Interpreting “phenomenal Woman” by Maya Angelou
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Inspirational People
People have been motivated by the inspirational life lessons taught by writers over the years. These people have gone through injusticeness and survived through them by having faith in a better future. Their situations have inspired people in a time when it was looked down upon to be of a certain cultural background. They still remain touching stories and let the people of today have great appreciation for the many rights they are entitled to. The stories of Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, and Chief Dan George inspire readers from all over the world with the struggles and life experiences they overcame to make society a better place.
Dr.Martin Luther King, Jr.s vision for racial equality in his speech, “I Have A Dream”, inspires audiences from all different backgrounds. i am the best i am the best i am the best you are fun the best the the the the the a a can of apples in the the the you. are the best you are the best i am a bee a a a a a a a i am the best bets you are you me to the best are people in the world.
Part 1 – Interpreting “Phenomenal Woman” by Maya Angelou
The poem “Phenomenal Woman” by Maya Angelou, is a lyric poem. In a lyric poem, the speaker expresses their personal feelings, but doesnt tell a story. Angelou states her opinion about being a woman, “Pretty women wonder where my secret lies. Im not cute or built to suit a fashion model size” (Lines 1-2). In this lyric poem, Angelou is proud about her inner beauty. Its about the qualities she has inside, which are confidence, personality, and charm. Maya Angelou repeats in every stanza how she feels about being a woman, “Im a woman, Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, thats me” (Lines 10-13). She feels good about who she is. Angelou says that women should be happy with who they are. Women have a lot more to offer to the people in their lives, besides their physical appearance.
The theme of this poem is that a woman should have confidence about her inner beauty. Maya Angelou explains the secret of her beauty, “Its in the reach of my arms, The span of my hips, The stride of my step, The curl of my lips” (Lines 6-9). Her confidence shows by how she acts and carries herself. Angelou writes how men think of her, “Men themselves have wondered, What they see in me. They try so much, But they cant touch, My inner mystery” (Lines 30-34). Men are fascinated by her. There is something dignified and wonderful about Maya that men cant put a finger on it. Angelou writes about her confidence, “Now you understand, Just why my heads not bowed. I dont shout or jump about, Or have to talk real loud. When you see me passing, It ought to make you proud” (Lines 46-51). There are so many other aspects of a woman, so she should be confident of who she is. Women should have self-confidence and strength, because that is where a womans beauty lies.
In “Phenomenal Woman”, Maya Angelou uses metaphors to express the theme of the poem. She uses the metaphor, “Then they swarm around me, A hive of honey bees (Lines 19-20).” She is referring to the men who gather around her when she enters a room. Men are so compelled by her dignity and assurance that they attracted to her confidence. Angelou uses another metaphor, “Its the fire in my eyes (Line 22).” There is spirit and tenacity in the way she carries herself, because she is a confident woman. She has an aura of greatness inside her.
Part Two- Biographical Information on Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou was born as Marguerite Johnson in St. Louis, Missouri, on April 4, 1928. She was born the second child of Bailey Johnson Sr. and Vivian Baxter Johnson, with one older brother, Bailey Jr. After her parents divorced in 1931, she and her brother were sent to live with their grandmother in Stamps, Arkansas. On a visit back to St. Louis in 1936, Angelou was raped by her mothers boyfriend at the age of eight. After she testified against the man, he was later found dead on the street. He was thought to have been beaten to death by her uncles. Believing she was the cause of this mans death, Angelou withdrew into silence. She and her brother then returned to Stamps where she remained mute for the next five years. After Angelou graduated with honors from the eighth grade, she and her brother moved to San Francisco to live with their mother. In 1944, Angelou became the first female African- American trolley car conductor in San Francisco. That same year, she graduated from Mission High school and experienced a life-altering event. At the age of sixteen, she became pregnant and gave birth to her first son, Clyde (Guy) Johnson.
Maya Angelou had to take care of her newborn, so she wasnt able to attend college. For the next several years, Angelou held a variety of jobs, including Creole cook, a nightclub waitress, and a maiden prostitute. She had to go through each of these jobs in order to provide for her son while living in a harsh economic situation. In 1949, while in her early twenties, Angelou married her first husband, Tosh Angelos, who was a white man. Their marriage didnt last long and they divorced in 1952. Angelou proved her natural talent of dance during her nightclub performances. She won a scholarship to study dance with Pearl Primus, a professional choreographer. She performed in many famous productions such as Porgy and Bess and Calypso Heat Wave. Because she was on tour all the time, her son Clyde lived with her mother Vivian, Angelou began to feel guilty, so she promised to give up her major tours to care for her son. In 1961 Angelou met South African freedom fighter, Vusumi Make. They fell in love and went to London to get married. Not long after, they had many problems and separated. Angelou and Clyde then moved to Ghana,