Journal+5-Poetry-pd+2

Choose a poem from one of the following sites. Poems Poems 2 Poems written by teens

Consider the following and formulate a written response and analysis.

1. Who is speaking? Hint: It's not the author. Is it a woman? Man? Child? Adult? Teen? Female? Male? 2. Take a look at the copyright date of the poem at the bottom of the page. How does the time period during which the poem was written influence the poem. Feel free to "google" the year to get an idea of what was going on. Is the poet American? British? Consider where the author is from when looking at important events from the given year. 3. What is the tone of the poem? 4. What is the mood of the poem? 5. What are your favorite parts? 6. What can you connect to? 7. Why did the author write this poem? What was his/her purpose? 8. Who is the intended audience? Who did the author write the poem "to?" 9. What are your overall thoughts and impressions? 10. What does the poem represent? Is there anything symbolic that stands out to you?

You may response in paragraph form or as numbered responses to the questions above. Please copy and paste the poem (don't forget to include the author and title) above your response. See my example below. ___ Phenomenal Woman By Maya Angelou Copyright © 1978

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies. I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size But when I start to tell them, They think I'm telling lies. I say, It's in the reach of my arms The span of my hips, The stride of my step, The curl of my lips. I'm a woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, That's me.

I walk into a room Just as cool as you please, And to a man, The fellows stand or Fall down on their knees. Then they swarm around me, A hive of honey bees. I say, It's the fire in my eyes, And the flash of my teeth, The swing in my waist, And the joy in my feet. I'm a woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, That's me.

Men themselves have wondered What they see in me. They try so much But they can't touch My inner mystery. When I try to show them They say they still can't see. I say, It's in the arch of my back, The sun of my smile, The grace of my style. I'm a woman

Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, That's me.

Now you understand Just why my head's not bowed. I don't shout or jump about Or have to talk real loud. When you see me passing It ought to make you proud. I say, It's in the click of my heels, The bend of my hair, the palm of my hand, The need of my care, 'Cause I'm a woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, That's me.

The persona of the poem is a woman who is proud of who she is and how she looks. The intended audience is women, I think, because she is explaining what makes her the woman she is. She says, "Pretty women wonder where my secret lies," which makes me believe that she's talking to women who are intrigued by her. I think it's meant to inspire other women, and that's why I picked this. It's one of my favorite poems because the persona is just so content with herself and is proud to show off what makes her beautiful, even if it's not her figure or her looks. I love this poem because it embodies the importance of confidence and pride. It doesn't really matter how you look, but instead how you carry yourself. This woman might not be conventionally beautiful, but she's "phenomenal" because her sheer essence is what attracts people to her. This woman is simply proud to be a woman! She's so delighted at the fact that she has such power over men and women, regardless of how she looks. Quite simply, this poem conveys the idea that confidence is attractive. The tone the persona uses is proud, confident, and satisfied. This transfers to the reader in his/her mood. The mood is definitely one of joy and dignity. Many poems I've read have a very dark and mysterious tone/mood. I adore this because it's so uplifting. The author wrote this because I believe she, too, is proud of who she is. Maya Angelou is an inspirational female who has motivated so many women. During the 70s, Black women and men were still segregated and treated with prejudice. I think she wrote this to inspire other African-American women during a time when they were not entirely accepted into society, let alone featured in beauty ads and as models. I can connect to this is many ways. One, as a woman, I am guilty of insecurities. However, I try not to dictate how I view myself based on what society portrays as beautiful. There are so many ways one can be powerful and attractive, and simple physical beauty is only a small part of this. I hope all young women read this poem and reflect on how they view themselves. With the media having such a stronghold over our appearances and how others view us, it's not always easy for us (females especially) to feel good about how we look and who were are. Maya Angelou is such an inspirational poet and author, and I hope this poem has empowered you, regardless of whether you're male or female.