40 Maya Angelou
In This Chapter
Author Background
Maya Angelou (1928-2014) was an American author, poet, actress, and civil rights activist. She is widely regarded as one of the most influential voices in contemporary literature and an icon of African American culture.
Early Years
Maya Angelou was born on April 4, 1928, in St. Louis, Missouri, as Marguerite Annie Johnson. She experienced a challenging childhood, marked by poverty, racism, and trauma. At the age of eight, Angelou was raped, which led to a period of muteness that lasted for several years. Despite her difficult circumstances, Angelou developed a love for literature and poetry, which became a significant influence on her life and career.
Writing Career
Angelou gained recognition for her autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, published in 1969. The book, which chronicles her early life and personal experiences, became a critically acclaimed bestseller.
She went on to write a series of autobiographies, including Gather Together in My Name (1974), Singin’ and Swingin’ and Gettin’ Merry Like Christmas (1976), and The Heart of a Woman (1981), among others. Angelou also wrote several collections of poetry, including Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water ‘fore I Diiie (1971), And Still I Rise (1978), and I Shall Not Be Moved (1990). Her works often explored themes of identity, race, womanhood, resilience, and the power of literature.
Activism
Angelou was actively involved in the Civil Rights Movement and worked closely with prominent figures such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. Her writings and speeches often addressed social and political issues, advocating for equality, justice, and empowerment. Angelou’s work and words have inspired countless individuals around the world, and she has been recognized as a significant voice in both literature and civil rights activism.
Accolades
Maya Angelou received numerous awards and honors throughout her career, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom (2011) and several honorary degrees from prestigious universities. She served as a professor of American Studies at Wake Forest University and held various academic and artistic positions.
Maya Angelou’s works continue to be widely studied, celebrated, and embraced for their powerful storytelling, lyrical prose, and poignant themes. Her contributions to literature and her activism have had a lasting impact on the representation of African American experiences and the fight for social justice.
The following video gives more information about Maya Angelou’s life and legacy:
Source: “Civil Rights Movement Maya Angelou Biography.” YouTube, uploaded by African American Museums, 29 June 2018, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_K8pzdRqCI, CCBY.
Answer the following true or false questions to test your knowledge of Maya Angelou’s life and career.
You can read many of Angelou’s poems through the Poetry Foundation’s digital archive.
Follow the links below to read poetry selections from Maya Angelou and then use the discussion questions provided to dig deeper into each poem, exploring their themes, literary techniques, historical context, and their relevance to wider discussions about themes of identity, race, womanhood, and resilience.
“Phenomenal Woman”
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/48985/phenomenal-woman
- Analyze the theme of self-confidence and self-acceptance in the poem. How does the speaker exude a strong sense of self and pride? What qualities or characteristics does she attribute to herself that contribute to her feeling of being a “phenomenal woman”?
- Discuss the poem’s message about beauty and body image. How does Angelou challenge traditional beauty standards and redefine what it means to be beautiful? How does she emphasize the power and allure of inner beauty and self-assurance?
- Reflect on the impact of repetition in the poem. How does the repetition of the phrase “I’m a woman” reinforce the speaker’s confidence and assertiveness? What effect does it have on the overall rhythm and meaning of the poem?
- Consider the role of the speaker’s voice in the poem. How does Angelou use language, tone, and rhythm to convey the speaker’s strength and presence? How does the poem celebrate the power of voice and self-expression?
- Discuss the poem’s relevance to issues of gender and empowerment. How does “Phenomenal Woman” speak to the experiences and challenges faced by women in society? What does the poem suggest about the importance of self-love, self-acceptance, and embracing one’s unique qualities?
- Reflect on the broader significance of the poem. How does “Phenomenal Woman” resonate with readers from diverse backgrounds? What broader themes or ideas does the poem explore, such as identity, confidence, and the celebration of individuality?
