These lines create images via using the senses. The poem has descriptive language as stated in these following lines: “The sun of my smile/The ride of my breasts/The grace of my style” (Angelou lines 39-41). This element lets the reader imagines and creates vivid images out of the descriptive words used by the poet the utilization of the body senses is further emphasized in this element (State Education 15). Moreover, imagery is the usage of descriptive language to show an effect of vividness. The poem's persona is a confident woman, and its poetic message is addressed to all women who are proud and confident about their demeanor and looks. Further, addressee is the receiver of the poem's message. Some scholarly articles call this element as an implied author (“Glossary” 8). The poem values the persona-addressee transaction. This informal diction is evident with the usage of contraction, for instance, instead of using “I am” the author contracts it into “I’m.” This is likewise manifested in these following phrases: “It's,” “that’s” “can’t” “cause,” and “don't.” The plain diction is delineated by using everyday speech that can be easily understood. The poem's diction is informal and plain. FORMALISTIC APPROACHĭiction refers to the author’s selection of words and other structural identities which aid in determining the general signification of the text (Pennsylvania Department of Education 4). In biographical aspect, irony as one of the figurative languages is used in order to reveal the author's presence in the text however, it is merely implied. Moreover, alliteration, anaphora, and refrain are other devices delineated in this poem. Diction, vision, figure of speech, imagery, addressee, persona, and message are some of the poetic devices in this poem. Poetic devices are tools that aid in comprehending the text. More so, the biography of the author and the ironical perspectives of the text are further determined in order to show any connective viewpoints. The literary devices of this masterpiece are identified in order to reveal the poetic structure. The centerpiece to keep in mind of using this approach is the “connectivity factor.” A historical-biographical critic reads the author's biography and finds related event in a masterpiece which mirrors the personal life of the writer. Possing goes on elaborating that this approach is the reestablishment of the function of humanity and portrayal of the history of particular person (2). Further, a text may provide sentiment of its own identity, and can give cryptic connection to the author (Bennett and Royle 19).

Inconsiderate usage of this approach perhaps results in the distortion of the author’s personal background and perhaps upshot to the unjustified interpretation of the text (“Critical Approaches”). Biographical critics, however, must be careful of using this lens. As such, the literary researchers scrutinize the author’s background which helps them comprehend the text.

This criticism is initiated out of comprehending that a certain masterpiece is crafted by an alive individual. Biography refers to a genuine narrative that is made or written by another person who knows the subject well (“Biography”). This approach holds an idea that a certain literary masterpiece is interconnected to the biography or personal life of the author. The historical-biographical approach is another lens used to decode the core motif and gist of this poem. Nevertheless, this criticism is still widely used by many literary individuals (Fuadi 125). Some critics, however, deem this approach as an old fashion.

This strategy is the detailed analysis of the text's structure and other underlying patterns which connect or perhaps contribute to the overall meaning of the text (Gillespie 172). Critics often use the close reading as technique in decoding a certain work. What fascinates a formalist critic are the literary elements and other structural standpoints present in the text. Further, a formalist is not intrigued with the reader’s personal reaction, and the representation of realistic events (Leitch 17). A formalist critic is, in fact, not interested in the historical, political, sociological, and biographical context (Fard 334). In formalism, the text is the chief fountainhead of the investigation. This poem can be further decoded using historical- biographical approach due to the author's presence in the text.

This critical investigation argues that the poem by Maya Angelou entitled, “Phenomenal Woman” is in formalism or can be scrutinized using formalistic approach due to the utilization of some poetic devices.

Maya angelou quote phenomenal woman