Yikes!
I forgot to post your summary yesterday.
I'm sorry Clevin if you're still waiting for the blog...Yesterday I couldn't get much time...
Today I'll try.
God bless, മച്ചാനേ!
Sunday 13 October 2013
Saturday 12 October 2013
Letter To The Respected Beloved Retest Buddies Clevin And Toyle
Oh - sorry.
Hi.
Dear very very very respected Clevin -
You asked me to help you with Act II Scene 1 and 2...
I've searched the Net a little for this and I'll paste everything that might help you for the retest in the below blog - follow instructions on that blog to find what you want.
Please tell Toyle about this as well, through Facebook or
God bless!
Now, kindly click this link.
http://clevinandtoyle.blogspot.in/
Oh - sorry.
Bye.
Wednesday 11 September 2013
Much Ado About Nothing Plot Outline (Till Act I Scene 1)
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Act I
Scene 1
1. Messenger announces Don Pedro's arrival through a letter.
2. Don Pedro, Don John, Claudio, Benedick, and Balthasar enter.
3. All exit except Benedick and Claudio.
4. Claudio confesses his love for Hero.
5. Don Pedro comes back, and Benedick tells of Claudio's love to him.
6. Don Pedro plans to woo Hero for Claudio.
Scene 2
1. Antonio says that a servant told him that Don Pedro loves Hero and plans to woo her at the Masked Ball.
2. Leonato is happy and is going to tell Hero to prepare an answer.
Scene 3
1. Don John and Conrade are talking.
2. Borachio comes and tells that Don Pedro is going to woo Hero.
3. Don John plans to ruin Don Pedro's love because of bitterness and anger.
Act II
Scene 1
All characters are in a ball.
1. Don Pedro and Hero talk.
2. Balthasar and Margaret talk.
3. Antonio and Ursula talk.
4. Beatrice and Benedick talk.
5. All exit except Don John, Borachio, and Claudio.
6. Don John tells Claudio that Don Pedro has wooed Hero for himself.
7. Don John and Borachio exit.
8. Benedick enters. After some conversation, Claudio leaves.
9. Don Pedro enters and talks to Benedick.
10. Claudio, Beatrice, Hero and Leonato come and the misunderstandings are resolved.
Help For Eldhoe
Hello, Eldhoe!
Here are the notes. Sorry for being late...
1. On running after one's hat
THEME
Every little thing of difficulty and
inconvenience must be taken with an optimistic outlook in accordance
to G.K Chesterton. Any situation being an inconvenience is absolutely
constructed by one's mind. In other words, an inconvenience is an
inconvenience only if the mind considers it to be so.
He gives an example of a particular friend of
his who grumbled everyday because his drawer would not open easily and
would make noise. He explains that this is an inconvenience only
because our mind considers that the drawer ''should, could and would''
open easily. If we rather take it as an adventure, there is no place
for grumbling.
With a similar logic, he explains that there
is nothing wrong to consider a flood a romantic and beautiful
happening, for it is this mind or the sentiment that judges a
situation often in a negative light. Yet, it is easy for us to mold
our mind for optimistic considerations. "An adventure is an
inconvenience rightly considered and an inconvenience is an adventure
wrongly considered", in his own words.
SHORT SUMMARY
In "On Running After One's Hat," Chesterton is trying to convey a
message of optimism towards life's trivial annoyances. Near the
beginning especially, but also throughout, he gives examples of little
things that might irritate someone, such as struggling with a jammed
drawer or, as the title suggests, running to catch one's hat that has
flown off in a strong wind. Upon giving the examples and how
frustrated someone might get as a result, Chesterton offers a "look on
the bright side" argument that, he says, can be applied to most, if
not all, situations. All it requires is a change of perspective or a
bit of imagination. For instance, if a drawer if jammed, one can
pretend he is struggling with a formidable foe and encourage himself
to get it open rather than cursing idly. If his hat flies off and he
must chase after it, it has most likely provided a humorous situation
for onlookers to enjoy.
