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What is a detailed summary of the poem "Phenomenal Woman" by Maya Angelou?

From the outset it is pertinently clear that the speaker in the poem has an overwhelming pride in who she is and what she represents. She is no ordinary woman who subscribes to a stereotype. She is different and amazing. She has to be seen to be believed. She is special, extraordinary and powerful. 



The first stanza makes it clear that she does not deem herself "pretty." She does, however, exude a power and charisma that so-called pretty women want to learn about, for they want to know her secret. When she confirms that whatever she has is no secret, they don't believe her. It is clear that she deems everything about her special. It's not that she has any specific characteristic that makes her stand out. What makes her special is simple—she is a woman. It is being a woman that makes her remarkable. She asserts the fact by positively stating at the end of the stanza: "That's me."



In stanza two, the speaker emphasizes her greatness and continues in the same vein by confidently proclaiming that her entrance into a room immediately draws men's attention. She enters without making a fuss and they either stand up out of respect or, out of servile duty, bend their knees to her authority. It is as if these men have no choice—their reactions are automatic and each one, without exception, instinctively and simultaneously, reacts to her amazing presence. They then all surround her—she becomes the queen bee, surrounded by willing acolytes, ready to do her bidding. Once again, the speaker lists the qualities she has that make these "fellows" respond so obligingly to her: it's the fact that she exudes a supreme confidence through her eyes, her smile, the way she swings her waist and how she walks. The assertion is extended—she is a woman, an exceptional and extraordinary being. She has these attributes and this power because she is a woman, and that is what makes her so exceedingly special.



The third stanza is a couplet which repeats her earlier declaration that she is sensational. The fact that this statement stands on its own further accentuates the power she believes she has.



The fourth stanza suggests that men see her as an enigma. They don't know what it is about her that they find attractive. It is not something tangible and, therefore, it is out of their reach. Her power is a mysterious force that they cannot comprehend even when she tries to show them exactly what it is. Once again, the speaker exclaims that her grandness lies in a number of qualities that she possesses followed by the repetition that she is a woman and that her incredible stature lies therein.



The fifth and final stanza offers somewhat of a resolution to the enigma of who or what the speaker is. Here she explains why she does not behave in the stereotypical manner in which she may be expected to. She does not demurely bow her head, nor does she seek attention by jumping about or talking loudly. Her appearance and her stature should be enough to make anyone proud because she exudes, and is, the epitome of pride. The speaker again refers to a number of attributes which, in part, define her, the most significant of which is the fact that she is needed by those who seek care. The word "'cause" brings clarity, for it explains why the speaker is so supremely special—she is a woman and being one makes her an outstanding member of the human race.



One could say that the poem carries a universal message to all women. It is a positive and clear pronouncement that women should be proud of who and what they are. They should celebrate the fact that they are extraordinary in every way. Each part of what they have makes them who they are—it is for this reason that the speaker, throughout the poem, mentions certain feminine traits—each one a part of the whole. The speaker believes that women should walk with their heads held high and should not succumb to stereotypes and the expectations of others. They should not allow themselves to be judged on individual qualities but as a complete whole—a fact that they should repeatedly assert, just as the speaker does.

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