how something is put together; how it is organised and arranged

being able to cope, withstand and recover from difficult physical or mental challenge

elegance, dignity, poise, self-possession

in English, to look at a writer’s work carefully and make a comment on why it was written in that way

the attitude of emotion of your voice - written or verbal

Exploring Maya Angelou's 'Woman Work'

English

In 'Single Poet Study: Maya Angelou', pupils study a body of work by a single poet, in order to explore what makes her style and voice unique, giving Angelou her identity as a writer. In the second  Power and Conflict Poetry unit, pupils study the identity cluster of poems, including works by Agard, Dharker and Rumens, all of which use poetic voice to explore questions about personal identity.

In 'Poetry about Place and Home', pupils use spoken word poetry to explore their relationship to the city that they live in. In 'Single Poet Study: Maya Angelou', pupils explore how spoken word poetry can be used to express personal and political views. 

Single poet study: Maya Angelou

Discriminatory behaviour or images, whether on the grounds of race, gender, disability, religion or belief or sexual orientation, or otherwise.

Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

Historic or outdated representations of people that may portray inequality or injustice.

Subjects which particular individuals may be sensitive to, eg, adoption, migration, bereavement or death, divorce.

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Depiction or discussion of sex or sexual body parts, including sex education.

Depiction or discussion of sexual content

Maya Angelou wrote a poem called '{{ }} Work'. ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')

to look at a writer's work carefully and make a comment on it

Match these words to their definitions ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').

to consider if the poet has used metaphorical language

to consider if the poet has used first, second or third person

to consider the focus and tone at the beginning compared to the end

to consider things the writer did in their lifetime

to consider how often the speaker uses pronouns

When exploring the structure of a poem, what might be one of your first steps? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')

'Still I Rise', 'Phenomenal Woman', 'Woman Work'

Starting with the first, put these Maya Angelou poems in the order they were first published. ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')

Angelou often presents resilient speakers who have experienced hardship

the most resilient of Angelou's poems are the ones with refrains

Angelou experienced racism and sexism but remained resilient

Which sentences use the word resilient correctly? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')

I am grace when I need to be – even when I am close to losing my cool.

Despite being made fun of, she walked across the room with grace and dignity.

I tried to accept the result with grace, but I was shaking with anger.

I wanted to enter the room with grace, but I ended up tripping over.

Which sentences use the word grace correctly? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')

unjust treatment of someone based on their sex

unjust treatment on the basis of the colour of your skin

unjust treatment, and the limiting of power, of an individual or group

unjust treatment of people based on a certain category e.g. ethnicity

Match each word to its definition ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').

What is the term for the attitude of emotion of your voice? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')

How might we describe the speaker's tone in Maya Angelou's 'Phenomenal Woman'? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').

In 'Phenomenal Woman', how does the speaker think we should feel if we see her walking around? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')

an assertive speaker explains why she is so fantastic

despite being treated like "dirt", she will overcome oppression

Angelou uses an extended metaphor to explore freedom and oppression

a speaker demands justice so she can be "free"

a speaker lists many things that she is not scared of and tells us why

Match each poem to its focus ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').

What was Maya Angelou's third volume of poetry called? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')

Content guidance

Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Depiction or discussion of sexual content

Adult supervision required

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Exploring Maya Angelou's 'Woman Work'

Lesson outcome

Content guidance

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.