Literary Analysis Essay – Rough Draft

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The narrative elements setting and conflict contribute to the theme that society’s and individual’s values determines the acceptance of others. The book, “I Know Why the Cage Bird Sings”, by Maya Angelou, is set in Stamps, Arkansas as well as San Francisco, California. In Stamps, Maya and African Americans are treated as inferiors and are not accepted in society. For example, when Annie Henderson, or Momma, was given the title “Mrs.” and the “Whites” laughed about the given title, Maya says, “I saw only her power and strength… Wasn’t she the only Negro woman in Stamps referred to once as Mrs.? … The Whites tickled their funny bones… The Negroes thought it proved the worth and majesty” (Angelou 47 - 48). The racist whites valued their superiority over African Americans, so they did not accept Momma as a person of high authority by being given the title, “Mrs.” However, the African Americans valued Momma’s power, authority, and strength, so they accepted her as Mrs. Henderson. The racism of the whites was not only in Arkansas, but everywhere. For example, Maya says, “Stamps, Arkansas...

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