Maya Angelou books and poems relate to real world situations. In her poem phenomenal women it talks about how you should not live in a stereotypical way of life and have confidence in yourself. You should celebrate how remarkable you are and it makes you a champion. Being a woman makes you supreme, because women are a mystery and hard to figure out. She expresses you don’t need to be loud to get attention just being yourself shows who you are. Maya Angelo works states you should embrace your purpose, practice a self-confidence ritual, and enjoy spending time alone, refuse to buy into the media’s image of a perfect woman, refuse to take anything too personally, ask empowering questions, and ask what they can do to improve the world. Her story…
''When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time'' says marguerite Annie Johnson also known as Maya Angelou. Known for her inspiring appearances as an author, screen writer, dancer, actress and of course a poet. There were many ways Maya was born in St. Louis Missouri in 1928. She experienced racial prejudices and discrimination after moving with her grandmother when her parents split. She experienced harsh events in her life that made her the strong woman she is that led her on till her death in 2014. The spirit in her work still lives on today by those who admire her work. Using her biography as a resource, Her parents split when Maya was just a very young girl. Not only did she get raped as a child by her mother's boyfriend, She also got pregnant at the early age of 16 in a short high school relationship that left her with a handsome boy named Guy Johnson. Maya's importance was based on her 1969 memoir ''I know why the caged birds sing.'' Maya's life experiences are revealed in her work continuously. Throughout her poems of ''Phenomenal woman'', ''Touched by an Angel'', and ''Harlem Hopscotch'' her poetic language is shaped by her experiences.…
“Still I Rise” by the African-American poet Maya Angelou, written almost 40 years after the Harlem renaissance ceased, displays a variety of emotions and poetic devices. Maya Angelou incorporates her personal struggles gives the audience a sense of the determination she felt to reach equality. The reader can see her anger towards the discrimination she faced at the time.…
Through this, my mother taught me life skills of becoming independent such as maintaining yourself, able to conserve money, and learn who to trust. After a difficult situation with my mother in the year of 2013, being in a troubling relationship with a partner, she left country for a few months leaving me to move in with my…
Maya Angelou’s poem, “Phenomenal Woman”, is a compelling form of art. Angelou tends to write about topics that are often disregarded and unexplored by others. Her poem illustrates the love a woman has for herself even though she isn’t considered beautiful. The language and tone indicate that the speaker was abused. Her pride has risen from the torture and neglect she experienced. Instead of being ashamed and blaming herself, she has gained hope.…
“Phenomenal Woman” by Maya Angelou is an inspiring poem that relates to women of all ages and races. It’s powerful message of loving one’s body and self is much needed in today’s society. Women today are being bombarded with the ideas that they should be perfect. The media plays a major role on how women perceive themselves, and these unrealistic views on beauty and thinness are causing self-destructing behaviors that are harmful to all women. The only way to fix this epidemic is to teach women how to have a positive body image and learn to love the body they have. “Phenomenal Woman” is a poem that all women need to read over and over again because it embraces such a strong message of Maya Angelou being proud of who she is.…
In this poem, Maya Angelou celebrates femininity by playing upon the two possible meanings that could be attached to the poem's title - Phenomenal Woman. As a liberated woman, the speaker in the poem proudly proclaims her individuality; she is an extraordinary person, and therefore phenomenal.…
My mother grew up in a small town in Vermont. Her parents were divorced when she was young. She got to visit her father who worked on farms one weekend per month. Her stepfather and mother raised her. They were blue collar workers and provided the basic needs for her and her two siblings. She was the oldest of the three. My mother was very independent from a young age, did well academically in school, participated in all extracurricular activities, and was active in her local church. Because her parents worked so much, they were not able to attend many functions and never were able to go to her sporting events. After high school, she went to Syracuse University and spent one year of that time in France. She studied International Relations and wanted to join the Peace Corps and save the world. Instead, she returned to Vermont, married my father when she was twenty-three, and worked in law offices as a paralegal and Administrative Assistant in a County Attorney 's office. Of course, we need to get to the main part of her story which she states are her three sons. My eldest brother was born the next year, when my mother was twenty-four years old.…
Beauty is not only something that can be seen on the surface; it too can be reveled deeper within a person. Woman have tendency to seek a high standard of beauty that society has reared them with. It is this desire that has falsely been placed upon woman; for it is not just a woman's look or body shape, it is who she is on the inside. Someone who carries themselves with confidence and shows no self doubt brings an attractiveness to them that others are drawn to. A woman named Maya Angelou is someone who shows these kind of qualities. Maya was "an American author and poet who has been called 'America's most visible black female autobiographer'". She was also "highly respected as a spokesperson for black people and women[...]Her books, centered on themes such as identity, family and racism, are often used as set texts in schools and universities internationally" (poemhunter.com). Maya Angelou, "Phenomenal Woman" the author explains what it is that makes her an exceptional woman through the use of repetition, imagery, and tropes to inspire readers to be confident and accepting of who they are.…
