Santi Ramdhani 1209503155 Bsi/Iv/E The Strength of Dictions: An Analysis on the Context of Dream and

Morning in Maya Angelous Poem On the Pulse of Morning

In the process of writing fiction or nonfiction, selection of diction becomes very significant. Diction has an important role in a work. Therefore, an error on election diction will give big impact to the meaning of its writing. Nevertheless, the selection of proper diction makes our writing more powerful meaning. Diction is choice of words to fit their context (Encarta Dictionary, 2008). We realized that in selection of words, we considered many things including the context of the work itself. That is why a literary work could become great things because of those words. Those theses statements above are basic reference to analyze how important and how meaningful a diction in literary works. As did in analyzing a poem On the Pulse of Morning by Maya Angelou, so many great dictions used to express meaning. This poem read at Bill Clintons First Presidential Inauguration Ceremony in 1993. In addition, Maya read it in front of public of American. Overall, this poem is about a new American dream or a new hope becomes better America. This poem can be called as poetic inspiration because of those powerful words. It is because Angelou used great poetic diction in her poem. As I said before that the exact diction could make that

poem becomes something amazing. Moreover, the characteristic of poem has poetic words in which sometimes needed an extra effort to find the real meaning of it. There are so many ways to interpret literary writing. To understand the meaning of it, generally we know the ways of textual and contextual. In this Angelous poem, I took two words that in my opinion it is the keyword of this whole poem. They are Dream and Morning. Next, I will analyze it based on the context. It has simple meaning that when we read a poem, do not just focus on the text but the outside from that poem also must be considered. That is why to more add the perceptive of this poem, those two words above must be analyzed as detail as possible. Every word in a poem certainly contents its own purpose to be conveyed by the author. In addition, refer to the context that will be connected with the text, it is certainly has a representation from the history in which this poem is produced. As Sugiharto said that writing is a fact of humanity, though it is fictional but still reflects the voice of humanity (Sugiharto, 2008: 92). Therefore, we can take perception that the words Dream and Morning have strong link to the condition that happen in America at that time. Moreover, it is reinforced by an opinion stating that the presence of literary works cannot be discharged with other socio-cultural phenomena, such as economics, politics, religion, etc. In the process of making literary works occurred interrelation between literary creations with the phenomenon of community life (Sugihastuti, 2005: 57). From this statement I considered that

Angelou surely find out the greatest meaning of those dictions that she choose. Now we have to know what the real meaning of both of key words above is. I meant with what the reflection of word Dream is and what the expression of word Morning is contextually. To analyze this case required an approach seems like mimetic approach. Rohrberger and Woods give an opinion that mimetic approach can called as historical-sociological approach. The sociological-historical approach refers to an approach that locates the real work in reference to the civilization that produced it. Civilization here can be defined as the attitudes and actions of a specific group of people and point out that literature takes these attitudes and actions as its subject matter (Rohrberger and Woods, 1971: 9). If we compare between both of terms above indeed have a similarity that is connecting literary approach to the context that occurred in universe or something that happen at that time. Some authors also have same opinion with the historical approach that can used to analyze the context of literary writing. Such as Aminudin which said that historical approach is an approach that emphasizes the understanding of authors biography, historical background of the events underlying the establishment of copyrights periods of literature that is read, and about how the creation and development of life itself or literary life over time generally (Aminudin, 2009: 46). Because of the necessary of mimetic or historical approach, we linked those words Dream and Morning with some events that had been happen in the

history of America. As we know that throughout history, America has undergone many difficult times to build a unity of country that contains peace among its citizen. The conflict of slavery, discrimination black and white, until the civil war in 1961 have made all of American felt distress. Therefore, this poem read is to realize all the American that a new world has been waiting in which there are so many dreams and hope inside. Moreover, I am sure that contextual meaning of those words connected with historical part reflects it. For more detail, we examined of the verse written in that poem. Lift up your eyes upon This day breaking for you Give birth again To the dream Every word above stanza is very inspiring and sprays out strong spirit if we read it with all our heart. It is because every word in poetry is suggestive (Sugiharto, 2008: 47). In the first three lines, Angelou asked American to face a new world, in this case is a new day, a new country, and a new hope to build better and run off from gloomy past. She convinced people that a new day had created for them. This stanza indeed written based on representations from what have done before. In addition, all construct in the word Dream in the last line. If it viewed from mimetic perspective, which is defined wider as historical or contextual part, it means as contextualization of Americans desire in which all of them aspire to get better life. Everybody has desire because God gives it. Dream also an actualization of an idea continuously grow up over time. In

addition, we can connect it with the context of postmodernism in America where everybody wanted to amend on. There are several possible causes for the development of postmodern writing. One group of critics point to World War II and the various atrocities produced by it are as likely triggers for the change in expression. They believe that the rapid rise of technology, the use of the atomic bomb, and the death machinery of the Holocaust qualitatively altered the way we experience the world. They understand the development of such technologies to indicate an essential unraveling of many of the historical narratives and bedrock principles on which earlier genres and texts were based (Erick V.R. Rangno, 2006: 70).

Furthermore, seems like Dream, the word Morning is also identified through mimetic perspective or historical or contextual meaning. Contextually the real meaning of both words is almost same although textually both of them are different. Context may also have post lexical effects, influencing meaning selection and integration after the initial activation stage. Thus, context may suppress a contextually inappropriate meaning so that only the appropriate meaning would be retained for further processes (Rachel Giorra, 2003: 25). Therefore, the importance of analyzing contextual meaning of literary writing becomes adequate. And back to this poem, Angelou put on the word Morning in the last word and last stanza. May be it is intentionally done to emphasize the essence of the purpose which the author wanted to convey. Moreover, to analyze the contextual of this word, here the piece of that poem. Here on the pulse of this fine day You may have the grace to look up and out And into your sisters eyes, and into

Your brothers face, your country And say simply Very simply With hope Good morning Contextually I thought that the word Morning has meaning of an expectation. It is a representation from Americans hope. Angelou closed her poem with that word as if emphasized that there is still hope to get fine day. And we can say that it is also a reflection of historical context in which John Whintrop said in A Model of Christian Charity (1630) that the Lord make it like that of New England: for we must Consider that we shall be as a City upon a Hill, the eyes of all people are upon us. (Keren Meyers, 2006: 14). It seems that is the basic reference for Americans to move forward and always keep it with hope. Overall, those two words Dream and Morning, which become the main point of Angelous poem that can evoke the spirit of America as a reflection of the historical context, happen before.

Reference:
Aminudin. 2009. Pengantar Apresiasi Sastra. Bandung: Sinar Baru Algensindo Giora, Rachel. 2003. On Our Mind: Salience, Context, And Figurative Language. London: Oxford University Press Meyers, Karen. 2006. Colonialism and the Revolutionary Period (Beginnings-1800). New York: Facts on file Rohrberger, Mary & Samuel H. Woods. 1971. Reading and Writing about Literature. New York: Random House Rangno, Erick. V.R. 2006. Contemporary American Literature (1945-Present). New York: Facts on file Sugiharto, R. Toto. 2008. Pandai Menulis Fiksi. Yogyakarta: Pustaka Pelajar Sugihastuti. 2005. Rona Bahasa dan Sastra Indonesia. Yogyakarta: Pustaka Pelajar