No Loser, No Weeper by Maya Angelou

Poem analysis: No Loser, No Weeper by Maya Angelou

Note: USE QUOTES from the poem to back up your answers

1. Symbolism 

What is the symbol of the objects in this poem? What does it mean?

2. Speaker

Who is “speaking”? (This is not the author/writer/poet)

How can you tell? (What details point to the speaker/narrator’s gender, age, role, status, etc.)

What does the writing say about the speaker? (What kind of mentality or attitude does the speaker have towards the subject? How does he/she come across as a person?)

3. Occasion

What is the speaker writing in response to? (This could be something personal, such as the death of a loved one.)

What’s happening in the larger world? (Consider when the text was written, and what national, world, or societal events were taking place. )

4. Audience

At whom is this text directed? (certain audience by describing some characteristics of the text that indicate a “you.”.)

Who are the intended and unintended audiences?

5. Purpose

What is the reason behind the text? (The purpose could be a purely personal one or directed at the audience to teach, warn, etc.)

What are readers supposed to think or do as a result of reading it? (what is the message and how does the author wants the audience to respond.)

6. Subject

What is the subject of the work in a phrase or sentence?

7. Tone

What is the attitude or overall feeling of the author toward his/her topic?