Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou is one of the greatest American poets and autobiographers. An inspiration for both African Americans and women in general, both her civil service work and her famous writings – I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings and Still I Rise among them – have secured her a place in the history of the world as one of its most influential women of all time.

Biographical Information

• Maya Angelou's Official Website : Maya Angelou’s official website. It has up-to-date news, schedules, contact, and book information.
• BBC Biography : This biography, written by the BBC, discusses her work, style, influences, and key life events.
• Author Interview : A collection of 14 clips conducted with Scholastic where Maya Angelou discusses her writing and her life.
• Biography : Angelou’s biography with information about her works as well as good recommendations on books about her.
• Academy of Achievement Page : A great deal of information about Maya Angelou put together by the Academy of Achievement.
• African American Literature Book Club : Provides information about Maya Angelou as well as information on most of her work.
• Poetry Foundation Page : A very detailed biography put together by a poetry association.

E-texts

• Alone and Still I Rise : Two of Maya Angelou’s most famous poems.
• Maya Angelou's Poems : Provides a number of Maya Angelou’s poems.
• I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings : This is the I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings poem.
• Remembrance : Has Maya Angelou’s poem Remembrance as well as a few others.
• Phenomenal Woman : Maya Angelou’s poem Phenomenal Women can be found here.
• Maya Angelou Poems : Offers many of Maya Angelou’s poems.
• A Brave and Startling Truth : Maya Angelou’s poem honoring the United Nations.

Lesson Plans

• Still I Rise Lesson Plan : Involves the Still I Rise poem with annotation and identification of metaphors, similes, and allusions.
• I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings : Lesson plan encouraging students to read I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings. It has a plan for every chapter as well as guides to the lesson plan.
• Composing a Life: Autobiography & Maya Angelou : This is a lesson plan that involves I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings as well.
• Still I Rise : Another lesson plan involving the poem. This lesson plan is shorter.
• I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings : Yet another lesson plan about the book, it also goes through every chapter and discusses plot structure and themes as well. And there’s another shorter one here as well.

Maya Angelou’s life has been an inspiration to countless people across the world. Her works are a staple in the classroom due to their messages of strength and hope. On numerous occasions, her devotion to the issues of civil rights has been honored. Her works have always been able to find people and touch them. Maya Angelou is truly someone worthy of remembering and celebrating.