Alone (Maya Angelou poem) Literary Elements

The speaker’s gender is never specified in the poem. However, we can reasonably assume that Maya Angelou is the speaker, as she expresses her feelings about her own life experiences. The speaker initially does not address anyone in particular. By the poem’s conclusion, she speaks to a third person—ostensibly, the listener—and confides her feelings in this person while also sending a message of warning.

The poem is free verse. It does not follow a consistent meter or rhyme scheme. However, there are examples of rhyme in each stanza, such as “stone” and “alone” in stanza one, “use” and “blues” in stanza three, and “know” and “blow” in stanza five. In addition, the refrain follows an A-B-A meter. Every other stanza is repeated.

“To cure their hearts of stone” (metaphor) – The wealthy people are so deeply isolated and disconnected from human emotion that they are incapable of feeling anything. For this reason, doctors cannot cure them of their depression.

“And bread loaf is not stone” (metaphor) – The speaker lacks spiritual nourishment. The bread loaf is a Biblical allusion, suggesting that the speaker is deprived of religious comfort as well.

“Where water is not thirsty” (metaphor) – The speaker once again lacks spiritual nourishment. This line is another Biblical reference. Christ says that whoever drinks the water he provides well never thirst again. The speaker is so deprived of spiritual and religious connection that even water is thirsty.

“Their wives run round like banshees” (simile) – In Irish folklore, banshees are female spirits who wail about impending death. The wives of millionaires are presumably spending their fortune constantly and filling their days with useless activities until one day they die. The wives’ behaviors and feelings mirror the alarm and anxiety of a wailing spirit expecting death. Their souls are slowly dying, as their money cannot buy them happiness.

“Nobody, but nobody” (alliteration) – While the word “nobody” is technically repeated, the “n” consonant sound is also an example of alliteration. The “n” sound gives emphasis to the negativity and emptiness of the word (as the word “no” is contained within “nobody”).

“Now if you listen closely” (alliteration) – The “s” consonant sound is repeated in “listen” and “closely.” The “s” sound makes one think of the word “secret,” as if the speaker is about to tell a secret. It creates a mysterious tone.

“Where water is not thirsty” (alliteration) – The “w” consonant sound is repeated in “where” and “water.” The words do not flow well together and parallel the desperation of failing to find spiritual nourishment.

“Lying, thinking” (assonance) – The repetition of “ing” in both words creates assonance with the “i” vowel sound. The sound makes the speaker appear tired and restless.

“And I don’t believe I’m wrong” (assonance) – The repetition of the long “i” vowel sound creates assonance. The speaker sounds confident with the repetition of the word “I.”

“Alone, all alone” (assonance) – The repetition of the “a” vowel sound gives the line a sad musical quality as it flows off the tongue. The speaker sounds like she is mourning or lamenting.

In the third stanza, the speaker discusses the irony of having great wealth. Many people may think that money can buy happiness and cure people of their ailments. However, the speaker has come to realize that this is not true, as wealthy people find themselves bored, lonely, anxious, and devoid of any deep feelings or human connection.

Autobiographical poetry, political poetry, African-American poetry.

The setting is not clearly indicated. The speaker refers to an ambiguous “here.” Angelou may be describing 1970s America, or she may be speaking of the world as a whole since she makes references to the suffering of the entire human race.

Somber, in that the speaker is lonely and feeling disconnected from other people. She also feels that the human race is suffering, and the repetition of the key stanza sounds like a lament and an affirmation all at once. Confident, in that the speaker is firm in her convictions and believes that the listener needs to heed her message of solidarity. Pensive, in that the speaker is reflecting deeply throughout the poem.

The speaker is the protagonist, describing her feelings about her life and the state of humankind. The antagonist is not a specific person. One may consider isolation the antagonist, as she and other human beings are feeling lonely, lacking spiritual comfort, fighting wars, dealing with racial tensions, and the like, as a result of keeping to themselves and not communicating with one another.

The speaker feels that she is suffering spiritually and that she is very lonely. She needs spiritual comfort and community to survive. She also feels that her problem is not unique. The entire human race is suffering, and she feels that solidarity is the answer to their suffering.

The climax occurs in the fifth stanza. The speaker addresses the listener suddenly for the first time, implying that she has an important message to relay. She confides in the listener that troubles are brewing for humankind and that hard times lay ahead.

The fifth stanza also serves as an example of foreshadowing. The speaker knows that the human race is already suffering from issues such as war and racial tensions, and she uses nature metaphors to illustrate how people should expect more gloom and misery to come.

The speaker’s statement that children “sing the blues” is a form of understatement. If these wealthy children are indeed depressed, their pain may not be a temporary situation. Their isolation and sadness may carry on into the next generation in a repeated negative cycle. Likewise, the “moan” of the human race indicates suffering but not necessarily the grave consequences of not working together as a human race. Some people moan when they are merely complaining, but the human race could potentially die out if war becomes a common practice.

The poet alludes to war, racism, and other societal issues in America and around the world by mentioning how the “race of man is suffering.” In addition, the references to “water” and “bread” in the first stanza are Biblical allusions that demonstrate a need for spiritual and/or religious comfort.

“Find my soul a home” (metonymy) – The “home” to which the speaker refers indicates not necessarily a physical place but a kind of spiritual home. The speaker wants to be part of a community that is united by spiritual or religious bonds. Alternatively, the speaker just wants her soul to find some peace, and human beings finding solidarity can give the speaker the home she is looking for—a world where people come together.

“Water” and “bread loaf” (metonymy) – Biblical references that stand in for spiritual comfort.

“Water is thirsty” – Water is personified when given the attribute of thirst.

“Where...Bread loaf is not stone” – The bread loaf that the speaker has is not literally a stone. It is either hard like a stone, or perhaps it is an illusion and not real bread at all.

“Their wives run round like banshees” – The wives are not literally wailing about death, but they are anxious and sad to the point that they are depressed.

“To cure their hearts of stone” – Once again, the word “stone” is used as a substitute for something real and alive. There are no emotions present, so the hearts of wealthy people are like stone—a natural element that feels nothing and is not alive.

“And I can hear the moan” – The speaker may hear people complain of their suffering, but she is most likely not hearing the moan of the entire human race.

No examples of onomatopoeia.