Exploring Maya Angelou’s use of figurative language

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

Discriminatory behaviour or images, whether on the grounds of race, gender, disability, religion or belief or sexual orientation, or otherwise.

Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

Historic or outdated representations of people that may portray inequality or injustice.

Depiction of war, threats of war, death or the aftermath of war.

Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

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

Depiction or discussion of sexual content

In Maya Angelou's 'Equality', the speaker beats "{{ }}" to signal her desire for equality. ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')

What is figurative language? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')

In Maya Angelou's 'Equality', what does the speaker command her oppressors to do in the final three stanzas?

In Maya Angelou's 'Equality', the speaker stands before her oppressors…? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')

'Equality' – the speaker feels like a "shadow"

'Equality' – the speaker is "marching" towards a more equal future

'Phenomenal Woman' – the speaker confuses "pretty" woman

'Phenomenal Woman' – the speaker's feet are filled with "joy"

'Phenomenal Woman' – the speaker "walks" into rooms

Which of these references to Maya Angelou's poems ('Phenomenal Woman' and 'Equality') are examples of figurative language? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')

In Maya Angelou's 'Equality', the speaker says she feels like a "{{ }}" in the eyes of society (Stanza three). ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')

In Maya Angelou's 'Equality', which words develop the idea that the speaker is accusing her oppressors of wrong doing? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')

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

Which of these words are antonyms for 'literal'? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')

Match each Maya Angelou poem to the date they were first published ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').

speaker accuses her oppressors of not hearing or seeing her properly

the speaker describes herself as a "shadow" in society’s eyes

speaker references enslavement but says she is looking to the future

speaker commands her oppressors to "admit" to their wrong doing

speaker commands her oppressors to "hear" her demands

Match each stanza from Maya Angelou's 'Equality' to its focus ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').

speaker explains that women don't believe her confidence in her body

speaker describes how people react when she walks into a room

speaker reveals men don't understand why they are so attracted to her

speaker explains that she is "proud" of herself, and we should be too

Match each stanza from Maya Angelou's 'Phenomenal Woman' to its focus ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').

Content guidance

Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Depiction or discussion of sexual content

Adult supervision required

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

Exploring Maya Angelou’s use of figurative language

Lesson outcome

Content guidance

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