She tells the listener that it should now be clear just why she does not bow her head—she is not ashamed of who she is. Her smile is like the sun, once again referring to light and the radiance of her beauty. Phenomenal woman has grace and style also courage and endurance just the same things that the statue of liberty stands for grace and freedom to people of the world. Pretty women wonder where my secret lies. The opening lines of each stanza either ask a question regarding why the poet is the way she is and what is so alluring about her. In this stanza, the speaker uses nouns that evoke energy and light to describe her allure. The speaker’s statement that these men try often to “touch her inner mystery” may suggest many things.
She is not cute and does not have a fashion model’s alluring curves. However, one might also read it as unbelievable—like a natural phenomenon that defies human expectations. They are eager to be at her service and say all the right things to capture her attention. With the words, “and to a man,” she sets up a comparison and contrast with the women described in the first stanza. The subsequent five lines answer the question in the poet’s own voice. We must know that we all are phenomenal and can give back to ourselves and others.Phenomenal Woman by Dr. Maya Angelou, discuses how real women have curves and reminds us we're not perfect. “The curl in my lips” may signify the grandness of her speech. In this stanza, her attributes and gestures are more sexualized than in previous stanzas. To this day I feel their jealousy, and they will never give me respect. They think that she is telling lies and there are indeed some secrets behind her being so attractive.Answering the pretty women, the poet says that her secret lies in the the way she is. She explains that “pretty women” often look at her and wonder what makes her so attractive and alluring. Were you touched by this poem? Seeing this, Angelou advances this perception by showcasing in … I had no spiritual being and my life was exposed to the material matters and outwardly appearances seemed to be what mattered most. She describes her features and gestures in precise detail, using words that create an image of herself as larger than life. They are not able to fathom what makes her beautiful on its own. She does not “shout” or make any commotion by raising her voice in order to make others notice her. Share Your Story Here. The speaker insinuates that they may be jealous, or perhaps they are simply incapable of believing that a woman who does not fit conventional standards of beauty can be beautiful at all. At the end of the stanza, the speaker repeats the refrain about being a phenomenal woman.Stanza Four: The speaker addresses the listener for the first time, summarizing her qualities and explaining how her previous recollections should help the listener understand her better. The speaker concludes the stanza with a refrain about being a “phenomenal woman.” She proclaims with pride that she is not merely a lovely woman, but an exceptional one.Stanza Two: The speaker proceeds to describe her effect on men.
She is not intimidated in the least by men, as she is aware of her power over them. She doesn’t seek the attention and approval of the male sex by shouting and jumping in order to catch people’s eye. I grew up with beautiful sisters, and I was the ugly duckling. The stanza concludes with the refrain of being a phenomenal woman, once again reaffirming the speaker’s confidence and justifying other people’s reactions when they notice her.Stanza Three: In the third stanza, the speaker continues her reflections on men. She concludes by saying that if there is a ‘phenomenal woman’ then that’s she.Join Englicist Pro Membership – unlock all answers, quizzes, ebooks & no ads.Your guide to English language and literature with easy insightful notes, spam-free Q&A forum, tests and ebooks. All of the attributes mentioned in the lines are suggestive of the poet’s corpulent (overweight) exterior.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”. I recently heard this quote and find that it reminds me a little of this poem.
The word ‘phenomenal’ signifies her talismanic physical structure as well as her towering personality. This phrase is a double-edged sword. "Phenomenal" also means, in the most basic sense, something that is visible or perceptible; so the speaker's amazingness is also something that people can't help but see, no matter how unbelievable or surprising it may seem.In the second stanza, the tone of the speaker shifts from simply confident to both confident and seductive. She tells the listener that he/she should be proud of her when she walks by, as she is a confident and self-respecting woman. As I walk along streets, heads of men are always turned toward me. This is why I'm surprised at Ms. Maya's life of being hated by her sisters, even though they are more beautiful than her! On one hand, it can be interpreted as exceptional and amazing. When she tells those pretty women about her own ways, they do not believe her. Maya Angelou was a civil rights activist, poet and award-winning author known for her acclaimed 1969 memoir, 'I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings', and her numerous poetry and essay …. Her way of stretching her arms, walking with long and decisive steps, stretched hips and curved lips i.e.