2. Much Ado
Summary
ACT I
[Scene 1]
The first scene, set at Messina, opens with Leonardo, the governor,
his daughter Hero and her cousin Beatrice. Talking to a messenger,
Leonardo learns that Don Pedro, prince of Aragon, is to come to
Messina. He had recently fought a battle nearby, wherein a young
gentleman named Claudio had distinguished himself as a brave soldier
and thereby earned Don Pedro's praise. Beatrice asks the messenger for
Signior Benedick and, after hearing he has returned safely, sneers at
his boasting before the battle. The messenger, puzzled at her showing
contempt, puts her right as to Benedick's heroic qualities, and
Leonardo explains that Beatrice and Benedick have a "merry kind of
war" going on between them, consisting of insulting each other in a
witty way. Thereupon Beatrice denies Benedick not only any kind of
esprit and pities his companion Claudio for having to be near him.
A trumpet announces Don Pedro and his followers. After having greeted
Hero and her father, Don Pedro takes Leonardo aside to talk to him.
Beatrice starts to attack Benedick for being impolite, who in turn
calls her "Lady Disdain". He furthermore affirms that he is loved by
all ladies except Beatrice, but he himself loves none, whereupon
Beatrice claims not to care about love either. Don Pedro and Leonardo
turn back to the company, declaring that Don Pedro, Claudio and
Benedick will stay in Messina on Leonardo's invitation for at least a
month. Leonardo greets Don John, Don Pedro's recently reconciled
brother. Everyone exits except Claudio and Benedick.
The former asks his friend for his opinion on Hero, naming her the
"sweetest lady" he ever saw. But Benedick would not praise her, but
holds that her cousin Beatrice, although being constantly angry,
excells Hero in beauty. When Claudio states that he would not be
averse to marrying Hero, Benedick deplores men's readiness to give up
their bachelorhood and warns Claudio not to willingly place his "neck
into a yoke".
Don Pedro joins the two, and Benedick tells him of Claudio's having
fallen in love for Hero. The prince congratulates Claudio on his
choice and smiles at the disdainful attitude to women and love
Benedick has, whom Don Pedro expects to fall in love soon, too.
Benedick disagrees, and is sent away by Don Pedro on an errant. Alone
with Claudio, the prince wants to know the nature of Claudio's
feelings for Hero, whereupon Claudio confirms that he has indeed
turned from a soldier into a lover. Don Pedro offers his help in
revealing Claudio's love to Hero and her father by disguising himself
as Claudio at the upcoming masked ball in order to win Hero's heart
for Claudio by a passionate speech of love. After Leonardo has been
told, Hero shall be Claudio's, Don Pedro concludes.
[Scene 2]
Leonardo meets his brother Antonio in the house and is being told that
a servant of Antonio had overheard Don Pedro and Claudio in the
garden. Since the man only heard the part of the dialogue where Don
Pedro announced to open up his heart to Hero, the two brothers assume
that it is Don Pedro himself who is in love with Hero. Leonardo
declares his intention to prepare his daughter for this.
[Scene 3]
In Leonardo's guest house, Don John is asked by his follower Conrade
why he is so sad without any apparent reason. When Don John claims
that he cannot help his nature, Conrade reminds him of a disagreement
with his brother, Don Pedro, only recently resolved, and advises Don
John not to show himself an unpleasant man. However, Don John rejects
the idea of flattering his brother, calling himself a "plain-dealing
villian" instead. Borachio, Don John's second follower, enters and
brings news of the intended marriage between Claudio and Hero, as well
as of Don Pedro's plan of disguising as Claudio at the masked ball.
Don John rejoices at the thought of crossing their plan in order to
ruin his rival Claudio, whom he envies for his success. Conrade and
Borachio plead allegiance.
ACT II
[Scene 1]
The second act opens in Leonato's house, with the host and his family
at supper. Leonato, Beatrice and Hero talk about Don John, whom they
regard as melancholic and taciturn. Beatrice remarks that he is the
extreme opposite of Benedick and states she would rather prefer a man
mid-way between their two characters. Leonato warns his niece of
becoming a spinster by being so overtly hostile towards men. However,
Beatrice retorts that in her opinion, remaining single is actually a
blessing. It may well please her cousin Hero to obey her father as to
marrying, but she herself will never be "overmastered" by a man.
As Leonato reminds Hero of Don Pedro's plan to woo her, the prince,
Claudio and Benedick enter wearing masks. The ball beginning, Don
Pedro approaches Hero and asks her to walk a round with him, to which
she agrees. They walk off, and Benedick moves up dancing with
Beatrice, who cannot identify him through his mask. She complains
vehemently to her dancing partner about Benedick, calling him "the
prince's jester" and "a dull fool".