My mother helped me to make one of the most important decisions, which is to choose between living in the United States with her and the rest of my family, and living by myself in Austria in my country. This decision was hard for me to make, since I was born, raised and had lived my whole life in Austria and did not want to leave for several reasons; school, my friends and memories. One day she sat down with me and told me how important it is to have trust in myself with everything that I do, not to be afraid of making wrong choices or decisions. She said no matter which way I will choose, she will always be there for me. I started crying and hugged. She gave me the choice of staying in Austria; no mother would ever give that opportunity to her own daughter knowing that she might not see her for a long time. She gave me that choice to make, but I decided to stay with her, just because of being with her, continue learning from her, and hopefully someday being like her.…
In the poem “Phenomenal Woman” by Maya Angelo expresses many viewpoints on the topic of women. She describes the many attributes of women throughout the poem. Many think that a slim and trim body or pretty faces are the many features of a true woman. But Angelo explains the small insignificant features of a woman that people or society never mention. She believes and convinces the reader that these are the marks of a woman. The poems central idea is; Women should embrace their natural traits and characteristics even if society keeps telling you otherwise.…
The tone of this poem is audacious, brazen, and powerful. The symbolism of this poem is the main character and her struggles. The main character and her struggles represent Maya Angelou and her struggles. Angelou uses her powerful rhythm and tone to write about a woman’s sexiness and unbearable aura. She challenges men and their attempt to shut down women with her lines “Does my sexiness upset you?/does it come as a surprise/ that I dance like I’ve got diamonds/ at the meeting of my thighs?” (Angelou, Lines 25-28). Angelou uses her great writing techniques to place women upon a pedestal too great for men to obtain. She pours her struggles into her writings which produces a strong attitude and flow of emotions. “I planned to put all the things bothering me--my heavy load--in that book, and let them pass.” (Elliot). Angelou reveals to Elliot that she unloads her troubles in her poetry. She gives the reader her essence. “Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou has feminist views illustrated through her tone, , and…
“Phenomenal Woman” by Maya Angelou celebrates femininity and highlights the traits necessary for a woman to become ‘phenomenal.’ She believes that it is not the outer beauty of a person but the inner one which makes each woman phenomenal. She criticizes the biased societal expression that expects women to starve themselves in order to be considered ‘pretty.’…
n our lives there is always a person that we look up to and admire. With that in mind we take examples from there lives and try to make the best of ours. Growing up I had a lot of persons that I strongly looked up to and admired, but the person that made a great impact and left a footprint in my journey of life would be my mother. She was always the person that had a smile on her face when things didn’t seem perfect, or the person that danced when every one else didn’t feel like it. As a teenager I wanted someone to tell me right from wrong, or to direct me onto the right path, and she was the perfect example. She was always there when I needed her the most and never let me down, not even in the smallest moments. The out standing qualities that she possesses inspired me to be the person I am today. The faith and commitment she has dedicated to being a Christian is encouraging and motivating. She has shown to be the hardest worker I’ve ever known and taught me to do the same. Her goals were met with accuracy and persistence, never left unaccomplished and forgotten. Life wasn´t always perfect for her, she fought a lot for what she believed in and what was right, but despite the blocks she may had had in life she always knew how to get right back on track and be the supporting woman she is and has always been. She found a way to help others when she was the one that needed help,…
There are so many people that influenced my development and my character and one of them is my mother. My mother is loving, caring, encouraging, and much more than that. She is truly an amazing mother and she really shaped me into who I am today and who I want to be in the future. My mother inspires and motivates me to become someone who is thankful to be where i am today. I look up to my mom for advice and guidance and she is truly my shoulder to cry on. My mother always wants the best for me just like every mother wants for her daughter. my mom is my role model because she opened my eyes up in the world to see what kindness is and she taught me to always put the ones you love first in life. I can only aspire to be as generous a person as her. After I saw how amazing it is to be generous I joined many volunteering places such as friend ship circle which is an organization for children with special needs, where I can help the lives of some of the truly amazing and special children who need help. To care for those children for even one moment is priceless. I began volunteering in eleventh grade, and although it is some times hard to work with special needs children, it is rewarding to know that I can be a positive influence in their lives. My mother told me that no matter where you are you can open your doors to help others. in my future college experience I hope to continue to do kindness…