The mood of "Phenomenal Woman" by Maya Angelou is upbeat, optimistic and happy. The mood is celebratory, extolling the virtues and success of a woman with a large body. The large female is identified as the phenomenal woman. "Phenomenal Woman" is somewhat autobiographical.
In her poem „Phenomenal woman” Angelou speaks as a self-confident woman, she wants to show the world what makes her beautiful and she expresses it in a various way. Let's start with the form of the poem. The poem is like a ballad, it is a free verse narrative.
1a : an adult female person. b : a woman belonging to a particular category (as by birth, residence, membership, or occupation) —usually used in combinationcouncilwoman. 2 : womankind. 3 : distinctively feminine nature : womanliness.
Form and Meter. The poem is free verse. It does not follow a consistent meter or rhyme scheme, but there are numerous uses of rhyme throughout the poem that establish a musical, rhythmic tone. The refrain follows an A-B-A-B rhyme scheme.
Phenomenal Woman Written By Maya Angelou English Literature Essay. “Phenomenal Woman” written by Maya Angelou is a poem that every woman can relate to. Angelou explains how she is a confident woman throughout each stanza. In each stanza her confidence is shown by her inner strength through symbolism, tone, and imagery.
The image of the black woman is one of a naked body that is simultaneously maternal and erotic. The poem's imagery paints the black woman as a symbol of rebirth. Her erotic being is the place of physical birth but moreover, her erotic being inspires the rebirth of African civilization.
: relating to or being a phenomenon: such as. a : known through the senses rather than through thought or intuition. b : concerned with phenomena rather than with hypotheses. c : extraordinary, remarkable.
exceptional, extraordinary, remarkable, outstanding, amazing, astonishing, astounding, stunning, staggering, marvellous, magnificent, wonderful, sensational, breathtaking, miraculous, singular. incredible, unbelievable, inconceivable, unimaginable, uncommon, unheard of.
Repetition: Repetition creates musical quality in the poem. The poem has used repetition at various places such as “The Phenomenal Woman” and “that's me.” These two phrases are repeated in each stanza. Refrain: The lines that are repeated at some distance in the poems are called refrain.
Her quest would lead her to read about the likes of Jessie Fauset, the veteran Anne Spencer, the legendary Frances Harper and many others. And in order to pay homage to the strength that women possess within themselves, Maya Angelou inscribed “Phenomenal Women”.
The poem challenges societal definitions of a woman's beauty by featuring a powerful female speaker who is proud of her atypical charms. She describes her physical attributes, her mannerisms, and her personality with great pride and is amused by the effect she has on both men and women.
