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‘Phenomenal Woman’: summary. Angelou’s poem comprises five stanzas. In the first stanza, Angelou’s speaker tells us that she is not conventionally attractive like a fashion model, but when conventionally pretty women ask her what her secret is to being so confident and strong, she tells them that her success stems from the reach of her arms, the span of her hips, the length of her ...
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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 ...
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Nov 2, 2023 · Summary of 'Phenomenal Woman'. '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. With relatively plain language in short lines and repeated refrains, this ...
Summary & Analysis. “Phenomenal Woman” is a poem that first appeared in Maya Angelou ’s third poetry collection, titled And Still I Rise (1978). The poem features a speaker who, despite not being as thin as her society tells her she needs to be, nevertheless embodies her femininity with an attractive self-confidence.
Nov 5, 2022 · Phenomenal Woman: About the Poem. A free verse written by the African-American poet, autobiographer, and civil rights activist Maya Angelou, ‘ Phenomenal Woman’ speaks of a self-confident woman challenging the typical concept of beauty and womanhood. The poem argues the traditional outlooks and apprehensions of femininity, establishing at ...
Mar 18, 2024 · Like a number of the poems that Maya Angelou wrote, this poem is aimed at a sense of empowerment. Angelou had a difficult early life, and so the use of more empowering verses would have played nicely into the kind of message that she wanted to present to the world. Phenomenal Woman by Maya Angelou is a free verse poem.
Oct 16, 2023 · Maya Angelou's "Phenomenal Woman" is a celebration of self-love, self-acceptance, and feminine beauty. This comprehensive summary and analysis explores the poem's themes, literary devices, and historical context, helping you to appreciate the power and significance of Angelou's message. Learn more about this iconic poem and its timeless relevance.
