Phenomenal Woman, by Maya Angelou Introduction Look at the photo below: Circle the words you would use to describe the woman in the photo: Beautiful | Thin | Scary | Mysterious | Elegant | Confident | Boring | Intelligent | Attractive | Ugly | Timid | Phenomenal | Proud | Happy | Unpopular © Education Umbrella, 2015 1 Now look at the following photo: Which, if any, of the same words would you use to describe the woman above? Which different words would you use? Development As you can see, the woman in both photos is a writer named Maya Angelou. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, USA in 1928, Maya Angelou became famous as a writer of autobiographies (the first of which was I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, above), essays and poems. Her work often deals with issues of racial and gender equality. Read Angelou’s poem ‘Phenomenal Woman’. Insert one of the words in the blank spaces. © Education Umbrella, 2015 2 Stride | Fire | Swing | Span | Sun | Click | Palm | Grace Pretty women wonder where my secret lies. I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size But when I start to tell them, They think I’m telling lies. I say, It’s in the reach of my arms The ____________ of my hips, The ____________ of my step, The curl of my lips. I’m a woman Phenomenally Phenomenal woman, That’s me. I walk into a room Just as cool as you please, And to a man, The fellows stand or Fall down on their knees. Then they swarm around me, A hive of honey bees. I say, It’s in the ___________ in my eyes, And the flash of my teeth, The _____________ in my waist, And the joy in my feet. I’m a woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, That’s me. Men themselves have wondered What they see in me. They try so much But they can’t touch My inner mystery. When I try to show them © Education Umbrella, 2015 They say they still can’t see I say, It’s in the arch of my back, The ____________ of my smile, The ride of my breasts, The ____________ of my style. I’m a woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, That’s me. Now you understand Just why my head’s not bowed. I don’t shout or jump about Or have to talk real loud. When you see me passing It ought to make you proud. I say, It’s in the ____________ of my heels, The bend of my hair, the ___________ of my hand, The need of my care, ‘Cause I’m a woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, That’s me. 3 Explain your choices with a partner. Your teacher will now distribute copies of the original poem. Read it individually, then aloud as a class. Comprehension Quote the line(s) of the poem that show(s) the woman… … is modest: … is proud: … doesn’t consider herself pretty: … loves dancing: … is popular with men: Activity Imagine you are friends with the narrator of the poem (Maya Angelou). You would like to set her up with a male friend of yours who is single. The two friends do not know each other. Write to the second friend explaining who Maya is and why he would like her. Your message should be a mixture of words and lines from the poem and your own ideas. Example opening: Hey _______________ (name of male friend) Are you still looking for a girlfriend? I’ve got a friend who I’m sure you will really like. Her name’s Maya. All the men love her, but she’s very picky about choosing a boyfriend. If I had to use one word to describe her it would be… phenomenal. © Education Umbrella, 2015 4