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

Starter quiz

One of Maya Angelou's poems is called '______ Woman' ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').
- 'Phenomenal' ✓
Match each of these words to their definitions ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').
- assertive
  
  ⇔
  
  confident, self-assured ✓
- uplifting
  
  ⇔
  
  inspiring happiness or hope ✓
- phenomenal
  
  ⇔
  
  extraordinary or remarkable, often beyond usual expectations ✓
- flash
  
  ⇔
  
  a bright, brief burst of light ✓
- stride
  
  ⇔
  
  a way of walking by taking long, powerful steps ✓
Starting with the first, put each of the five stanzas of Maya Angelou's 'Phenomenal Woman' in chronological order ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').
- 1
  
  ⇔
  
  People think the speaker lies when she says she's confident because of her body.
- 2
  
  ⇔
  
  People show respect to the speaker when she walks into a room.
- 3
  
  ⇔
  
  Refrain
- 4
  
  ⇔
  
  People can't work out why they find the speaker so attractive.
- 5
  
  ⇔
  
  The speaker is proud of herself; we should be proud of her too.
Which words most accurately describe the speaker of Maya Angelou's 'Phenomenal Woman'? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')
- assertive ✓
- uplifting ✓
- aggressive
- passive
- uncertain
In 'Phenomenal Woman', what word describes how the speaker feels when she walks into a room? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')
- pretty
- confident
- cool ✓
- mysterious
- proud
When was 'Phenomenal Woman' first published? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')
- 1928
- 1978 ✓
- 1993
- 2014

Exit quiz

______ language is non-literal words and phrases which develop a writer's meaning.
- 'Figurative' ✓
Which of these words are synonyms for the word literal? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').
- fiction
- factual ✓
- exact ✓
- true ✓
- legendary
In 'Phenomenal Woman', the speaker says her smile is like the "______". ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').
- 'sun' ✓
In 'Phenomenal Woman', the speaker says her teeth "______" at people. ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').
- 'flash' ✓
Which of these sentences is figurative? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').
- I roared with laughter. ✓
- I've told you a million times to tidy your desk. ✓
- I can't go today because I'm really busy.
- The sun beams were very strong.
- I crashed about the room like a dinosaur. ✓
Which of these sentences use the word enigmatic (or its forms) correctly? ('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. ✓

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Lesson Details

Key learning points

Figurative language sees writers use non-literal words and phrases to develop complex ideas about something, or someone.
Maya Angelou uses figurative language in 'Phenomenal Woman' to develop complex ideas about the speaker.
When writing figuratively, you should consider the ideas you are trying to convey and use words which develop this idea.

Common misconception

Figurative language and metaphors are synonyms.

All metaphors are examples of figurative language. But not all figurative language is a metaphor. For example, personification, hyperbole and simile are also examples of figurative language.

Keywords

Literal - factual, exact
Figurative language - non-literal words and phrases which develop a writer’s meaning
Phenomenal - extraordinary or remarkable, often beyond usual expectations or understanding
Enigmatic - mysterious