As the main party leaves, Don John, Borachio, both unmasked, and
Claudio stay behind. Although he wears a mask, the two villians
recognize him as Claudio and set forth in their plan to ruin his
engagement to Hero. When Don John addresses him as Benedick, Claudio
takes up the role and is told that Don Pedro is presently wooing Hero
for himself and not for Claudio. Don John and Borachio insist that
they heard the prince confessing his true intentions. Being alone,
Claudio shows disappointment and cannot be cheered up by Benedick, who
enters to tell him the good news of Don Pedro's orginal plan of wooing
Hero for Claudio has succeeded.
Claudio leaves in distress and Benedick shortly meditates on
Beatrice's low opinion of him, before Don Pedro enters to look for
Claudio. Benedick tells him of the misunderstanding needing Don
Pedro's resolution. When the topic of their conversation changes to
Beatrice, Benedick readily assists that he would never under any
circumstances marry such an insulting woman, and exits.
When Beatrice and Claudio enter, Don Pedro tells the latter that he
had indeed not wanted Hero for himself. Leonato has given his consent
to the marriage of Claudio and Hero, leaving the groom overgladly
talking apart with his financée. Beatrice comments that she shall soon
be the only woman without a husband, which prompts Don Pedro to ask
her whether she might consider marrying him. She declines wittily and
leaves. Don Pedro remarks to Leonato that she would be an excellent
wife for Benedick, and intends to bring the two of them together. Hero
and Leonato agree to help him.
[Scene 2]
In a room in Leonato's guest house, Don John grumbles at Claudio's
upcoming marriage which he intends to cross once more. His follower
Borachio comes up with an intrigue: since he is the lover of Hero's
attendant Margaret, he plans to appear with her at Hero's window late
at night, with Claudio and the other men watching the scene from
below, mistaking Margaret for Hero being unfaithful to Claudio. Don
John agrees on the idea and the two of them part to realise their
plan.
3. The rule of the road
Theme
In this essay, Gardiner is distinguishing between the liberty to do as
one wishes and the liberty that society has to be free from excessive
disturbances of the peace. Gardiner says that we all have the liberty
to do whatever we like so long as it does not intrude unduly on other
people. He says, therefore, that it is fine if you want to dye your
hair or wear strange clothing in public. That is your individual
liberty. But society also has its own liberty; the liberty to have a
reasonable degree of peace and quiet. Therefore, we do not have the
individual liberty to, as Gardiner says, play the trombone in the
street from midnight until 3 AM. Thus, even though we have individual
liberty, we must restrain that liberty when it comes into conflict
with social liberty.
4. Mending Wall
Summary
A stone wall separates the speaker’s property from his neighbor’s. In
spring, the two meet to walk the wall and jointly make repairs. The
speaker sees no reason for the wall to be kept—there are no cows to be
contained, just apple and pine trees. He does not believe in walls for
the sake of walls. The neighbor resorts to an old adage: “Good fences
make good neighbors.” The speaker remains unconvinced and
mischievously presses the neighbor to look beyond the old-fashioned
folly of such reasoning. His neighbor will not be swayed. The speaker
envisions his neighbor as a holdover from a justifiably outmoded era,
a living example of a dark-age mentality. But the neighbor simply
repeats the adage (proverb).
5. Pen Woman
Summary
The poem ‘Phenomenal Woman’ is a celebration of a woman’s successful life.
The poem is a powerful dramatic poem, written for performance to an audience.
It helps if you imagine the poet’s body movements on stage as she acts
out the poem.
Maya is a big woman, ‘phenomenal’. In the first stanza she says that
she confuses the celeb types, the pretty fashion models. They often
ask her to explain the impact she makes, as she is neither cute nor
thin. When she tells them her so-called secret they don’t believe her.
Maya says her success comes from her confident body language, the way
she walks, the rhythm of her hips and the way she smiles. Her body
expresses her womanhood. As a woman she claims to be supreme.
In the second stanza, Maya boasts that no matter how cool an entry she
makes into a room, men fall for her and fall around her.
She claims that the passion of her eyes, the shine of her teeth in a
smile, the sway of her waist and the lightness of her feet win the men
over.
