Exploring Maya Angelou's figurative language in ‘Phenomenal Woman’

English

In 'Single Poet Study: Maya Angelou', pupils study a body of work by a single poet, in order to explore what makes her style and voice unique, giving Angelou her identity as a writer. In the second  Power and Conflict Poetry unit, pupils study the identity cluster of poems, including works by Agard, Dharker and Rumens, all of which use poetic voice to explore questions about personal identity.

In 'Poetry about Place and Home', pupils use spoken word poetry to explore their relationship to the city that they live in. In 'Single Poet Study: Maya Angelou', pupils explore how spoken word poetry can be used to express personal and political views. 

Single poet study: Maya Angelou

Depiction or discussion of sex or sexual body parts, including sex education.

Depiction or discussion of sexual content

{{ }} language is non-literal words and phrases which develop a writer's meaning.

Which of these words are synonyms for the word literal? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').

In 'Phenomenal Woman', the speaker says her smile is like the "{{ }}". ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').

In 'Phenomenal Woman', the speaker says her teeth "{{ }}" at people. ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').

I've told you a million times to tidy your desk.

I can't go today because I'm really busy.

I crashed about the room like a dinosaur.

Which of these sentences is figurative? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').

I said everything enigmatically so everyone knew what was going to happen.

I'm not really sure what she's like because she spoke so enigmatically.

I'm not sure what he wants – his message was enigmatic.

Don't be enigmatic in the police report – we have to know exactly what happened.

Which of these sentences use the word enigmatic (or its forms) correctly? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').

One of Maya Angelou's poems is called '{{ }} Woman' ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').

extraordinary or remarkable, often beyond usual expectations 

a way of walking by taking long, powerful steps

Match each of these words to their definitions ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').

People think the speaker lies when she says she's confident because of her body.

People show respect to the speaker when she walks into a room.

People can't work out why they find the speaker so attractive.

The speaker is proud of herself; we should be proud of her too.

Starting with the first, put each of the five stanzas of Maya Angelou's 'Phenomenal Woman' in chronological order ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').

Which words most accurately describe the speaker of Maya Angelou's 'Phenomenal Woman'? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')

In 'Phenomenal Woman', what word describes how the speaker feels when she walks into a room? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')

When was 'Phenomenal Woman' first published? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')

Content guidance

Depiction or discussion of sexual content

Adult supervision required

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Exploring Maya Angelou's figurative language in ‘Phenomenal Woman’

Lesson outcome

Content guidance

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.