Literary analysis essay of maya angelous phenomenal woman phenomenal woman is a poem written by the famous african american woman maya angelou. Its in the reach of my arms, the span of my hips, the stride of my step, the curl of my lips. Angelou explains how she is a confident woman throughout each stanza. Due to the mistreatments from their oppressor, many are deficient in confidence and courage. Phenomenal woman is a free verse poem has no rhyme scheme. Phenomenal woman is an anthem of womens strength in their own womanhood. Phenomenal woman written by maya angelou is a poem that every woman can relate to. Angelou had a broad career as a singer, dancer, actress, composer, and hollywoods first female black director, but became most famous as. Phenomenal woman by maya angelou poetry andas translation. The poem argues the traditional outlooks and apprehensions of femininity, establishing at the same time that beauty is not only skin deep. Phenomenal woman written by maya angelou english literature essay. What is the summary of the poem phenomenal woman by maya. Apr 26, 2019 phenomenal woman by maya angelou is a lyrical poem originally published in her collection of poems and still i rise in 1978.
Confidence and comfort in ones own skin, the speaker insists, are the markers of true beauty, and the. To be a phenomenal woman, she will seen by everyone especially the men. The poem is one of the four poems in her collection phenomenal woman. The span of my hips, the stride of my step, the curl of my lips. If you continue browsing the site, you agree to the use of cookies on this website.
This poem shows that beauty is compare by what society thinks a woman should looked like, walk and talk etc. In 1995, she was recognized for having the longestrunning record two years on the new york times paperback nonfiction bestseller list. The importance of phenomenal woman to angelous collection of poems. The internal rhyme i dont shout or jump about adds punchiness to the rhythm which adds to the self confident tone of the stanza. She describes the many attributes of women throughout the poem. Another symbol in this poem is the models size, and it represents what people want women to be. Jan 08, 2020 phenomenal woman is a loose rhyming lyrical poem, which strictly speaking means this is not a free verse poem. Maya angelou, phenomenal womananalysis and interpretation. Im proud of her and no ofense but shes black she should be prould. Phenomenal woman, written by maya angelou, is a poem which is an anthem for all womens strength in their own womanhood.
I say, its in the reach of my arms the span of my hips, the stride of my step, the curl of my lips. I say, its in the reach of my arms, the span of my hips. Im not cute or built to suit a fashion models size but when i start to tell them, they think im telling lies. Angelou initiated the idea of courage and confidence within her two poems still i rise and phenomenal women by using variety of poetic devices such as metaphor, simile, and imagery.
Phenomenal woman is a lyrical poem that sends out an important message to the world of convention and stereotype. Analysis of phenomenal woman by maya angelou poem analysis. The poem is like a ballad, it is a free verse narrative. Phenomenal woman by maya angelou famous poems, famous poets. The phenomenal woman action campaign, inspired by maya angelous phenomenal woman poem, brings awareness to social causes. Mar 03, 2017 maya angelous poem, phenomenal woman, is about a woman who fights against. Please explain all the stanzas of phenomenal woman by maya. Essays for phenomenal woman maya angelou poem phenomenal woman maya angelou poem essays are academic essays for citation. Get an answer for please explain all the stanzas of phenomenal woman by maya angelou.
The final stanza of the poem is a confident, strongly self assured statement that carries a sense of pride in her identity despite her failure to embody elements of traditionally celebrated femininity. Here is an analysis of maya angelou s phenomenal woman, which defies the stereotypes women are often faced with today. A free verse written by the africanamerican poet, autobiographer, and civil rights activist maya angelou, phenomenal woman speaks of a selfconfident woman challenging the typical concept of beauty and womanhood. In 24 allstar readers on the words that rock their worlds, oprah calls maya angelous poem life defining. Woman inner beauty makes a women whole and beautiful. The almost childish rhyming cadence is haunting in its simplicity. Give a critical analysis of the poem phenomenal woman by. In the poem, phenomenal woman, angelou essentially gives the same message and uses metaphor of people swarming around her like bees because of her potential and power in the song, firework, perry, uses metaphor by comparing the person to a firework meaning that heshe is not powerless but has the potential to be powerful. The poem, phenomenal woman is structured into four stanzas and the number of lines in each stanza varies from one another. Im not cute or built to suit a fashion models size. Tpfastt heme it is not how a woman looks or what she does that.
