Woman Work by Maya Angelou Poem Analysis

Woman Work by Maya Angelou Poem Analysis

The main theme observed in the poem is work. This theme is observed in the first stanza of the poem. The writer of the poem pulls out a list of all tasks that she got to do. The reader is able to see all the work the woman has to do. Another theme brought out in the poem is loneliness. This is observed where she talks about her children and how she wants someone to talk to or help her to do the work (Angelou, 2003, p. 1).

The author employs a rhymed verse form in the first stanza of the poem. She employs form “AABBCC” on the 14 lines of the first stanza. This form quickens every line and makes it look hurried. It creates a rush in demonstrating the amount of work the woman has to complete. The next stanzas are free from this form which decreases the cadence in the poem (Angelou, 2003, p. 1).

The author does not use rhyme throughout the poem. Rhyme is only utilized in the 14 lines of the first stanza of the poem. These lines are pretty short with four to seven syllables. The rhyme in the first stanza is probably used to raise the tempo of the poem. The brief nature of the lines gives the stanza the quality of a song and creates pleasure to the readers (Angelou, 2003, p. 1).

The tone of the poem’s first stanza is apprehensive and sad. The woman is faced with multiple tasks to do which make her tired and make her life miserable as well. The tone of stanzas two through stanza five is grateful and contended. In these stanzas, the woman is appreciative with the nature and is satisfied with it. The author uses consonance to create a variance between the tones…”