“Phenomenal Woman”

1. “Phenomenal Woman” By: Maya Angelou

2. Good Poem • “Phenomenal Woman is a good poem that woman can relate to and shows how someone can have pride in themselves. • Pride comes from within, plus how one carries themselves. • A good poem should be extraordinary and have meaning. • The point of this poem is to show woman self-confidence with their image and not be discouraged of how you look like.

3. Biography • Maya Angelou, born April 4, 1928, is an African American woman famous for many things such as poetry, actress, novelist, etc…. • Her love for arts won her a scholarship to study dance and drama at San Francisco’s First Labor School. She received 3 Grammy Awards, serve two presidential committees, the Lincoln Medal, and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Arts. • She experienced racism growing up, but also absorbed the faith and values of traditional African American family, community, and culture.

4. History • When Maya was young she lived through the Great Depression and World War 2. • Lived through poverty and segregation. Even though these things were happening, it didn’t stop her from what she loves the most. • The history of the poem is that she showed it from her perspective and her thoughts of what others thought. She learned how to be proud of herself and not to be afraid of showing off her body.

5. Culture • Maya read and studied a lot, mastering French, Spanish, Italian, Arabic, and West African Language, Fanti. • She had a passion for writing and was good at it. • The language of the poem shows how one’s body is not perfect, but can still look beautiful.

6. Society • Maya was rape by her father and sexually abuse at 7 years old. She became mute for 5 year and during that period she developed her memory, her love for books and literature, and her ability to listen an observe the world around her. • By being around different people and listening to what they said, it made Maya write this poem. Anyone can look pretty and feel confident about them.

7. Conclusion • In conclusion, Maya wrote “Phenomenal Woman” because its relatable and inspirational. It shows how someone can grow from being shy and unconfident to someone who has pride in themselves.

8. Cited Work • Mayaangelou.com • Wikepeida.com