Phenominal Woman by Maya Angelou

 MAYA ANGELOU (1928-2014)

• American poet, memoirist and civil rights activist
• 7 autobiographies
• They are "autobiographical fictions"
  
• 3 Books of essays
• Several poetry
• 1993 - Recited "On the Pulse of Morning" at the Inauguration of Bill Clinton
  
• Her works defends Black culture
• Themes:
• Racism
• Identity
• Family
• Racism and Sexism she experienced as an African-American woman

• Know as: The black women's Poet Laureate
• Her poems are called "Anthems of African Americans"
• Ist Memoir = "I Know Why the Caged Birds Sings"
• Ist US Bestseller by an African-American woman

• Death: 2014 (86 years)
  

PHENOMENAL WOMAN

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,
It’s in the reach of my arms,
The span of my hips,   
The stride of my step,   
The curl of my lips.   
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,   
That’s me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,   
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.   
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.   
I say,
It’s the fire in my eyes,   
And the flash of my teeth,   
The swing in my waist,   
And the joy in my feet.   
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.

Men themselves have wondered   
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can’t touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them,   
They say they still can’t see.   
I say,
It’s in the arch of my back,   
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.

Now you understand
Just why my head’s not bowed.   
I don’t shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.   
When you see me passing,
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It’s in the click of my heels,   
The bend of my hair,   
the palm of my hand,   
The need for my care.   
’Cause I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.

• From 3rd volume of poetry And Still I Rise
• 1978

SUMMARY

 

Speaker exposes the attributes she possesses that deem her irresistible to others, particularly to those of opposite sex, despite that fact she does not fit into society's definition of what makes a woman beautiful.

In the beginning the poet talks about the inner mystery that makes her attractive and towards the end of the poem she describes the confidence and pride she has in herself

• Angelou's anthem about her pride in being a woman

The word "Phenomenal" has two fold meaning

1. Extraordinary or impressive
2. Unbelievable: seems unbelievable that she is lucky enough to be a woman

Closing lines: Cause I’m a woman/ Phenomenally.

                          Phenomenal woman,/That’s me.

STRUCTURE  

• 5 stanzas
• 4 major stanzas + 1 smaller stanza inbetween

• Uncoventional rhyme scheme
• Rhyme= sporadic
• Repeated 's" end sound adds to the sensual tone

LITERARY DEVICES

•  Repetition: "Thats me", "Phenomenal woman"
• emphasising

• Enjambment: between line 10 and 11
  
• Aliteration: woman-wonder, fellows-fall
• Imagery: "The stride of my step", "The curl of my lips."

THEMES

• Woomanhood
• Identity
• Pride
• Self-love & Self acceptance (her head is unbowed)