ENGLISH PROJECT
TOPIC: How does "When Great Trees Fall" reflect Maya Angelou's broader views
on the role of influential individuals in shaping society and personal identity?
1. Introduction
2. About Maya Angelou
3. Summary of the Poem
4. Metaphor of Trees
5. The Immediate Impact of Loss
6. Silence and Mourning
7. Reflection and Reconnection
8. Hope and Legacy
9. Connection to Civil Rights Movement
10. Personal Identity and Role Models
11. Language and Emotion in the Poem
12. Broader Literary Themes
13. Angelou’s Belief in Human Potential
14. Symbolism of Nature
15. Influence on Future Generations
16. Literary Devices Used
17. Real-Life Applications
18. Maya Angelou’s Legacy
19. Conclusion
20. Bibliography
Page 1: Introduction Maya Angelou's poem "When Great Trees Fall" delves into the emotional and societal
consequences of losing powerful, influential individuals. These individuals—whether they are leaders, artists, or any
person who has significantly shaped the course of their community—leave an indelible mark. In this poem, Angelou
mourns their loss but also reflects on their enduring legacy. Through vivid metaphors and poignant imagery, she
expresses the seismic effect their absence has, not only on the individuals closest to them but on society as a whole.
This project will explore how "When Great Trees Fall" reflects Angelou’s broader views on the role of influential
individuals in shaping both society and personal identity.
Page 2: About Maya Angelou Maya Angelou (1928–2014) was a towering figure in American literature and social
activism. Her body of work spans poetry, memoirs, essays, and plays, with the autobiographical I Know Why the
Caged Bird Sings being one of her most influential works. Angelou's literary contributions are deeply rooted in
themes of resilience, identity, the human condition, and the fight for justice. Her life itself was a testament to these
values, as she worked alongside pivotal figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X during the Civil Rights
Movement. She was not only a poet and a writer but a voice for marginalized communities, constantly elevating the
significance of personal strength and collective power.
Page 3: Summary of the Poem When Great Trees Fall begins by using the metaphor of great trees to symbolize
influential individuals whose death impacts both the physical and emotional landscape. The poem charts the journey
from grief, marked by the immediate disorientation and sorrow that follows the loss, to the eventual recognition that
these individuals live on through the legacy they leave behind. Angelou speaks to both the collective and personal
mourning processes and suggests that the impact of these individuals does not vanish with their death; rather, it
remains woven into the fabric of society. In the final stanzas, Angelou evokes a sense of hope and continuity,
reinforcing that these great souls continue to inspire and guide.
Page 4: Metaphor of Trees In Angelou's poem, the metaphor of "great trees" is a key element. Trees symbolize more
than just natural elements; they represent life, stability, growth, and protection. A great tree provides shelter,
sustenance, and a sense of safety. Thus, when a great person, like a tree, falls, the void left is profound. The absence
is not merely the loss of a person but the collapse of an entire ecosystem of support, guidance, and inspiration.
Angelou’s choice of metaphor connects readers emotionally to the experience of loss—an absence so significant that
it alters the structure of one's world, much as the fall of a tree disrupts the surrounding environment.
Page 5: The Immediate Impact of Loss The immediate aftermath of the death of great figures, as depicted in the
poem, is chaotic and disorienting. Angelou’s line "rocks groan" and "small things recoil into silence" reflects the
shockwaves that ripple through a community when such figures pass. The world feels destabilized, and society seems
to pause. This moment of vulnerability captures Angelou's belief in the interconnectedness of individuals and the
immense weight a single life can carry. It’s not only the people closest to the deceased who feel the loss; entire
communities and cultures are affected, as the absence of one great person causes a ripple effect that echoes far
beyond their immediate circle.
Page 6: Silence and Mourning The poem underscores the deep silence that follows loss. Angelou reflects that "we
are reduced to what we were before they existed," a line that suggests how deeply such individuals shape our
identities. Their guidance, wisdom, and presence become a part of us, and their absence leaves us in a state of
regression, back to a more primal, confused, or uncertain version of ourselves. The silence symbolizes both a
mourning of the lost soul and the temporary loss of direction that those who remain must endure. The loss is not
only physical but psychological, as it forces us to confront the fragility of life and identity.
Page 7: Reflection and Reconnection As the poem progresses, the silence opens up space for reflection. Angelou
suggests that through memory, the deceased continue to exist in the hearts and minds of those who were touched
by their lives. The teachings, principles, and examples left behind become internalized and serve as guiding lights.
This theme ties into Angelou’s broader philosophy that individuals—especially those who demonstrate courage,
wisdom, and strength—shape the very fabric of society. Their impact transcends death, ensuring that they live on
through the actions and decisions of those they influenced.
Page 8: Hope and Legacy In the latter part of the poem, Angelou shifts from mourning to a powerful affirmation of
legacy: "They existed. They existed. We can be. Be and be better. For they existed." These lines reflect Angelou's
belief that the legacies of influential individuals persist not only through memory but through the actions of those
they leave behind. The departed individual’s essence is carried forward in the choices made by others. This is a call to
action: to honor those who have passed by continuing their work and striving to improve the world. It is a recognition
that the death of great individuals is not the end of their impact, but a new phase in the continuation of their vision.