Maya, men are like honey bees flying around a hive.
Why? It is because she is a supreme woman.
In the third stanza, Maya says that men can never quite say why they
fancy her or make such a fuss over her. Maya remains a mystery to men.
She points out to them that her mystery in not hidden but expressed in
her body language from the curve of her back to her smile and the
rhythm of her bosom [breasts].
Her impact lies in her grace, in her womanliness.
In the fourth stanza, Maya simply restates that she is a supreme woman.
In the fifth stanza, Maya restates the point about her
self-confidence. She doesn’t pose or seek attention.
Maya hopes she inspires people to be self-confident like her.
She claims her power lies in the way her body expresses her
self-belief as a woman.
There is no single factor that accounts for Maya’s impact. It varies
from the curve of her hair to the sound of her heels.
It’s got to do with the way people like her warm, caring ways and how
they feel a need for Maya to care for them. They find her motherly!
Finally, Maya repeats the point that she is a supreme woman and people know it.
Themes
1. Self-Confidence
Maya has great self-belief, confidence in her body language and a deep
sense of being a woman. She is empowered by womanhood: ‘I’m a woman,
phenomenally’. By her own admission, Maya is a sort of wonder woman
without the looks. She is huge in physique and personality. She knows
that she baffles pretty women and draws men around her. She is so
confident that she repeatedly calls herself a ‘phenomenal woman’. She
sings out her inner self, though without claiming to be better than
anyone else. The way she walks coolly into a room and becomes the
focus of all the men illustrates her self-assurance. Maya is trying to
share her joy, reveal her secret so that others can be as confident
and fulfilled as she is. Maya feels powerful, but not superior.
2. Mystery
Maya Angelou says that her impact on men is because of her mystery as
a woman. Yet she is not secretive about her qualities or success. Maya
describes various aspects of her body language, which both express and
are her so-called mystery. She even says the mystery lies in her
womanliness. Yet it appears neither pretty women nor men really
understand the secret to her joyous self-expression.
3. Body Language
Maya is a huge woman, not built to ‘fashion model’s size’. She refers
to the passion of her eyes, the shine of her teeth in a smile, the
sway of her waist and the lightness of her feet, the click of her
heels, the movement of her breasts, the curve of her hair, the curl of
her lips etc. All this body language expresses her passion. There is
no dramatic jumping about or no shouting. Her impact lies in the quiet
way she passes along, yet full of expression in every gesture.
4. Personality/ Defining Yourself
Maya argues that true self-expression lies at the heart of a
successful personality. Body language is the means of such
self-expression. Every gesture, every shape her body makes causes
people to look at her with admiration. She impresses men and intrigues
women with her energetic body movement. Maya is not influenced by the
views of others about her African American identity or any facts from
her background: ‘my head’s not bowed’. At the heart of the poem lies
Maya’s certainty about her grace as a woman. Yet she doesn’t need to
show off, to ‘shut or jump about’. In her role of poet, many of the
words of the poem are of one syllable and easy to understand. They
communicate her joy very well. By contrast the word ‘phenomenal’ [a
cause of wonder] stands out and gets across her theme of being
yourself, being a true woman, very well.
I hope this much helped, Eldhoe...
Now start studying....I'm going to study a lot...
Bye.God bless.
Here are the notes. Sorry for being late...
1. On running after one's hat
THEME
Every little thing of difficulty and
inconvenience must be taken with an optimistic outlook in accordance
to G.K Chesterton. Any situation being an inconvenience is absolutely
constructed by one's mind. In other words, an inconvenience is an
inconvenience only if the mind considers it to be so.
He gives an example of a particular friend of
his who grumbled everyday because his drawer would not open easily and
would make noise. He explains that this is an inconvenience only
because our mind considers that the drawer ''should, could and would''
open easily. If we rather take it as an adventure, there is no place
for grumbling.
With a similar logic, he explains that there
is nothing wrong to consider a flood a romantic and beautiful
happening, for it is this mind or the sentiment that judges a
situation often in a negative light. Yet, it is easy for us to mold
our mind for optimistic considerations. "An adventure is an
inconvenience rightly considered and an inconvenience is an adventure
wrongly considered", in his own words.
