Men

Question 1

5 big ideas

Answer 1

Unspoken sexual desires
Psychologically overwhelming thoughts that may lead to traumatic experiences
Intense passion towards men
Confinements of a male dominating society
Confusion that may arise as a result of men´s behaviours

Question 2

Universal message

Answer 2

This poem serves as a cautionary tale for women’s awareness of men’s manipulation

Question 3

Title : “Men”

Answer 3

The tonal register of the plural noun is ambiguous as there is no article or preposition in front.

Question 4

The isolated noun may resemble…

Answer 4

The speaker’s fury towards men as they have the liberty to express their feelings, opinions and thoughts freely without feeling belittled.

Question 5

Alternatively…

Answer 5

One may argue that Angelou’s main intentions were to captivate the attention of society and emphatically address and expose males attitudes and behaviours towards women

Question 6

Contextually, as this poem was published in 1978, perhaps Angelou’s main intentions were…

Answer 6

To portray the injustice societal norms inflicted upon women during that period of time, forcing them to repress from openly voicing their sexual desires

Question 7

“I used to / watch behind the curtains”

Answer 7

Unexpectedly, Angelous starts the poem by highlighting the sexual attractions women have towards men.

Question 8

“Watch”

Answer 8

The verb upholds predatorial connotations - Angelou is suggesting that there is something innate and natural in the speaker´s actions.

Question 9

“Young”

(+ context)

Answer 9

Speaker´s lack of maturity - Angelou raped at the age of 8.

Question 10

“Under my window, they would pause”

Answer 10

Further accentuates the speaker´s immaturity as she is not as well hidden as she believes.

Question 11

Caesura and “pause” slows down the pace which…

Answer 11

may depict the sensual tension and the enticement the the speaker has towards the man´s actions; which tempt the speaker

Question 12

Lexical field of the speaker´s physical development is seen in the phrases…

Answer 12

“15 years old” and “Breasts of a young girl”

Question 13

Why may readers be shocked at this unexpected age reveal?

Answer 13

Readers may feel shocked at the speaker´s childhood actions as Angelou subverts from traditional conventions by unifying women´s sexual desires to men´s

Question 14

Universal message Angelou tries to create through the age reveal…

Answer 14

Having sexual desires at a young age should not be considered taboo.

Question 15

“…as if you / were the last raw egg in the world”

Answer 15

The simile emphasises the fractured and imbalanced relationship women may have with men

Question 16

“raw egg”

Answer 16

produces a sense of unease and discomfort as it accentuates the speaker´s fragility and weakness in comparison to the man´s domineering attributes.

Question 17

However, due to the noun, “world”, Angelou gives insight to the speaker´s…

Answer 17

vulnerability in the man´s grasp and ability to make her feel special and unique. Similarly seen in the phrase “palms of their hands”, where Angelou highlights the male´s hands as being a refuge for women

Question 18

In the phrase, “As if”, Angelou adopts a condescending, sardonic tone as she exposes men´s…

Answer 18

unfaithful and excessively used seductive techniques.

Question 19

D.I of Angelou exposing men´s seductive techniques is to…

Answer 19

address the potential dangers women may encounter as a consequence of male´s actions.

Question 20

“Then / they tighten up. Just a little.”

Answer 20

The beginning of their relationship is blissful and then gradually the pain begins to settle in.

Question 21

The caesura in the line, “Then they tighten up. Just a little.” may structurally symbolise the man´s….

Answer 21

slow deceitful process.

Question 22

“Just a little”

Answer 22

Angelou tries to justify why women may fall for their tricks and wants people to globally recognise the slow continuous process that so many women fall for.

Question 23

Universal message…

Answer 23

is that Angelou encourages women to “stand and watch”, to demise the cyclical motion of abuse

Question 24

The varying stanza lengths resemble the victim´s….

Answer 24

disorientation and confusion in male interactions.

Question 25

“Wrench out a / smile that slides around the fear”

Answer 25

Highlights the oppressive nature of men and their dominance over women´s thoughts

Question 26

The intransitive verb, “wrench”, conveys…

Answer 26

the speaker´s painful suffering.
We may wonder whether the speaker is forcing a smile out of herself or whether society is imposing her to behave this way, and maintain the stereotypical idealistic woman.

Question 27

“Slides”

Answer 27

the adjective alludes to animalistic features, similar to the ones in the verb, “watch”, where it could metaphorically symbolise the deceiving, lying nature of men

Question 28

The abstract noun, “fear”, increases the tension to the short clause “Air disappears”, which highlights….

Answer 28

the speaker´s disbelief to the mendacity arising from the man´s actions.

Question 29

The speaker´s “shattered” identity is presented in the metaphor…

Answer 29

“Your body has slammed shut. Forever.”

Question 30

“Your body has slammed shut. Forever.”

Answer 30

symbolises the long standing consequences derived from the man´s presence.

Question 31

“Forever”

Answer 31

Everlasting burden

Question 32

“Maybe”

Answer 32

Adverb may suggest that there will always be a force that ties women to men.

Question 32

In conclusion

Answer 32

hopelessly devoted to men