...English 322.001 December 4, 2014 “Phenomenal Woman” Poem Analysis “Phenomenal Woman” by Maya Angelou celebrates the feminine qualities of womanhood, and highlights the different traits for a woman to become ‘phenomenal.’ Maya shows the reader despite what society tells her she still feels great about herself. She believes that it is your inner beauty that makes the woman “phenomenal” instead of your outer beauty. Throughout the poem Maya illustrates how no one seems to understand what it is that makes her attractive because she is not considered to be physically beautiful by society’s standards. So what exactly makes this woman phenomenal? The woman in the poem is appealing to others because of her internal beauty and how she feels about herself. What makes her so phenomenal is that she does not care how others view her society, as well as the opposite sex. Even other woman try to understand what it is about this woman that makes her so attractive, because she does not portray what is considered beautiful by society standards when you look at her. The poem opens up by saying “Pretty women wonder where my secret lies. I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size” She tells the reader in the beginning that it is not her physical attributes that make her attractive. “Men themselves have wondered what they see in me. They try so much but they can’t touch my inner mystery.” This line illustrates that it is not an actual feature that makes her attractive to men...
Words: 1168 - Pages: 5
...Hear Her Roar: The Feminist Strengths in Phenomenal Woman and Still I Rise Trista James English Composition 1102 Professor Cameron Indian River State College April 10, 2013 Maya Angelou Maya Angelou Abstract Growing up during times of common race and gender discrimination, Maya Angelou has proven to people she is a strong African American woman who would not allow inequality of any kind bring her down. This paper describes the feminist strengths Angelou refers to and implies in her two famous poems Phenomenal Woman and Still I Rise. Hear Her Roar: The Feminist Strengths in Phenomenal Woman and Still I Rise Maya Angelou was born in the South on April 4, 1928 in St. Louis Missouri. Throughout most of her life she was raised in Arkansas, which in turn subjected her to a life full of brutal discrimination. Angelou was given a gift that no other of her time had. Over a hundred poems published, they all consist of words of wisdom and strength to some degree. In her two poems Phenomenal Woman and Still I Rise, Angelou reveals her, “I am a woman hear me roar” attitude she is best known for. This paper depicts the feminist strengths in her two poems Phenomenal Woman and Still I Rise. For a female to have an “I am a woman hear me roar” attitude, she must have patience, confidence in herself, and never rely on anyone else for financial or...
Words: 1018 - Pages: 5
... 2011 Essay Assignment #1 Published in 1978, Maya Angelou’s poem “Phenomenal Woman” was written as an ode to womanhood. Comprised of four stanzas, the poem uses the effect of repetition to reinforce Angelou’s claim as a self-proclaimed “phenomenal woman.” As a phenomenal woman, Angelou states, “I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size,” (2). She goes on to use several quotes like such. “Phenomenal Woman” uses various literary effects to express to women that it isn’t genetic beauty which is important; rather, it is inner beauty and confidence which makes a woman beautiful and the poem’s repetition of the phrase “phenomenal woman” creates an effect in the poem which emphasizes what it means to be a woman. The first stanza in “Phenomenal Woman” begins with Angelou expressing the curiosity which “pretty women” (1) have with her “beauty.” Pretty women don’t see physical beauty in her, yet they see another type of beauty portrayed and question her as to what it may be. Angelou tells them, “It’s in the reach of my arms/the span of my hips/the stride of my step/the curl of my lip/I’m a woman/phenomenally/phenomenal woman” (6-12). Through the use of metaphorical phrases, the author is expressing to the women that she has confidence and it is displayed in how she expresses her femininity. For example, in the way she walks and talks. These things make her beautiful, or a phenomenal woman. In the second stanza of the poem, Angelou depicts herself walking into...
Words: 977 - Pages: 4
...collection of poetry, Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water 'fore I Diiie. Since then, Angelou has continued teaching, writing, acting, producing, recording (she won Grammy Awards for the spoken word for the years 1993, 1995 and 2002) and collecting honorary degrees from across the United States. Since 1981 she has been the Reynolds Professor of American Studies at Wake Forest University in North Carolina. At Bill Clinton's request, Angelou wrote a poem -- On the Pulse of Morning -- for his 1993 inauguration as U.S. president. I chose one of Maya Angelou (Phenomenal Woman) for two reasons. One I feel that Maya is still one of the best poets in the world whose poems are studied in the universities around the world. Nothing can be taken from her. I love her so much. Two her poems are always uplifting and so powerful it actually makes you feel the poem. I believe that this poem, "Phenomenal Woman" will be about a phenomenal woman. I think that it may most likely be about herself as I saw in her other poem, "And Still I Rise." This...
