The poem “Life Doesn’t Frighten Me”
by Maya Angelou examines that everyone is afraid of something. It’s either in
childhood or for the rest of their lives. Some people can’t get over their
fears, but some people just toss those fears away. Most people don’t grow out
of their fears and some people think its ok to tease them about it. With
bravery up your sleeve you can conquer those fears. The poem shows a
progression from more imaginary childhood fears to more serious grown-up
issues, and the speaker is brave against all fears.
Everyone
at least had one childhood fear when they were little. As well, everyone has a
more serious fear when they grow older. An example in the poem that hints more
childlike fears are the stanzas. In the beginning of the poem it starts off
with more childhood fears. I noticed that the stanzas are simple, straight to
the point and only 3 stanzas. This hints more childhood fear because it’s not
so in-depth. This poem also hints on vague concepts. When you’re young, you don’t remember memories
as much as when you’re older. Most fears when you’re younger include ghosts and
dragons. But, when you get older you have a fear that matches a memory you had.
When you’re younger, you fear stuff that isn’t real. Imaginary characters in
books can make you scared of them. Those are types of fears you grow out of
because you figure out they aren’t real. Grown-up fears can be slightly
different.
Grown-up
fears and childhood fears are very different from each other. Grownup fears are
more special to you and you know why you’re scared of them. The fears are more
specific to the speaker. In the poem it mentions a fear that she had when she
was probably in her teenage years. “Don’t show me frogs and snakes/and listen
for my scream” it’s more vivid than just saying snakes are scary/ they’re gross
and slimy. It has a connection to the speaker. Mature fears are more about the
people who peer pressure you into your fears instead of the actual concept that
startles you. Fears can take over you in the wrong way sometimes and you have
to control it.
Bravery
is a symbol of courage. In line 10 of
the poem it states, “I’ve got a magic charm/that I keep up my sleeve.” This kind of is a part of the poem that shows
hope and tells all the people who try to put you down, that they are wasting
your time. The author, Maya Angelou wants everyone to know whatever you throw
at her, she won’t be frightened. She wants everyone to be like her and ignore the
people that don’t like you. Another example is on line 5 it describes that she
is standing up for herself; she won’t let people bring her down. She’s showing people
a taste of “their own medicine.”
The main
message in this poem “Life Doesn’t Frighten Me” is that everyone is afraid of
something. The speaker in this poem is a very brave person and wants you to
know that you shouldn’t listen to any negativity that people give you. A lot of
people around the world are afraid of standing up fir themselves. If you have a
friend or a close one like that, next time you should help them out.
