Year 8 - English
Exploring Maya Angelou's use of figurative language
Single poet study: Maya Angelou
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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 and evaluate Angelou's use of figurative language across two poems: 'Equality' and 'Phenomenal Woman'.
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 'Equality' to develop complex ideas about the speaker and society.
- Angelou uses figurative language in many of her poems.
- When comparing poems, using words like 'more' or 'less' can be helpful.
Vocabulary To Learn
- literal: factual, exact
- figurative language: non-literal words and phrases which develop a writer's meaning
- oppress: to treat someone, or a group of people, unfairly
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Figurative language is a synonym for a metaphor or simile.
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 'Equality' to develop complex ideas about the speaker and society.
2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'literal'
factual, exact.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: Figurative language is a synonym for a metaphor or simile. Correction: Metaphor and simile are both specific examples of figurative language. Figurative language is a broader term. Allusion, personification and hyperbole are other common 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 figurative language in 'Phenomenal Woman' 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
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