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By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University) ‘Phenomenal Woman’ is a 1994 poem by the American poet Maya Angelou (1928-2014). Angelou was a singer, dancer, composer, actor, teacher, memoirist, and poet: a woman of many talents.
Phenomenal Woman Lyrics. Pretty women wonder where my secret lies. I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size. But when I start to tell them. They think I'm telling lies. I say.
May 28, 2014 · Maya Angelou, a renowned poet, novelist and actress best known for her book "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings," has died at the age of 86, according to her literary agent, Helen Brann. Moneta Sleet ...
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- Summary
- Meaning
- Structure
- Literary Devices
- Themes
- Detailed Analysis
- Historical Context
- Similar Poetry
The first-person speaker of the poem ‘Phenomenal Woman,‘ presumably Maya Angelou, describes the allure she has and celebrates her identity as a woman. Throughout each stanza, the speakerexposes the attributes she possesses that deem her irresistible to others, particularly to those of the opposite sex, despite the fact that she does not fit into so...
Angelou’s constant use of the word “phenomenal” is twofold. One most often defines the word as meaning extraordinary and impressive, and she is certainly revelling in being an extraordinary and impressive woman; however, the word phenomenal is also synonymous with unbelievable. By consciously choosing to call herself phenomenal, the speaker seems a...
Structurally, Angelou breaks her poem into four major stanzas, with a smaller yet still significant stanza in between. So, there are a total of five stanzas. While there is some evidence of rhyme, she mostly uses an unconventional rhyme scheme. She begins her poem with a couplet in the first two lines: “Pretty women wonder where my secret lies./ I’...
Throughout this poem, the poet makes use of several literary devices. These include but are not limited to: 1. Repetition: Angelou ends the majority of her stanzas with “That’s me.” In addition, the phrase “phenomenal woman” is repeated throughout the course of the poem, once again emphasizingAngelou’s unconventional beauty and appeal to the opposi...
Angelou’s ‘Phenomenal Woman’ taps on the themes of womanhood, identity, pride, self-love, and self-acceptance. The main theme, womanhood, is celebrated throughout the poem. The line, “I’m a woman,” propagates her self-confidence in being a woman. She celebrates not only her bodily beauty but also her inner glow. Another important theme, identity, i...
Stanza One
In the first stanza, Angelou’s speaker bluntly tells her reader that other women wonder what she has that they are missing, even though she lacks the traits that society most often judges to be beautiful; she intuits that the other women are jealous of her. She writes, “They think I’m telling lies.” The speaker continues on, telling the reader her appeal lies in her arms, hips, and lips. Her voice reflects a sense of confidence. She does not hesitate to talk about the span of her hips or the...
Stanza Two
In her second stanza, she moves away from discussing women and begins to discuss the spell she seems to have over the men she encounters. Her attractiveness goes beyond the physical: it is something innate inside her that makes her so irresistible to men. While women can change the way they look, Angelou insinuates that they will never be able to replicate what she naturally possesses inside herself.
Stanza Three
The third stanza contains only two lines. These lines are a part of the refrain. Separating these lines in this stanza, Angelou tries to emphasize the idea. Besides, she uses this scheme to give special stress to the words. It enhances the confident moodof the poem. As readers can see, these lines need special emphasis. The repetition of the same idea also expounds on how she feels when men hover around her like honeybees. She feels confident by thinking about men’s reactions and celebrates h...
‘Phenomenal Woman’ was first published in Maya Angelou’s collection “And Still I Rise” (1978). Later it was published in her book of poetry “Phenomenal Woman: Four Poems Celebrating Women” in 1995, along with Maya Angelou’s most popular poems such as ‘Still I Rise’and ‘Our Grandmothers.’ This poem was previously published in Cosmopolitan magazine a...
Here is a list of a few poems that are similar to the themes present in Maya Angelou’s poem, ‘Phenomenal Woman.’ 1. ‘On Being a Woman’ by Dorothy Parker – This short and humorous poem describes a fickle-minded lady’s failure in love to be true to her emotions. Read more poems by Dorothy Parker. 2. ‘A Woman’s Hands’ by Eva Bezwoda – In this poem, a ...
- Male
- Poetry Analyst
1995. Phenomenal Woman: Four Poems Celebrating Women is a book of poems by Maya Angelou, published in 1995. [1] The poems in this short volume were published in Angelou's previous volumes of poetry. "Phenomenal Woman," "Still I Rise," and "Our Grandmothers" appeared in And Still I Rise (1978) and "Weekend Glory" appeared in Shaker, Why Don't ...
- Maya Angelou
- English
- 1995
- 1995
Dec 17, 2021 · Overview. Title: The literal meaning of the phrase is “an extraordinary or remarkable woman.” She refers herself as phenomenal representing black women in the world. Form: almost a free verse poem, not restricted to a particular form.
Nov 2, 2023 · 'Phenomenal Woman' by Maya Angelou is a lyrical poem that sends an important message to the world of convention and stereotype: Empowerment comes from being confident in your own female skin. It does not come from how others perceive you.