The poem is written in free verse and follows no specific rhyme scheme. The poem appeared in angelous third volume of poetry, and still i rise, which was first published in 1978. These are the sources and citations used to research phenomenal woman poem. Analysis of phenomenal woman by maya angelou prezi. It shows us her strong selfconfidence when expressing the way she feels personally about herself. Black futures lab works with black people to build bl. The poem phenomenal woman is written by civil rights activist and poet maya angelou an africanamerican. In terms of impact, phenomenal woman by maya angelou might just be one of the most empowering poems ever written for the fairer sex. Phenomenal woman anaysis literary devices and poetic devices. One symbol in this poem is men and and they represent the stereotypical man that only likes the most beautiful woman.
Phenomenal woman maya angelou poem themes gradesaver. This poem, along with still i rise and the rest of the entire collection, was meant to be an important message against stereotypes and for the empowerment of women. Here is a poem that radiates wisdom and conviction, renewing our belief in the glory and tender mercies of our gender. Phenomenal woman poem english bibliographies cite this. Harold bloom states that in this hymnlike poem to womens beauty, the selfconfident speaker reveals her attributes as a phenomenal woman. More about this poem phenomenal woman by maya angelou about this poet an acclaimed american poet, storyteller, activist, and autobiographer, maya angelou was born marguerite johnson in st. Phenomenal women by maya angelo analysis in the poem phenomenal woman by maya angelo expresses many viewpoints on the topic of women. Emancipation of a woman in phenomenal woman by maya. Summary and analysis of phenomenal woman by maya angelou. Phenomenal woman by maya angelou famous poems, famous. Analysis of phenomenal woman by maya angelou please press play and then continue with my prezi. Despite her strong refusal to fit into beauty paradigm, the poet gets maximum male attention. Phenomenal woman poem english bibliographies cite this for me. If you read it carefully, the rhymes definitely make a difference to the overall sound and feel of the poem, especially in the first six or seven lines of each stanza.
Analysis of poem phenomenal woman by maya angelou owlcation. Throughout the times a woman strives for her independence to become her own individual in life. Ebook or pdf edited book email encyclopedia article govt. Literary analysis essay of maya angelous phenomenal woman. Folkfound phenomenal woman by maya angelou printedi forgot all about this great quote i met and spoke with maya angelou once. Enjoy and feel free to share it with the amazing women in your life. Jul 12, 2015 the poem challenges the traditional concept of beauty which is totally dependent on the fairness of skin. Maya angelous poem, phenomenal woman, is about a woman who fights against. Woman by, mya angelou the phenomenal mya angelou was born on april 4, 1928 in rural arkansas. This piece is part of the and still i rise book by the author and published in 1978. Get an answer for give a critical analysis of the poem phenomenal woman by maya angelou.
The red book valuation figures offer useful guidance on valuation, however they contain overlapping material from diverse sources. Emancipation of a woman in phenomenal woman by maya angelou. The poem rejects narrow societal expectations of women and proposes an. The poem challenges the traditional concept of beauty which is totally dependent on the fairness of skin.
Essie justice group harnesses the power of women with incarcerated loved ones to end mass incarceration. In her poem phenomenal woman angelou speaks as a selfconfident woman, she wants to show the world what makes her beautiful and she expresses it in a various way. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of phenomenal woman maya angelou poem by maya angelou. First published by maya angelou in 1978, phenomenal woman is a poem and not an especially long one.
