Year 8 - English
Exploring Maya Angelou's figurative language in 'Phenomenal Woman'
Single poet study: Maya Angelou
Study Hub
Study Guides
This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils read and discover the work of Maya Angelou. They explore some of Angelou's most famous poems, such as 'Caged Bird' and 'Still I Rise', and practise writing and performing poems inspired by her work. As the unit develops, pupils find their own distinctive poetic voice.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to explore Angelou's use of figurative language in 'Phenomenal Woman' and use this exploration to write about myself using figurative language.
Key Notes
- 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.
Vocabulary To Learn
- 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
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Figurative language and metaphors are synonyms.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key 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.
2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'literal'
factual, exact.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: Figurative language and metaphors are synonyms. Correction: 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.
More Lessons In This Unit
- An introduction to Maya Angelou's distinctive voice: 'Life Doesn't Frighten Me' Study Guide
- Analytical paragraphs: Maya Angelou's poetic voice Study Guide
- Exploring Maya Angelou's 'Caged Bird' Study Guide
- Exploring Maya Angelou's 'Equality' Study Guide
- Exploring Maya Angelou's 'On Aging' Study Guide
- Exploring Maya Angelou's 'On the Pulse of the Morning' Study Guide
- Exploring Maya Angelou's 'Phenomenal Woman' Study Guide
- Exploring Maya Angelou's 'Still I Rise' Study Guide
- Exploring Maya Angelou's 'Woman Work' Study Guide
- Exploring Maya Angelou's use of figurative language Study Guide
- Finding my own voice: performing a poem Study Guide
- Finding my own voice: planning a poem inspired by Maya Angelou Study Guide
- Finding my own voice: writing a poem inspired by Maya Angelou Study Guide
- Maya Angelou's influences: exploring 'Sympathy' by Paul Laurence Dunbar Study Guide
- Maya Angelou's poetic voice Study Guide
- Performing Maya Angelou's 'Caged Bird' Study Guide
- Performing Maya Angelou's 'Still I Rise' Study Guide
- Refining poems: harmony and dissonance Study Guide
- Writing a poem inspired by Maya Angelou's 'Life Doesn't Frighten Me' Study Guide
Browse all guides in the Year 8 English guide library.