Final Poem Response

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.