Page 9: Connection to Civil Rights Movement Angelou’s life and work were deeply entwined with the Civil Rights
Movement, and this poem can be seen as a tribute to figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, whose deaths
left immense voids in the fight for justice. These figures, represented by the metaphor of the "great trees," were not
just leaders in a political sense, but moral compasses for their communities. Their passing was not only a loss of
leaders but of hope, strength, and a clear direction. However, as Angelou suggests in the poem, the ideals they
fought for continue to shape the struggle for equality and justice long after their deaths.
Page 10: Personal Identity and Role Models For Angelou, personal identity is profoundly shaped by the presence of
role models—those individuals who guide, challenge, and inspire us. These "great trees" are more than public
figures; they are personal symbols of strength and resilience. In the poem, the death of such a figure forces the
individual to confront the emptiness that remains and the need to find new sources of strength. Angelou’s poem
speaks to the personal devastation that comes when we lose our role models and mentors, but also the responsibility
to carry their legacy forward in our own lives.
Page 11: Language and Emotion in the Poem Angelou’s use of language is pivotal in conveying the raw emotions
surrounding loss. The repetition of key phrases—particularly the line “they existed”—creates a rhythmic incantation
that reinforces the enduring presence of the departed. The imagery is both vivid and emotionally charged, with lines
like “the air is a silence,” which transforms absence into a tangible, almost suffocating presence. This use of sound
and silence, the natural world, and sensory imagery heightens the emotional intensity of the poem, drawing readers
into a shared experience of mourning and remembrance.
Page 12: Broader Literary Themes The poem engages with broader literary themes such as the impermanence of life,
the power of memory, and the interconnection of individuals. Angelou taps into a universal experience: the
inevitability of loss and the need for reflection. Through its emotional depth, When Great Trees Fall becomes not only
an elegy for specific individuals but a meditation on the collective human experience. Angelou’s work suggests that
literature has the power to preserve the influence of great figures and ensure their impact lives on in the collective
memory.
Page 13: Angelou’s Belief in Human Potential Angelou’s work is rooted in a deep belief in human potential and the
power of the individual to effect change. In When Great Trees Fall, the closing lines encourage readers to recognize
their own capacity for greatness. The deceased “great trees” were not born with more potential than the living; they
were individuals who took action, who made a difference. By invoking the idea that we “can be” and “be better,”
Angelou challenges readers to take the lessons of the departed and use them to continue the work they started.
Page 14: Symbolism of Nature The use of natural symbols throughout the poem, especially trees, is important for
understanding the broader cultural and emotional resonance of the poem. Trees represent more than just life and
growth—they symbolize interdependence and stability. Angelou’s portrayal of trees as “great souls” suggests that
these individuals were rooted deeply in their communities, providing strength and support. Their loss is felt across
both the immediate environment and the broader ecosystem, reinforcing the idea that great people influence not
only their direct surroundings but the very structure of society.
Page 15: Influence on Future Generations When Great Trees Fall calls on readers to honor the legacy of influential
individuals by passing on their lessons to future generations. This act of remembrance is not passive; it requires
active engagement in living out the values that the deceased embodied. By encouraging this, Angelou ensures that
the work of these great individuals doesn’t fade with time. Their values are passed down, woven into the fabric of
future generations.
Page 16: Literary Devices Used Angelou’s use of literary devices enhances the emotional power and impact of the
poem. Her use of metaphor allows the reader to connect emotionally with the subject of loss. Repetition serves as a
way of reinforcing key ideas and creating a sense of ritual or remembrance. Through personification and imagery,
Angelou transforms grief into a living experience, a force that shapes the natural and human worlds alike.
Page 17: Real-Life Applications This poem is not just a work of literary art; it is often invoked in real-life contexts such
as memorials and tributes. It speaks to the collective need to honor the memory of those who have passed and
reminds us of the continuing impact of their lives. Angelou’s work becomes a tool for coping with loss and for finding
meaning in the aftermath of death.
Page 18: Maya Angelou’s Legacy Maya Angelou herself is an embodiment of the "great tree" in her poem. Her
poetry, activism, and public life have left an indelible mark on both individuals and society. She modeled the very
qualities she writes about: strength, wisdom, and an unwavering commitment to justice. Just as the poem calls for us
to honor the legacies of those who have passed, Angelou's own life serves as a testament to the enduring impact of
those who strive for greatness.
Page 19: Conclusion When Great Trees Fall is more than a meditation on grief; it is a celebration of the enduring
power of those who shape the world. Angelou’s poetic exploration of loss and legacy reminds us that greatness is not
measured by the duration of life but by the depth of one’s impact on others. As we remember the "great trees," we
are called to live better, to embody the values they taught us, and to carry their legacies forward.
Page 20: Bibliography
Angelou, Maya. When Great Trees Fall. Public domain.
Angelou, Maya. The Complete Poetry. Random House, 2015.
Johnson, Claudia Tate. Conversations with Maya Angelou. University Press of Mississippi, 1989.
Walker, Pierre A. “Maya Angelou: Voice of Liberation.” African American Review, vol. 28, no. 2, 1994.
Angelou, Maya. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. Random House, 1969.
King, Martin Luther Jr. Strength to Love. Fortress Press, 1981.
Poetry Foundation. "Maya Angelou." https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/maya-angelou
Shange, Ntozake. “Maya’s Legacy.” Essence Magazine, July 2014.