I still get goose bumps thinking about my brief moments with her. It will help them remember what it means to be a woman and how much power lies in being yourself. Identity is a serious issue that affects thousands of women across the world. She may lead us to think that she does believe to be unattractive when she describes in the poem, pretty women wonder where my secret lies 1. A woman like this takes pride in herself and doesnt let anyone put her down. Phenomenal woman is a poem by maya angelou, first published in 1978.
There are no conventional rhymes, just some sporadically important ones. Phenomenal woman, by maya angelou, describes herself from her own point of view. Phenomenal woman is a phenomenal poem that speaks to us of where we are as women at the dawn of a new century. The poet presents ample of qualities which make her more attractive, beautiful and a desired woman. Phenomenal woman maya angelou poem study guide contains a biography of maya angelou, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a. Phenomenal woman rhetorical analysis when we look in the mirror everyday obviously we see our reflection but if you really think about it what do you really see. Maya angelou phenomenal woman catherines english project. In phenomenal woman, angelou celebrates her body and the uniqueness that separates her from other women. Many think that a slim and trim body or pretty faces are the many features of a true woman. This poem, along with still i rise and the rest of the entire collection, was meant to be an important message against stereotypes and for the empowerment of women maya angelou was a famous civil rights activist and poet. Phenomenal woman by maya angelou, famous inspirational poem.
She was also fighting for the women, she wanted women to have the same rights as men. Here is an analysis of maya angelous phenomenal woman, which defies the stereotypes. Phenomenal woman by maya angelou poetry foundation. Phenomenal woman maya angelou poem summary and analysis of phenomenal woman. Mya angelou was born with the name marguerite ann johnson. Phenomenal woman by maya angelou this poem is a classic that deals with every women in the world. But when i start to tell them, they think im telling lies.
Phenomenal woman poem english bibliographies in harvard style. The poem rejects narrow societal expectations of women and proposes an alternative perspective on what defines real beauty. Pretty women wonder where my secret lies im not cute or built to suit a fashion models size but when i start to tell them. Phenomenal woman maya angelou poem phenomenal woman. Apr 17, 2018 analysis of phenomenal woman by maya angelou. The word phenomenal in this poem always repeat in every stanza, it means to. Maya angelou4 april 1928 28 may 2014 born marguerite ann johnson on april 4, 1928 was an american author and poet who has been called americas most visible black female autobiographer. In a clear voice, maya angelou vividly reminds us of our towering strength and beauty. Below you will find the poem if you want to read it for yourself. The poem phenomenal woman by maya angelou, was voiced by maya angelou herself, and the audience hearing that she was trying to reach was the pretty women in the world who have a definition of flawless that maya does not agree with.
Surprisingly, what a lot of people do not know is that mrs. The poem argues the traditional outlooks and apprehensions of femininity, establishing at the same time that. About the poem a free verse written by the africanamerican poet, autobiographer, and civil rights activist maya angelou, phenomenal woman speaks of a selfconfident woman challenging the typical concept of beauty and womanhood. May 25, 2010 maya angelou phenomenal woman catherines english project. Phenomenal woman pretty women wonder where my secret lies. The poem starts in a conversational fashion where a flock of women, intrigued by poets popularity amidst male suitors, want to know from her the secret of her success.
Angelou, who died at the age of 86 in 2014, is one of the most. Some people stare through the glass and see someone they dont recognize. In her poem phenomenal woman angelou speaks as a selfconfident. Analysis of the poem women work by maya angelou 12. Phenomenal woman by maya angelou is a lyrical poem originally published in her collection of poems and still i rise in 1978. The mess i call my journal in the process of copying phenomenal woman. The poem is written in free verse which allows the poet to compose long and short sentences without any interruption. She is phenomenal for always, an example for all women all over the world, her powerful innerpower, all blacjk and white women, the oroginal african countries too. The mallinson report has identified the need for the rics to publish a single, comprehensive and user friendly source of standards for valuers and establish a single point of coordination in the institutions delivery of valuation services. Literary analysis of maya angelous phenomenal woman 947 words 4 pages. She is an amazing phenomenal woman, so proud that an african american woman can talk like that and her writings and books groups.