They know she’s not cute or skinny, so they wonder why the men find her so attractive. Pretty women wonder where my secret lies. Today, he is teaching various nationalities English in Southeast Asia. Major Themes in “Phenomenal Woman”: The poem comprises of speaker’s opinion on woman’s beauty. There is no gendered constraint in her intimate description. That’s me. To critically examine Angelou's poem "Phenomenal Woman," let us first look at the structure. Maya Angelou was a famous civil rights activist and poet. But quite possibly the poet indicates to her reach to the influential people and her broader presence in many fields through words like “reach of my arms” and “span of my hips”. The poet asserts that the looks alone do not define beauty, but it is the whole of human character and disposition that constitute for its parameters. We use cookies on this website. The phenomenal woman's humility and respect for other's space, her dignity and inner strength mean she doesn't have to advertise her qualities or be brash and popular. Moreover, it is in the palm of her hand, the gentleness of her touch. Now you understand / Just why my head’s not bowed.

Phenomenal woman, That’s me. Summary of Phenomenal Woman by Maya Angelou Stanza 1: “Phenomenal Woman” begins with a attack on stereotypes. That’s me. Her work brought a new voice to the expression of the female sex and has since contributed in shaping the ideals of feminism. It is in the ride of her breast; in the way her bosom tardily falls and rises, signifying her dignity and elegance. The final four lines also drive home the idea that this woman is special, unbelievable and her presence cannot be denied. She expects us to understand why she prides on herself, and why she is so self-confident. Phenomenal woman,

While there is some evidence of rhyme, she mostly uses an unconventional rhyme scheme. It has a sense of “deep, horizontal comradeship” between all women. Tone: Pride You can also teach them how to respect themselves and be at their best behavior at all times. Already the speaker has a secret and although she can't reveal all, she can tell the pretty ones about her own physical attributes. – They can’t figure out why they like her.

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. ‘Phenomenal Woman is one of the most “popular” poems written by the American poet and civil rights activist Maya Angelou. If you continue browsing the site, you agree to the use of cookies on this website. When you see me passing, Here the poet has personified her feet to indicate the happy composure she is in when she is around men. One most often defines the word as meaning extraordinary and impressive, and Angelou is certainly reveling in being an extraordinary and impressive woman; however, the word phenomenal is also synonymous with unbelievable. I walk into a room / Just as cool as you please / And to a man, / The fellows stand or. 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. There are four stanzas. Get his newest poetry eBook here. They do not understand what it is about her that makes her command such high dignity and recognition in the society.

The poet’s inner beauty is well hidden, and beyond the reach of men. “I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size,” she writes. What's your thoughts? When you see me passing, It ought to make you proud. – She’s basically saying facial looks aren’t everything. – When she walks by, you should be happy. I don’t shout or jump about 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.

They wonder what the secret is to her being so irresistible. Join the conversation by commenting. It is because of all these attributes that the poet possesses that men find her attractive. Angelou said, “I work on the rhythm.

‘Phenomenal Woman is one of the most “popular” poems written by the American poet and civil rights activist Maya Angelou. Phenomenal woman, That’s me. Every single person that visits PoemAnalysis.com has helped contribute, so thank you for your support. The fellows stand or They do not understand what it is about her that makes her so assertive. ‘Phenomenal Woman is one of the most “popular” poems written by the American poet and civil rights activist Maya Angelou. Join Englicist Pro Membership – unlock all answers, quizzes, ebooks & no ads. There is joy in her feet. Quiz Tests (Pro) They say they still can’t see. The palm of my hand, Now you understand Just why my head’s not bowed. But they can’t touch When you see me passing, The poem asks women to celebrate their agency without seeking validity outside one’s own self. For example: And others have trochaic followed by iambic: Still others are iambic preceding anapaestic: This variable rhythm, together with contrasting short and long vowels, make this a particularly interesting poem to read out loud and to listen to. Since then, the poem has been adapted and used by associations and groups world-wide involved in protest and political issues around inequality. She begins her poem with a couplet in the first two lines: “Pretty woman wonder where my secret lies/I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size.” While her use of rhyme is sporadic, Angelou does, however, repeatedly end her lines with words that end in “s.” This adds to the sultry, sensual tone of the poem, particularly when it is read aloud.

There is chemistry at work here and the reason why the men are all a buzz? They try so much Pretty women wonder where my secret lies. Such is the pride and self-assurance the poet places on herself. The hardship and suffering of the African-American community in the Americas in the mid twentieth century finds utterance in her poems and essays. She refuses the idea that a woman should possess a beautiful physique. She won many awards for her work over a fifty year period.

When I try to show them, My inner mystery. She proudly declares that she neither has a hourglass figure, nor a cute face. It’s in the reach of my arms, I don’t shout or jump about.”, Copyright © 2020 Literary Devices. It’s the fire in my eyes, The Poem is  divided into four stanzas, each one starting with a scenario or a question, answering it and finally providing a justification for the same. I’m a woman She says that people desire, or rather, need her for her caring and gentle nature. She’s speaking directly about other women. This particular poem keeps featuring in the popular culture again and again because of its crowd-pleasing characteristics. It’s the fire in my eyes, Maya Angelou is one of the greatest modern poets. Angelou, who died at the age of 86 in 2014, is one …