SHORT SUMMARY
In "On Running After One's Hat," Chesterton is trying to convey a
message of optimism towards life's trivial annoyances. Near the
beginning especially, but also throughout, he gives examples of little
things that might irritate someone, such as struggling with a jammed
drawer or, as the title suggests, running to catch one's hat that has
flown off in a strong wind. Upon giving the examples and how
frustrated someone might get as a result, Chesterton offers a "look on
the bright side" argument that, he says, can be applied to most, if
not all, situations. All it requires is a change of perspective or a
bit of imagination. For instance, if a drawer if jammed, one can
pretend he is struggling with a formidable foe and encourage himself
to get it open rather than cursing idly. If his hat flies off and he
must chase after it, it has most likely provided a humorous situation
for onlookers to enjoy.
2. Much Ado
Summary
ACT I
[Scene 1]
The first scene, set at Messina, opens with Leonardo, the governor,
his daughter Hero and her cousin Beatrice. Talking to a messenger,
Leonardo learns that Don Pedro, prince of Aragon, is to come to
Messina. He had recently fought a battle nearby, wherein a young
gentleman named Claudio had distinguished himself as a brave soldier
and thereby earned Don Pedro's praise. Beatrice asks the messenger for
Signior Benedick and, after hearing he has returned safely, sneers at
his boasting before the battle. The messenger, puzzled at her showing
contempt, puts her right as to Benedick's heroic qualities, and
Leonardo explains that Beatrice and Benedick have a "merry kind of
war" going on between them, consisting of insulting each other in a
witty way. Thereupon Beatrice denies Benedick not only any kind of
esprit and pities his companion Claudio for having to be near him.
A trumpet announces Don Pedro and his followers. After having greeted
Hero and her father, Don Pedro takes Leonardo aside to talk to him.
Beatrice starts to attack Benedick for being impolite, who in turn
calls her "Lady Disdain". He furthermore affirms that he is loved by
all ladies except Beatrice, but he himself loves none, whereupon
Beatrice claims not to care about love either. Don Pedro and Leonardo
turn back to the company, declaring that Don Pedro, Claudio and
Benedick will stay in Messina on Leonardo's invitation for at least a
month. Leonardo greets Don John, Don Pedro's recently reconciled
brother. Everyone exits except Claudio and Benedick.
The former asks his friend for his opinion on Hero, naming her the
"sweetest lady" he ever saw. But Benedick would not praise her, but
holds that her cousin Beatrice, although being constantly angry,
excells Hero in beauty. When Claudio states that he would not be
averse to marrying Hero, Benedick deplores men's readiness to give up
their bachelorhood and warns Claudio not to willingly place his "neck
into a yoke".
Don Pedro joins the two, and Benedick tells him of Claudio's having
fallen in love for Hero. The prince congratulates Claudio on his
choice and smiles at the disdainful attitude to women and love
Benedick has, whom Don Pedro expects to fall in love soon, too.
Benedick disagrees, and is sent away by Don Pedro on an errant. Alone
with Claudio, the prince wants to know the nature of Claudio's
feelings for Hero, whereupon Claudio confirms that he has indeed
turned from a soldier into a lover. Don Pedro offers his help in
revealing Claudio's love to Hero and her father by disguising himself
as Claudio at the upcoming masked ball in order to win Hero's heart
for Claudio by a passionate speech of love. After Leonardo has been
told, Hero shall be Claudio's, Don Pedro concludes.
[Scene 2]
Leonardo meets his brother Antonio in the house and is being told that
a servant of Antonio had overheard Don Pedro and Claudio in the
garden. Since the man only heard the part of the dialogue where Don
Pedro announced to open up his heart to Hero, the two brothers assume
that it is Don Pedro himself who is in love with Hero. Leonardo
declares his intention to prepare his daughter for this.
[Scene 3]
In Leonardo's guest house, Don John is asked by his follower Conrade
why he is so sad without any apparent reason. When Don John claims
that he cannot help his nature, Conrade reminds him of a disagreement
with his brother, Don Pedro, only recently resolved, and advises Don
John not to show himself an unpleasant man. However, Don John rejects
the idea of flattering his brother, calling himself a "plain-dealing
villian" instead. Borachio, Don John's second follower, enters and
brings news of the intended marriage between Claudio and Hero, as well
as of Don Pedro's plan of disguising as Claudio at the masked ball.