Words: 997 - Pages: 4
...Name of Institution Analysis of Two Poems by Maya Angelou Name of Student Course Name and Number Name of Professor Paper Due Date In Maya Angelou’s poem “They Went Home”, the persona has her reference on married men whom think of her as a friend and nothing more. Not a woman to them but a girl (Zefferino). However, they have a high perception of her personality but don’t have feelings for her like she does for them. “I had an air of mystery”. The men referenced had the persona think that the relationship that they had could turn out to be more than it seemed to be. They think of her as kind, clean and humorous. Despite this they don’t want to be in a relationship with her. The men that the poet references in the poem liked the persona because of her physical attributes and wanted to get involved with her physically, sexually. They wanted a physical relationship (Zefferino). “They liked my smile, my wit, my hips”. The attributes in this line specify in order the number of men that the persona desired, three men. The imagery keys the picture of a woman that receives the kind of love that she thinks she ought to be given. The persona is insecure and has a low self-pride because of the rejection that she faces. Men want to lay with her but do not want to stay with her because they all return to their wives. The last sentence of the first two stanzas, shows that the persona is willing and expecting to be used sexually by men that she...
Words: 1211 - Pages: 5
...The Ladies Man The play Ladies Man was a phenomenal performance and was very humorous. This performance kept the audience laughing scene after scene. It also was very engaging and was true theatre in my words with no video and other technical distractions. This paly had a very strong structure, it was easy to follow and kept you on your toes to see what will happen next. The structure of the play is what made each scene have a good flow to the point where you didn’t see scenes, you saw a story as a whole and not scene to scene. The play overall had very strong characters that made the flow of the play seamless. Each character had great depth and each character complemented each other on stage. In example, I like the scene where Etienne and Mr. Molineaux interacted with each other after he came in through the window from spending the night on the bench. The interaction between them showed each of their roles strongly ad they complement each other without overpowering the other; they shared the stage so to speak. In general the play had credibility and intrigue because it was relatable to the time in which it was set as well as the situation going on between the characters. The play did touch on a timeless situation of infidelity, no matter what time period you’re in this situation can happen and that is what made the play relatable to the audience. Although Mr. Molineaux didn’t cheat on his wife, it was known that other characters such as the Prussian soldier Gustav did with...
Words: 721 - Pages: 3
...experiences of African-American maids. I remembered I read the book before I watched the movie. The thing I know about the book, it was written and published by a white woman and it was told by the black women who were maids in the 1960s. It gave me some assumptions to go with. Before I start, everything that I will bring up are tightly about the movie and the book. It is like a little summary however the reviews I read are really good concerning the movie and the book. The movie was produced in a small town Jackson, Mississippi. Racial tension was so high at that time. The Black women worked not only as maids in that town, but they practically raised white people’s children too. So far, they were seen as “HELP” and were treated inappropriately and poorly. Skeeter, is a young woman who were living in that town. She gets the idea to write a story about these women who were maids, because of her good experience with the black woman who raised her and took really good care of her when her mother was not around. I really liked and enjoyed this movie. It got my attention and made me cry couple of times while watching some parts. What was so interesting and good about this movie? At the beginning of the movie, the acting was excellent. Viola Davis who played a maid named (Aibileen), she is an amazing woman who was one of the central characters in the movie and Octavia Spencer who played (Minnie), who was Aibileen's best friend who also was a maid. Both have very different...
Words: 922 - Pages: 4
...Just like what Wollstonecraft said in her article, “women are not allowed to have sufficient strength of mind to acquire what really deserves the name of virtue.” Also according to her words, man have these wrong opinions to women because of “the natural effect of ignorance”, which means that women could have the same ability and qualities with man. Angelou wrote a poem about herself to say why she was a “Phenomenal woman”. According to her poem, there’s no actual point to became phenomenally. It’s in her nature. Thus feminine can also be smart and...
Words: 480 - Pages: 2
...This paper aims to explore three different types of media in regards to the aging population of women. The show that I first thought about is called The Golden Girls, which stars the phenomenal Betty White. I believe the intended target audience of this show would be older women, although the younger generation has taken quite a liking to Betty White and to the show. There are four main characters: Rose, Sophia, Dorothy, and Blanche. Blanche is seen as a flirtatious woman, Dorothy is depicted as the voice of reason, Rose is shown as a ditzy and innocent, and Sophia is Dorothy's crazy old-world mother who adds a great deal of humor to the show. Dorothy seemingly has more education than the other women as she was a substitute teacher at one point, but all in all, it appears that the women grew up in a time where college was not a norm for everyone. The house in which the four women live is owned by Blanche, who has a taste for the finer things and life and always dresses nice. The other three women often budget their money and put their needs before their wants, which would suggest that the women are not very rich. For most of the series, none of the women have jobs, which is an aspect that seems to...
Words: 1285 - Pages: 6
...taken on many intricate roles. These roles are often unnoticed or are part of an unspoken code. Women have played a major role in the development of greatness, but will often go unrecognized for their input, effort and involvement. Many times the role of a woman asked her to take a back seat to men’s work and not be in the fore front. It was not important for women to be educated, for they were not made to be leaders, creators, commanders or organizers. Sister Flowers by Maya Angelou and I Want a Wife by Judy Brady bring light to the dynamics of a woman and the many facets of a woman. Whether of a high or low class the, fortitude of a woman is astounding. In this ever changing world, women have begun to evolve and smile at the ratification of the positions that they have long held. These essays provide us with a piece of history that shows the growth and development that women are making to get the recognition that is their-due. Sister Flowers by Maya Angelou is a descriptive essay told through the eyes of a young girl named Marguerite who has admiration for a woman in her community that is full of grace. The presence, stature and charisma of this woman was enough to put her in a class with the elite. This woman was different from the others within her community and due to education. Sister Flowers words and language supported that image. As she would often have conversations with Marguerite’s mother that would be very shameful to her, due to her mother’s lack of...
