the lens of levels of stylistic analysis presented by Paul Simpson. Anyhow, only two levels: Graphological level and Phonological level were used by the researcher to achieve the objectives of the study. Both levels revealed the ideas of the poet garbed in literary techniques. Concept of death and the reality of the death have been presented by the poet in her own writing style. As the main concern of the research was the stylistic analysis of the poem, so going through the stylistic analysis we find the way of presenting ideas by the poet. References

Chaika, E. (1982). Language: The Social Mirror. Boston: Newbury House.
Chapman, R. (1973). Linguistics and Literature: An Introduction to Literary Stylistics. London: Adward Arnold Limited.
Coyle. (1993). Literary Terms and Criticism. London: Macmillin Press London.
Haynes, J. (2014). Introducing Linguistics. London: Unwin Hyman, London.
Jafar, A. (2014). A Stylistic Analysis of Two Selected Poems. Journal of The College of Education for Women.
Kim Fahner. (2014). The Republic of Poetry, https://kimfahner.wordpress.com
Khan. (2015). The Device of Phonology in Joe Ushies Poetry, Sylistic and Pegogical Implications.
Leech, G. (1969). A Linguistic Guide to English Poetry. London: Oxford Unversity Press, London.
Simpson, P. (2004). Sylistics: A Source book for Students. London: Routhledge, London and New York.
Widdoson, H. (1975). Stylistics and the Teaching of Literature. Journal of College of Education for Women.

Analysis of Maya Angelou's Poem 'When Great Trees Fall': Exploring Stylistic Elements, Schemes and Mind Maps of Stylistics

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Download Analysis of Maya Angelou's Poem 'When Great Trees Fall': Exploring Stylistic Elements and more Schemes and Mind Maps Stylistics in PDF only on Docsity!

Stylistic Analysis of Maya Angelou’s Poem “When

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