I first read phenomenal woman and still i rise in 1982. In phenomenal woman, angelou celebrates her body and the uniqueness that separates her from other women. Phenomenal woman poem summary and analysis litcharts. The poem is one of the four poems in her collection phenomenal woman. This poem shows that beauty is compare by what society thinks a woman should looked like, walk and talk etc. They try so much but they cant touch my inner mystery. Phenomenal woman, a poem by maya angelou in hindiurdu. Im not cute or built to suit a fashion models size but when i start to tell them, they think im telling lies. Phenomenal woman is a free verse poem has no rhyme scheme. The span of my hips, the stride of my step, the curl of my lips. Phenomenal woman maya angelou poem questions and answers.
The poem s narrator describes the physical and spiritual characteristics and qualities that make her. The poem phenomenal woman is written by civil rights activist and poet maya angelou an africanamerican. Phenomenal woman maya angelou poem study guide contains a biography of maya angelou, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a. I say, its in the arch of my back, the sun of my smile, the ride of my breasts, the grace of my style. My mind filled with thoughts of grandeur over flown with love for myself for the first time. Home poem phenomenal woman by maya angelou phenomenal woman by maya angelou admin. Maya angelou s poem, phenomenal woman, is about a woman who fights against. An acclaimed american poet, storyteller, activist, and autobiographer, maya angelou was born marguerite johnson in st. Phenomenal woman maya angelou poem phenomenal woman. Read all poems of maya angelou and infos about maya angelou. Its in the reach of my arms, the span of my hips, the stride of my step, the curl of my lips.
Maya angelou was an american author, poet, dancer, actress, and singer. When i try to show them, they say they still cant see. Angelou had a broad career as a singer, dancer, actress, composer, and hollywoods first female black director, but became most famous as a writer, editor, essayist, playwright. They celebrate women with a majesty that has inspired and touched the hearts of millions. The poem argues the traditional outlooks and apprehensions of femininity, establishing at the same time that. In maya angelou s phenomenal woman, the words phenomenal. When i try to show them they say they still cant see. She received dozens of awards and more than 50 honorary degrees. The poem rejects narrow societal expectations of women and proposes an alternative perspective on what defines real beauty. Literary analysis of maya angelous phenomenal woman. Maya angelou s poem phenomenal woman reflects how women and men in society view others who do not physically appeal to the naked eye and how maya angelou s life contributed to the confidence she has now as a woman and by the end of the poem it shows all the confidence angelou portrays, and how that confidence is reflected in her words. Phenomenal woman pretty women wonder where my secret lies. Before getting curious about why did maya angelou write phenomenal woman, a person really needs to understand why did maya angelou write poems. But when i start to tell them, they think im telling lies.
Maya angelou s book, phenomenal woman is one of her best works that i think every girl, no matter the color of her skin, should have in their collection because it helps young women to face adversities, build an identity, and appreciate why we are all unique and special. Remembering maya angelou on her birth anniversary today, here are eight inspiring poems by her. Maya angelou, by sharing one of her poems, phenomenal woman. There is no warning rattle at the nor heavy feet to stomp the foyer safe in the dark prison, i know t. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 32 pages and is available in hardcover format. Phenomenal woman maya angelou poem themes gradesaver. Phenomenal woman by maya angelou poetry foundation. I say, its in the reach of my arms, the span of my hips, the stride of my step, the curl of my lips. She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, and several books of poetry, and was credited with a list of plays, movies, and television shows spanning over 50 years.
Woman inner beauty makes a women whole and beautiful. Phenomenal woman by maya angelou this poem is a classic that deals with every women in the world. She shot to instant fame with the publication of her 1969 memoir, i know why the caged bird sings, which made literary history as the first nonfiction bestseller by an africanamerican woman. Repetition is a key literary device that lends emphasis to significant themes in a poem. She is an amazing phenomenal woman, so proud that an african american woman can talk like that and her writings and books groups. Im not cute or built to suit a fashion models size. Maya angelou poems, quotations and biography on maya angelou poet page. God i thank you for being true to yourself and for me. Confidence and comfort in ones own skin, the speaker insists, are the markers of true beauty, and the. So lets work on exploring the former first, and then well be able to unearth the. Maya angelou reciting her poem phenomenal woman, posted by brainpickings and licensed under a creative commons license. So i was on the way to the venue and stepped out in front of a. In 24 allstar readers on the words that rock their worlds, oprah calls maya angelou s poem life defining.
In 1971, angelou published the pulitzer prizenominated poetry. The question and answer section for phenomenal woman maya angelou poem is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel ask your own question. Phenomenal woman is a lyrical poem that sends out an important message to the world of convention and stereotype. Phenomenal woman poetry in tamil maya angelou is the author by translating channel english into tamil. Phenomenal woman summary by maya angelou by beaming notes.
Phenomenal woman by maya angelou famous poems, famous. Maya angelou and listen to her read her unforgettable poem phenomenal woman. Phenomenal woman maya angelou poem study guide contains a biography of maya angelou, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Here is an analysis of maya angelou s phenomenal woman, which defies the stereotypes women are often faced with today. Understanding why did maya angelou write poetry holds the key to many other questions such as why did maya angelou write still i rise. Phenomenal woman maya angelou poem quotes and analysis. 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. Writer and civil rights activist maya angelou was born on april 4, 1928, in st. She was also fighting for the women, she wanted women to have the same rights as men. Phenomenal woman by maya angelou online poetry archives. A collection of beloved poems about women from the iconic maya angelou these four poems, phenomenal woman, still i rise, weekend glory, and our grandmothers, are among the most remembered and acclaimed of maya angelou s poems.
Angelou s poetry collections include the complete collected poems of maya angelou 1994 and phenomenal woman 1995, a collection of four poems that takes its title from a poem which originally appeared in cosmopolitan magazine in 1978. How can i analyze the poem phenomenal woman by maya. Poetry buy maya angelou recites her poem phenomenal woman users who like maya angelou recites her poem phenomenal woman users who reposted maya angelou recites her poem phenomenal woman playlists containing maya angelou recites her poem phenomenal woman more tracks like maya angelou recites her poem phenomenal woman license. 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. With your bitter, twisted lies, you may trod me in the very dirt. This awesome wisdom in the form of poetry opened me the greatness i had known was inside of me. She tells the live audience that she has been reciting it since she was a young woman.