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What are the literary devices used in the poem Phenomenal Woman by Maya Angelou?

What are the literary devices used in the poem Phenomenal Woman by Maya Angelou?

1 Answer

  1. Following literary devices are used in this poem-

    Alliteration- It is the repetition of sound. For example in the poem- “the stride of my steps”

    Metaphors- Angelou uses many metaphors such as “a hive of honey bees” means the men who roam around her to seduce her. She describes her eyes as “the fire in my eyes.”

    Hyperbole- The poem has many hyperbolic instances. It means the exaggerated examples. It says that when she enters any scene, men fall down on their knees what she actually means that how submissive they become.

    Irony- The irony is when she describes the standard of beauty commonly held and smashes it apart with a complete disregard and establishes her own individual standard for her own self and asks others to do the same.

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