#Maya angelou quote phenomenal woman how to
#Maya angelou quote phenomenal woman skin
#Maya angelou quote phenomenal woman full

The poem feels very personal as I recognize the women it talks about. Phenomenal Woman has been very close to my heart. The only validation a woman needs is herself. All women can be Phenomenal if they embrace their insecurities. The speaker prides her body’s imperfections while accepting herself the way she is. While society expects women to be apologetic about their imperfections, Phenomenal Woman rejects these ideas. It is a woman’s self-acceptance that makes her irresistible.

#Maya angelou quote phenomenal woman skin

When women are confident in their skin and find their inner beauty, she is Phenomenal. The main theme of womanhood prevails throughout the poem. Phenomenal Woman focuses on women’s beauty, self-acceptance, identity, and self-love. The secret to her beauty lies in her inner self, her confidence in herself, and her attractive figure. When she passes them, women feel proud of her presence as it is the sound of her heels, her hairstyle, and the palm of her hand and her need to care that makes her presence felt.

#Maya angelou quote phenomenal woman full

The speaker concludes that these pretty women understand that she walks with full confidence as her ‘head's not bowed’. So, the speaker informs them that it is her curved back, her blinding smile, her graceful style, along with the ‘ride of my breasts’ that makes her charming irrespective of her skin color. They cannot touch her ‘inner mystery’ as they focus on her physical appearance. These men are unable to find the reason behind her charming self. They either stand or bend down on their knees as they stare at her extraordinary beauty.įor it is ‘the fire in my eyes’, ‘flash of my teeth’, ‘swing in my waist’, and ‘joy in my feet’ that makes the speaker ‘Phenomenally. When she walks into a room men flock around her like ‘honey bees’. the way she walks confidently, her stretched hips and arms along with her curved lips make her attractive. The speaker's womanly body and traits i.e. When she reveals the secret of her beauty the pretty women do not believe her. In the poem Phenomenal Woman, the speaker says that pretty women wonder why despite being ‘not cute’ or ‘built to suit a fashion model's size’, she is attractive. The speaker provides several arguments proving that she is a Phenomenal Woman through and through. A Phenomenal Woman is a stunning woman who is attractive and confident in her skin. The word Phenomenal itself means remarkable, exceptional, or extremely good. Divided into four stanzas, it's a free-verse poem challenging the traditional concept of beauty. Phenomenal Woman is one of the poems from Angelou's collection, Phenomenal Woman: Four Poems Celebrating Women. She uses poetry to express herself with her simple language conveying deeper meanings. GradeSaver, 22 November 2023 Web.Maya Angelou is a women’s activist and a great artist.

#Maya angelou quote phenomenal woman how to

Next Section Quotes and Analysis Previous Section Glossary Buy Study Guide How To Cite in MLA Format GradeSaver 'Phenomenal Woman (Maya Angelou poem) Themes'. As the men and women depicted in the poem look at her curiously, it may be argued that some of these stares come from white people who judge the physical attributes of an African-American person. As Angelou is writing from her personal experience, she is actually describing what it feels like to be a phenomenal black woman. While race is not explicitly mentioned in the poem, one can also surmise that Angelou is also referring to cultural stereotypes of African-American women. The speaker explains that she does not resemble a “fashion model” she therefore does not adhere to what society deems beautiful. The poem addresses the definition of beauty as defined by society. The poem therefore celebrates the individuality of all human beings. Women cannot replicate her beauty either, as the speaker’s inner beauty is unique. She is proud of the fact that men cannot touch her “inner mystery”-the qualities that make up her personality and make her so special. She suggests that both her physical characteristics and her personality are what make her phenomenal.

The speaker does not fit the standard conventions of beauty and rejoices in her uniqueness. The poem is also a testament to one’s individuality. She is also more powerful than other women who may disregard her beauty out of jealousy and act petty toward her.

She has power over men in both a sexual and intellectual sense, as they find her alluring but fail to really see her inner beauty. She knows that her qualities make her very powerful, as she attracts the attention of both men and women and baffles them with her exquisite aura.

The speaker is a highly confident woman who revels in both her physical and inner beauty. The poem as a whole celebrates female power.