Phenomenal Woman

Fiction | Poem | Adult | Published in 1978

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Summary

Background

Poem Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Literary Devices

Symbols & Motifs

Bees

In the second stanza, Angelou’s speaker tells us that men “swarm around me / A hive of honey bees” (Lines 19-20). This symbolically equates her to a queen bee. In hives, bees are divided into several groups that perform functions based on their biology; here, the image is of male drone bees performing obeisance to the female queen bee that directs and is the center of each hive. This image not only shows the male devotion the speaker receives, but also uses the key physiological differences of a queen bee to subtly connect to the poem’s description of the speaker. A queen bee is typically larger than the drones of the hive, which relates to the speaker not being “a fashion model’s size” (Line 2). There may also be an autobiographical connection: Angelou herself was approximately six feet tall, well above average height for women of her time. The queen bee is also usually a more golden or darker hue than the rest of the hive’s inhabitants, which implicitly connects to the speaker’s skin tone and racial identity. Finally, the queen bee’s mandibles are used to groom other bees, and not for stinging, which echoes the lines about not needing to “shout or jump around” (Line 48) or “talk real loud” (Line 49) to make her point. Just as the queen bee is the focus of her hive, so does the speaker radiate confidence by knowing her function and her worth.

Fire in the Eyes

The speaker suggests that one of the mesmerizing things about her is the “fire in my eyes” (Line 22). This metaphor suggests that her force of personality and passion are so apparent that they are reflected in a physical feature of her face. The expression is a common descriptor for those who are driven by ardor or resolution. The phrase suggests that the speaker has an inner power that she can tap into if she wishes—an idea that is echoed by the implication that the “reach of my arms” (Line 6) is larger than is at first apparent. Being true to this passionate inner self makes the speaker draw others to her—a quality readers should seek to emulate.

Fire is also traditionally associated with warmth and protection, qualities that the speaker is later shown to have: She takes people into “her care” (Line 56). The image also speaks to a type of holy intensity that goes beyond the physical; in Christianity, there are allusions to the fire in Christ’s eyes in the biblical Book of Revelations. This faith-based imagery expresses the hope that a Divine Spirit embodies the body, identifying the speaker’s “inner mystery” (Line 34) as passionate and spiritual, rather than hedonistic.

Open Palm

Near the end of the poem, the speaker describes her power residing in the “palm of my hand, / The need for my care” (Lines 55-56). This reference has symbolic Judeo-Christian meaning. In the Bible’s Old Testament, God explains that “I have [engraved] thee upon the palms of my hands” (Isaiah 49:16). This suggests God’s care for those under his watch. The speaker’s Christian belief, reinforced by the phrase “[it is] the need for my care” (Line 56), suggests that her action is not for show, but for glory to God. For centuries, the open palm conveyed an idea of trust, honesty, and inclusivity. It is also a symbol of surrender and letting go of aggression and distrust. Here, despite judgments against her beauty, the speaker rejects becoming bitter, turns the other cheek, and uses her confidence to share love.