She writes, For those of us who were imprinted with fear / like a faint line in the center of our foreheads / learning to be afraid with our mothers milk. Here, Lorde uses the metaphor of a faint line imprinted on the forehead to convey the idea that fear and trauma are deeply ingrained in the experiences of many marginalized individuals.The second part of the poem emphasizes the need for solidarity and community in the face of oppression. One is unsure what is coming next in A Litany for Survival, just as the main subjects of this piece are unsure of how their lives will progress. 4 (November, 1998): 448-470. While temporary, it helps to stave off the loss of their dreams. The parents want to make sure the loss of their own dreams and ideal futures does not impact their childrens dreams. The speaker seems to turn her back on this strength in the next stanza. Blanche Cook, WriterAudre and I met over 30 years ago when we were both students at Hunter College in New York. Please note that Crafts default cookies do not collect any personal or sensitive information. People said, oh maybe I cant be seen with you or Im not too sure I can invite you to my classroom, or whatever. The poem is divided into four stanzas of unequal length. They are afraid of it never rising or never returning. A Summary and Analysis of Audre Lorde's 'A Litany for Survival' Philip K. Jason. Oakland, Calif.: Diana Press, 1978. / So it is better to speak / remembering / we were never meant to survive. Here, Lorde uses repetition to convey the idea that even when it seems impossible to continue fighting, it is important to speak out and persevere in the face of oppression.Overall, A Litany for Survival is a powerful and moving poem that speaks to the struggles and resilience of marginalized communities. If everyone is afraid of all of these contrasting emotions and situations, it is better to speak. They have triumphed by surviving this long and need to use this power to ensure their further survival. However, these are not the entirely soothing maternal scenes that the reader expects them to be. Quite the opposite: fear engendered by the realisation that you have nothing to lose can, paradoxically, be empowering. eNotes critical analyses help you gain a deeper understanding of A Litany for Survival so you can excel on your essay or test. And there would be no one at that point when I recognized this that could keep me from the arena of an Audre Lorde or anybody else. Then followed by a concluding tercet, or set of three lines. So the things that were very, very close I saw very, very well and I saw nothing else out there. One mightve survived to this point but that does not help with the line of fear that has always been central. I mean white townspeople were shooting up the edges of Tugaloo at night. One way into Lordes poem is that distinctive word, litany. Vulnerable people have learned to keep their heads down in the hope of protecting themselves and their loved ones, the speaker argues, yet such silence only serves to maintain their oppression. But they have done so. The group Lordes speaker has been describing also fears the vanishing and appearance of love. Sonia SanchezWhen she came out in America people closed doors, people ran for cover. We lived of course in Staten Island which is probably the most regressive borough of New York City. The poem is divided into four parts, each of which explores different themes related to Through her use of vivid imagery and repetition, Lorde conveys the importance of acknowledging, speaking out against, and ultimately surviving oppression. Get the entire guide to A Litany for Survival as a printable PDF. The other word which Lorde repeats the ends of lines in A Litany for Survival is survive itself. In the final three lines, the speaker makes a decision for the entire group. How should we analyse A Litany for Survival? I was born almost blind, ya hear. Traditionally, a litany was a prayer used in a formal religious procession or service. It is because this fear is their weapon. Alive Metaphors and Similes | GradeSaver Continue with Recommended Cookies. Such a conclusion is in keeping with what Audre Lorde writes elsewhere about the importance of voice, the importance of poetry as a means of creating and indeed preserving ones identity, and the role that poetry can play in making a difference to ones place in society. Even their spoken words may lose their significance of sound or may not elicit welcoming responses. Read more about Lorde's life and work via the Poetry Foundation. This is what feeds us collectivity and must, and must. A Litany for Survival begins with the speaker describing how there is a segment of the population who lives at the shoreline and continually suffers through "crucial" choices. Interesting Literature is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon.co.uk. After making its world premiere at Sundance in January 1995,Litanywent on to win major awards at the San Francisco International Film Festival, Creteil Film de Femmes International Film Festival, the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, and the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame. If there are two dates, the date of publication and appearance Time will tell. Curled in a ball alone in bed for days, they call me. Indeed, at the end of Lordes prayer, she appears to hand the baton and the microphone over to her fellow travellers in the struggle, urging them to speak out (and speak up) and use their voices. Because I had never spoken as a poet before, I had never spoken at all as a matter of fact. Especially in the third stanza in which Lordes speaker is listing off the contrasting elements of life and how each of these holds something to fear. ]QW_Jwok^}D>RF9h-CbtWj'0N^UI&/9nbtr8bn_lOt2SeXj_&b_s;1i. when we are loved we are afraidlove will vanishwhen we are alone we are afraidlove will never returnand when we speak we are afraidour words will not be heardnor welcomedbut when we are silentwe are still afraid. The lead speaker, Lorde, addresses the listeners/readers and herself.