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Year 8

Exploring Maya Angelou's figurative language in ‘Phenomenal Woman’

I can explore Angelou's use of figurative language in 'Phenomenal Woman' and use this exploration to write about myself using figurative language.

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Year 8

Exploring Maya Angelou's figurative language in ‘Phenomenal Woman’

I can explore Angelou's use of figurative language in 'Phenomenal Woman' and use this exploration to write about myself using figurative language.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Figurative language sees writers use non-literal words and phrases to develop complex ideas about something, or someone.
  2. Maya Angelou uses figurative language in 'Phenomenal Woman' to develop complex ideas about the speaker.
  3. When writing figuratively, you should consider the ideas you are trying to convey and use words which develop this idea.

Keywords

  • 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 misconception

Figurative language and metaphors are synonyms.

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.


To help you plan your year 8 english lesson on: Exploring Maya Angelou's figurative language in ‘Phenomenal Woman’, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Consider if one or more of your pupils will find writing about themselves overwhelming or distressing. You could adapt the task to direct your class to write about an inspirational figure instead.
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Teacher tip
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Equipment

You need access to a copy of 'Phenomenal Woman' by Maya Angelou published by Penguin Random House in 2011.

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Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sexual content
supervision-level

Supervision

Adult supervision required

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Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
One of Maya Angelou's poems is called ' Woman' ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').
Correct Answer: Phenomenal
Q2.
Match each of these words to their definitions ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').
Correct Answer:assertive,confident, self-assured
tick

confident, self-assured

Correct Answer:uplifting,inspiring happiness or hope
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inspiring happiness or hope

Correct Answer:phenomenal,extraordinary or remarkable, often beyond usual expectations
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extraordinary or remarkable, often beyond usual expectations

Correct Answer:flash,a bright, brief burst of light
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a bright, brief burst of light

Correct Answer:stride,a way of walking by taking long, powerful steps
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a way of walking by taking long, powerful steps

Q3.
Starting with the first, put each of the five stanzas of Maya Angelou's 'Phenomenal Woman' in chronological order ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').
1 - People think the speaker lies when she says she's confident because of her body.
2 - People show respect to the speaker when she walks into a room.
3 - Refrain
4 - People can't work out why they find the speaker so attractive.
5 - The speaker is proud of herself; we should be proud of her too.
Q4.
Which words most accurately describe the speaker of Maya Angelou's 'Phenomenal Woman'? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')
Correct answer: assertive
Correct answer: uplifting
aggressive
passive
uncertain
Q5.
In 'Phenomenal Woman', what word describes how the speaker feels when she walks into a room? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')
pretty
confident
Correct answer: cool
mysterious
proud
Q6.
When was 'Phenomenal Woman' first published? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')
1928
Correct answer: 1978
1993
2014

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
language is non-literal words and phrases which develop a writer's meaning.
Correct Answer: Figurative
Q2.
Which of these words are synonyms for the word literal? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').
fiction
Correct answer: factual
Correct answer: exact
Correct answer: true
legendary
Q3.
In 'Phenomenal Woman', the speaker says her smile is like the " ". ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').
Correct Answer: sun
Q4.
In 'Phenomenal Woman', the speaker says her teeth " " at people. ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').
Correct Answer: flash
Q5.
Which of these sentences is figurative? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').
Correct answer: I roared with laughter.
Correct answer: I've told you a million times to tidy your desk.
I can't go today because I'm really busy.
The sun beams were very strong.
Correct answer: I crashed about the room like a dinosaur.
Q6.
Which of these sentences use the word enigmatic (or its forms) correctly? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').
I said everything enigmatically so everyone knew what was going to happen.
Correct answer: I'm not really sure what she's like because she spoke so enigmatically.
Correct answer: I'm not sure what he wants – his message was enigmatic.
Correct answer: Don't be enigmatic in the police report – we have to know exactly what happened.