19 pages • 38 minutes read
Amanda GormanThe Hill We Climb
Fiction | Poem | Adult | Published in 2021A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Further Reading & Resources
Related Poems
“Chorus of the Captains” by Amanda Gorman (2021)
Read before Super Bowl LV, this poem honors the honorary captains of the game: a teacher, an ICU nurse, and a Marine veteran. Gorman hails the three captains as heroes of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Chorus of the Captains” is similar in lyrical structure to “The Hill We Climb,” though is marks a less historic occasion.
“In This Place (An American Lyric)” by Amanda Gorman (2017)
Written for the Library of Congress, this poem echoes some of the themes in “The Hill We Climb,” though it is much more direct in its political position. Referencing recent events like the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Gorman defiantly urges fighting against forces of oppression and giving voice to the marginalized. She says poetry has the power to make the hateful cower, and she calls on the nation to embrace progressive change and to reject the past injustices of America.
“Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou (1977)
The work of world-renowned poet Maya Angelou expresses an unapologetic celebration of womanhood, Blackness, and the poetic spirit. “Still I Rise” elevates the poet’s identity, heritage, and individuality, calling out those who would seek to demean Angelou for being a Black woman. There is a strong connection between Angelou’s revolutionary spirit and Gorman’s fierce commitment to social change.
Further Literary Resources
"‘Unity With Purpose.’ Amanda Gorman and Michelle Obama Discuss Art, Identity and Optimism” by Michelle Obama (2021)
In this interview with former First Lady Michelle Obama, Gorman discusses her thoughts on the political moment of 2021, the state of Black art and Black life in America, her composition of “The Hill We Climb,” and other issues related to art, politics, activism, and her life. This interview provides a fascinating view of Gorman’s thoughts on her art and role in society. It shows her deeply held progressive values and her commitment to change through art and social justice.
“Amanda Gorman Captures the Moment, in Verse” by Alexandra Alter (2021)
This article from The New York Times focuses on Gorman’s composition of the poem and its significance for the inauguration and for history. In the article, Gorman says she wanted the poem to reflect the unity that President Biden champions, but not to shy away from what she saw as the dark reality of the Trump presidency.
“A World of Figures: The Rhetoric of Amanda Gorman’s ‘The Hill We Climb’” by Cass Morris (2021)
In a close reading, Morris breaks down all of the rhetorical, literary, and poetic devices Gorman uses in her poem. Morris also links to academic sources to provide definitions and examples of each device. This close reading is essential for any reader studying Gorman’s poem.
Listen to Poem
Gorman reads the poem at the 2021 inauguration of Joe Biden.
Related Titles
By Amanda Gorman
