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Year 8 - English

Exploring Maya Angelou's 'Phenomenal Woman'

Single poet study: Maya Angelou

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 Maya Angelou's 'Phenomenal Woman', including an appreciation of its contexts.

Key Notes

  • 'Phenomenal Woman' was first published in 1978.
  • The poem sees a confident speaker tell us how and why she is "phenomenal".
  • The poem is perhaps a response to the sexist and racist discrimination Angelou faced in her life.
  • Angelou performed 'Phenomenal Woman' many times in her lifetime.
  • The poem remains very popular because of its powerful and uplifting message.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • civil rights activist: a person who advocates for social and political equality for those who have been denied equal treatment
  • phenomenal: extraordinary or remarkable, often beyond usual expectations or understanding
  • discrimination: treating someone unfairly because of certain characteristics like age, ethnicity or gender
  • belittle: dismiss someone as unimportant

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Poems are meant to be read in your head.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.

'Phenomenal Woman' was first published in 1978. The poem sees a confident speaker tell us how and why she is "phenomenal".

2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'civil rights activist'

a person who advocates for social and political equality for those who have been denied equal treatment.

3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.

Mistake: Poems are meant to be read in your head. Correction: When poets write poems, they play close attention to their sounds and rhythm. As such, it's often important and desirable to hear poems aloud.

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 8 English guide library.