"On the Pulse of Morning" by Maya Angelou: Analysis of the Poem and Its Moment
This essay of Maya Angelou's "On the Pulse of Morning," written for Bill Clinton's first inauguration ceremony, close-reads the poem's use of imagery, allusion, and themes against the context of the early 1990s, including threats to defund the NEA, Rodney King, and the Gulf War. The student also discusses the unique implications of the poem's genesis as an occasional piece in terms of critical analysis and understanding reception.
This essay received an A by one of Kibin's paper graders. Click here to see what was done well and what needs improvement.
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