“Still I Rise”
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/46446/still-i-rise
- Explore the theme of resilience and strength in the poem. How does the speaker embody resilience in the face of adversity? What images or metaphors does Maya Angelou use to convey the idea of rising above challenges?
- Discuss the significance of the repeated phrase “Still I rise” throughout the poem. How does this repetition reinforce the speaker’s determination and refusal to be defeated? What effect does it have on the overall tone and message of the poem?
- Analyze the use of symbolism in the poem. How does Maya Angelou use symbols such as the moon, the tides, and the dust to convey her message of empowerment and triumph? What do these symbols represent and how do they contribute to the poem’s meaning?
- Reflect on the poem’s exploration of identity and self-worth. How does Maya Angelou celebrate her identity and assert her worth in the face of adversity? What does the poem suggest about the importance of self-love and self-acceptance?
- Discuss the poem’s relevance to broader social and historical contexts. How does “Still I Rise” resonate with issues of racial and gender inequality? What does the poem convey about the power of resilience and the struggle for justice and equality?
- Reflect on the poem’s impact on readers. How does “Still I Rise” inspire and empower its audience? What emotions does it evoke and why? How does it speak to the experiences of individuals who have faced discrimination and adversity?
“Caged Bird”
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/48989/caged-bird
- Analyze the theme of freedom and oppression in the poem. How does Maya Angelou depict the contrasting experiences of the caged bird and the free bird? What emotions and images does she use to convey the sense of confinement and yearning for freedom?
- Discuss the use of metaphor in the poem. How does the caged bird symbolize the experiences of African Americans during times of racial injustice and discrimination? What other symbols or images does Angelou incorporate to emphasize the contrast between captivity and liberation?
- Reflect on the role of voice and expression in the poem. How does Angelou highlight the power of the bird’s song as a form of resistance and resilience? What does the poem suggest about the importance of using one’s voice to confront oppression?
- Explore the idea of resilience and hope in the face of adversity. How does the caged bird’s spirit remain unbroken despite its confinement? How does the poem convey the human capacity to find solace and joy even in the most challenging circumstances?
- Discuss the poem’s relevance to broader social and historical contexts. How does “Caged Bird” speak to the experiences of marginalized communities and the fight for equality? What broader themes or messages does it convey about the human spirit and the pursuit of freedom?
- Reflect on the emotional impact of the poem. How does “Caged Bird” make you feel as a reader? What emotions does it evoke, and why? How does the poem’s language and imagery contribute to its overall effect?
Sources
Angelou, Maya. “Still I Rise.” And Still I Rise: A Book of Poems. Random House, 1978.
Angelou, Maya. “Phenomenal Woman.” The Complete Collected Poems of Maya Angelou. Random House, 1994.
Angelou, Maya. “Caged Bird.” Shaker, Why Don’t You Sing? Random House,1983.
“Civil Rights Movement Maya Angelou Biography.” YouTube, uploaded by African American Museums, 29 June 2018, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_K8pzdRqCI, CCBY.
“Maya Angelou.” Poetry Foundation, www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/maya-angelou.
“Maya Angelou.” Academy of American Poets, www.poets.org/poet/maya-angelou.
“Maya Angelou Biography.” Academy of Achievement, www.achievement.org/achiever/maya-angelou/.
A theme is a central topic, subject, or message within a narrative.
Rhythm can be described as the beat and pace of a poem. The rhythmic beat is created by the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line or verse.
Tone is the attitude that a character or narrator or author takes towards a given subject.
Symbols take the form of words, sounds, gestures, ideas, or visual images and are used to convey other ideas and beliefs. For example, a red octagon is a common symbol for "STOP"; on maps, blue lines often represent rivers; and a red rose often symbolizes love and compassion.
A metaphor is a figure of speech that, for rhetorical effect, directly refers to one thing by mentioning another. It may provide clarity or identify hidden similarities between two different ideas. Metaphors are usually meant to create a likeness or an analogy.