Words: 1369 - Pages: 6
...State Department, Anne-Marie Slaughter is one of many women that we as young girls can look up to. However, while she is a great role model and her accomplishments have been phenomenal, her “Why Women Still Can’t Have It All Essay” should be read by young women with discretion. In her essay, she talked about the hardship of having a family while also trying to maintain a time consuming full time job. While she does make excellent points about the reality of the working world and having a demanding job, I disagree with the author on her view point of the only way women can “have it all” and also how she defines “having it...
Words: 1000 - Pages: 4
...in Mammies, Matriarch and Other Controlling Images and The Myth of the Latin Woman: I Just Met a Girl Named Maria examines the race, class, gender, and sexuality and how these representations speak to the African American and Latino women .Race, Class, and Gender are constructed categories that causes controlling images such as Mammy, Hot Tamale, Bad Black Woman, and Jezebels to become a natural way of thinking leading women to act and believe that is who they are and eventually they who will become. Patricia Collins article (Chap 4), “Mammies, Matriarchs, and Other Controlling Images” (2000), defines the oppression, objectification, and controlling images of African American women in the society, as well as the social acceptance of African American women. Collins supports her theories and hypothetical thinking with supporting statements from other black feminist that illustrate similar beliefs and theories that she asserts in her article. Collins purpose and objective is to point out the stereotypical condition of African American women in the society and also the binary of stereotyping. Given the content and source of this publication, Collins intended audience is people who have a unique interest in knowing the condition of stereotypes of African American women. Judith Ortz Cofer’s article “The Myth of the Latino Woman: I Just Met a Girl Named Maria” (2000) asserts that the Latino woman is being treated differently because of her...
Words: 1374 - Pages: 6
...is an African American female MC turned TV and movie actress. Her raps and or songs served different social purposes and her focus has remained unbreakable. Latifah’s values could and can be heard in her music. Latifah was skilled at her craft and was able to reach out and connect with her intended audience. It is a known fact that Queen Latifah’s music is deeply connected to the women’s empowerment movement. Latifah’s music served a plethora of social purposes. The term feminist refers to and individual that advocates for women's rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men. “I am someone with or without this man. I am someone with or without this job, with or without these tight jeans. I am a strong woman. I can survive," (Latifah, ABC News) said while explaining the importance of confidence in the lives of women.” We see that Latifah is what one may refer to as a feminist in her song, “Ladies First”. Points made within this song received a substantial amount of attention from the media because of its political standpoint. The song depicts how women come second in society and while the discussion of the topic is great, women and their place in society is a very controversial topic. Latifah stood her grounds and remained true to people of her gender (specifically African-American women) and she did so by repeating the phrase “ladies first” and then going further to explain why and how women should and or do come first. Latifah made exceptional...
Words: 1105 - Pages: 5
...Audrey Hepburn: Beautiful Inside and Out “I never thought I’d land in movies with a face like mine.” Audrey Hepburn was a beautiful, elegant woman, who, even after death, remains an icon to women today. Who would have thought that a woman, who was famous for her charm and beauty, believed that she was ugly? Hepburn was an award winning actress who starred in over 31 high quality movies, such as, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Sabrina, My Fair Lady, and many more. She is often imitated for her unique style and grace. Audrey Hepburn’s traumatizing childhood, tragic love-life, and phenomenal career are just a few of the things that made her go down in history as an iconic legend. Audrey Hepburn was born in Brussels, Belgium in 1929, but spent most of...
Words: 891 - Pages: 4
...Shakespeare's Attitude Toward Women in "Othello" A quick summary of the play can be found here. Shakespeare was always wary of women and careful to give them respect, which is obvious when reading Othello. The society of Othello is strongly dominated by men who are the political and military leaders of their homeland. These men are expected to stay loyal to their reputations and to uphold the strong sense of character that earned them their positions in the first place. Women on the other hand, are thought of as weak second-class citizens or even defective males, who are in place for nothing more than to serve their men. The captivating thing about Othello is Shakespeare’s upheaval of these expectations, demonstrating his malaise over the way gender relationships were so often represented. The monstrous actions and subsequent downfall of the men in Othello show how no one is above being corrupted and how men are not nearly as powerful as they seem. The resolve of the female characters demonstrates their capacities to do much more than simply serve. Furthermore, by the end of the play, I believe the men of Othello are not the ones who represent strength; instead, this title goes to the women. From the way the play begins, women seem like nothing more than affectionate wives and pawns in Iago’s evil scheme. Emilia claims, “I nothing, but to please his fantasy,” (Norton Ed., 2157) referring to Iago, as she snatches up Desdemona’s handkerchief in order...
Words: 2006 - Pages: 9