Don John rejoices at the thought of crossing their plan in order to
ruin his rival Claudio, whom he envies for his success. Conrade and
Borachio plead allegiance.
ACT II
[Scene 1]
The second act opens in Leonato's house, with the host and his family
at supper. Leonato, Beatrice and Hero talk about Don John, whom they
regard as melancholic and taciturn. Beatrice remarks that he is the
extreme opposite of Benedick and states she would rather prefer a man
mid-way between their two characters. Leonato warns his niece of
becoming a spinster by being so overtly hostile towards men. However,
Beatrice retorts that in her opinion, remaining single is actually a
blessing. It may well please her cousin Hero to obey her father as to
marrying, but she herself will never be "overmastered" by a man.
As Leonato reminds Hero of Don Pedro's plan to woo her, the prince,
Claudio and Benedick enter wearing masks. The ball beginning, Don
Pedro approaches Hero and asks her to walk a round with him, to which
she agrees. They walk off, and Benedick moves up dancing with
Beatrice, who cannot identify him through his mask. She complains
vehemently to her dancing partner about Benedick, calling him "the
prince's jester" and "a dull fool".
As the main party leaves, Don John, Borachio, both unmasked, and
Claudio stay behind. Although he wears a mask, the two villians
recognize him as Claudio and set forth in their plan to ruin his
engagement to Hero. When Don John addresses him as Benedick, Claudio
takes up the role and is told that Don Pedro is presently wooing Hero
for himself and not for Claudio. Don John and Borachio insist that
they heard the prince confessing his true intentions. Being alone,
Claudio shows disappointment and cannot be cheered up by Benedick, who
enters to tell him the good news of Don Pedro's orginal plan of wooing
Hero for Claudio has succeeded.
Claudio leaves in distress and Benedick shortly meditates on
Beatrice's low opinion of him, before Don Pedro enters to look for
Claudio. Benedick tells him of the misunderstanding needing Don
Pedro's resolution. When the topic of their conversation changes to
Beatrice, Benedick readily assists that he would never under any
circumstances marry such an insulting woman, and exits.
When Beatrice and Claudio enter, Don Pedro tells the latter that he
had indeed not wanted Hero for himself. Leonato has given his consent
to the marriage of Claudio and Hero, leaving the groom overgladly
talking apart with his financée. Beatrice comments that she shall soon
be the only woman without a husband, which prompts Don Pedro to ask
her whether she might consider marrying him. She declines wittily and
leaves. Don Pedro remarks to Leonato that she would be an excellent
wife for Benedick, and intends to bring the two of them together. Hero
and Leonato agree to help him.
[Scene 2]
In a room in Leonato's guest house, Don John grumbles at Claudio's
upcoming marriage which he intends to cross once more. His follower
Borachio comes up with an intrigue: since he is the lover of Hero's
attendant Margaret, he plans to appear with her at Hero's window late
at night, with Claudio and the other men watching the scene from
below, mistaking Margaret for Hero being unfaithful to Claudio. Don
John agrees on the idea and the two of them part to realise their
plan.
3. The rule of the road
Theme
In this essay, Gardiner is distinguishing between the liberty to do as
one wishes and the liberty that society has to be free from excessive
disturbances of the peace. Gardiner says that we all have the liberty
to do whatever we like so long as it does not intrude unduly on other
people. He says, therefore, that it is fine if you want to dye your
hair or wear strange clothing in public. That is your individual
liberty. But society also has its own liberty; the liberty to have a
reasonable degree of peace and quiet. Therefore, we do not have the
individual liberty to, as Gardiner says, play the trombone in the
street from midnight until 3 AM. Thus, even though we have individual
liberty, we must restrain that liberty when it comes into conflict
with social liberty.
4. Mending Wall
Summary
A stone wall separates the speaker’s property from his neighbor’s. In
spring, the two meet to walk the wall and jointly make repairs. The
speaker sees no reason for the wall to be kept—there are no cows to be
contained, just apple and pine trees. He does not believe in walls for
the sake of walls. The neighbor resorts to an old adage: “Good fences
make good neighbors.” The speaker remains unconvinced and
mischievously presses the neighbor to look beyond the old-fashioned
folly of such reasoning. His neighbor will not be swayed. The speaker
envisions his neighbor as a holdover from a justifiably outmoded era,
a living example of a dark-age mentality. But the neighbor simply
repeats the adage (proverb).
