The poem “Phenomenal Woman” by Maya Angelou emphasizes the deep role and strong personality of women. This strong personality is covered by the stigma against women that happens a lot in society. society still thinks that women are weak and submissive.
----
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
----
This stanza explains that the 'I' in this poem is trying to explain to the public that her existence as a woman is not to fulfil the world's desire for fashion models that beautify the eye. however, people are still reluctant to accept their voices and opinions on this matter.
----
I say,
It’s in the reach of my arms,
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips
----
This stanza explains that their strong personality becomes an inseparable part of the beauty of their bodies.
----
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
----
This stanza tells the beauty of the 'I' as a woman which can be seen when she enters a room where the men then focus on her. this may reflect the way society prioritizes and imposes physical beauty as a must on women. whereas, behind her physical beauty, women have a strong and have a sturdy soul. as explained in the next stanza:
----
I say,
It’s the fire in my eyes
And the flash of my teeth
The swing in my waist
And the joy in my feet
----
The stanza above explains that there is a burning soul within the 'I' who is a woman. She tried to explain to those who looked at her that there was fire in her eyes, flash on her teeth, swing in her waist, and happiness or joy on her feet. this seems to reflect a personality that is contrary to the stigma of society. society may regard women as weak individuals. however, in reality, in the soul of a woman, there is a hidden aggressive side that seems to want to sneak out.
----
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,
They say they still can’t see
----
From the aggressive side, women try to explain to men that they realize that men's views of them are wrong. in this stanza, it is said that women have an inner mystery that is not touched by the stigma of men toward them. when women try to show this inner mystery to men, men still can't see it. The aggressiveness just now lies behind the beauty of their bodies which is described in the next stanza;
----
I say,
It’s in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace 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
----
This stanza emphasizes that it is this disguised aggressiveness that makes women proud of their own envy. women should not lower their heads. they must walk upright, as upright as men. that side lies behind the beauty of the female self which is described in the stanza below;
----
I say,
It’s in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need for my care
----
’Cause I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me
----
This stanza is mentioned four times. It means, the 'me' in the poem admits that she is a phenomenal woman. women admit that they were born as a woman. however, it does not mean that they accept society's views that seem to belittle their roles and abilities as women and human being.
The analysis of some of the literary devices used in this poem is given below.
Metaphor “Then they swarm around me, / A hive of honey bees.” The author compares the admiring men with honey bees. The second metaphor is in the line “it’s the fire in my eyes,” and here she compares her confidence and passion with fire.
Hyperbole : “I walk into a room just as cool as you please, / and to a man, / The fellows stand or fall down on their knees.” Through this hyperbole, she shows her superiority over men.
Imagery “The curl of my lips”, “The swing of my waist”, “The ride of my breast”, “The stride of my steps”, and “The flash of my teeth”.
Personification : The author has personified joy in the third stanza of the poem where it is stated, “the joy in my feet” as if feet are human, and that they rejoice while dancing or walking.
Alliteration : The use of /f/ in “fall”, “fire” and “flash.” This use has enhanced the musical quality of the lines.
Assonance : repetition of the vowel sounds in the same line such as the sounds of /i/ in “its fire in my eyes”.
The analysis of some of the prominent poetic devices in the poem is given below.
Stanza: In this poem, there are four stanzas with each stanza having a different number of verses.
Rhyme Scheme: There is no specific rhyme scheme used in this poem.
Repetition: The poem has used repetition at various places such as “The Phenomenal Woman” and “that’s me.” These two phrases are repeated in each stanza.
Refrain: The phrases “phenomenal woman” and “that’s me” has become refrain because of the repetition of the same words in each stanza of the poem.
Comments