5. Pen Woman
Summary
The poem ‘Phenomenal Woman’ is a celebration of a woman’s successful life.
The poem is a powerful dramatic poem, written for performance to an audience.
It helps if you imagine the poet’s body movements on stage as she acts
out the poem.
Maya is a big woman, ‘phenomenal’. In the first stanza she says that
she confuses the celeb types, the pretty fashion models. They often
ask her to explain the impact she makes, as she is neither cute nor
thin. When she tells them her so-called secret they don’t believe her.
Maya says her success comes from her confident body language, the way
she walks, the rhythm of her hips and the way she smiles. Her body
expresses her womanhood. As a woman she claims to be supreme.
In the second stanza, Maya boasts that no matter how cool an entry she
makes into a room, men fall for her and fall around her.
She claims that the passion of her eyes, the shine of her teeth in a
smile, the sway of her waist and the lightness of her feet win the men
over.
Maya, men are like honey bees flying around a hive.
Why? It is because she is a supreme woman.
In the third stanza, Maya says that men can never quite say why they
fancy her or make such a fuss over her. Maya remains a mystery to men.
She points out to them that her mystery in not hidden but expressed in
her body language from the curve of her back to her smile and the
rhythm of her bosom [breasts].
Her impact lies in her grace, in her womanliness.
In the fourth stanza, Maya simply restates that she is a supreme woman.
In the fifth stanza, Maya restates the point about her
self-confidence. She doesn’t pose or seek attention.
Maya hopes she inspires people to be self-confident like her.
She claims her power lies in the way her body expresses her
self-belief as a woman.
There is no single factor that accounts for Maya’s impact. It varies
from the curve of her hair to the sound of her heels.
It’s got to do with the way people like her warm, caring ways and how
they feel a need for Maya to care for them. They find her motherly!
Finally, Maya repeats the point that she is a supreme woman and people know it.
Themes
1. Self-Confidence
Maya has great self-belief, confidence in her body language and a deep
sense of being a woman. She is empowered by womanhood: ‘I’m a woman,
phenomenally’. By her own admission, Maya is a sort of wonder woman
without the looks. She is huge in physique and personality. She knows
that she baffles pretty women and draws men around her. She is so
confident that she repeatedly calls herself a ‘phenomenal woman’. She
sings out her inner self, though without claiming to be better than
anyone else. The way she walks coolly into a room and becomes the
focus of all the men illustrates her self-assurance. Maya is trying to
share her joy, reveal her secret so that others can be as confident
and fulfilled as she is. Maya feels powerful, but not superior.
2. Mystery
Maya Angelou says that her impact on men is because of her mystery as
a woman. Yet she is not secretive about her qualities or success. Maya
describes various aspects of her body language, which both express and
are her so-called mystery. She even says the mystery lies in her
womanliness. Yet it appears neither pretty women nor men really
understand the secret to her joyous self-expression.
3. Body Language
Maya is a huge woman, not built to ‘fashion model’s size’. She refers
to the passion of her eyes, the shine of her teeth in a smile, the
sway of her waist and the lightness of her feet, the click of her
heels, the movement of her breasts, the curve of her hair, the curl of
her lips etc. All this body language expresses her passion. There is
no dramatic jumping about or no shouting. Her impact lies in the quiet
way she passes along, yet full of expression in every gesture.
4. Personality/ Defining Yourself
Maya argues that true self-expression lies at the heart of a
successful personality. Body language is the means of such
self-expression. Every gesture, every shape her body makes causes
people to look at her with admiration. She impresses men and intrigues
women with her energetic body movement. Maya is not influenced by the
views of others about her African American identity or any facts from
her background: ‘my head’s not bowed’. At the heart of the poem lies
Maya’s certainty about her grace as a woman. Yet she doesn’t need to
show off, to ‘shut or jump about’. In her role of poet, many of the
words of the poem are of one syllable and easy to understand. They
communicate her joy very well. By contrast the word ‘phenomenal’ [a
cause of wonder] stands out and gets across her theme of being
yourself, being a true woman, very well.
I hope this much helped, Eldhoe...
Now start studying....I'm going to study a lot...
Bye.God bless.
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