Maya Angelou (1928–) Research Paper

BACKGROUND

Maya Angelou, author, poet, storyteller, playwright, and performer is considered one of the great voices of African-American literature and experience. Her five autobiographies describe growing up black in the South. Her works reflect the humiliation and hardships of poverty and discrimination, as well as the dignity of those who survive it.

BROWSE FOR BOOKS ON THE SHELF USING THESE CALL NUMBERS

Biography section under Angelou, Maya

811.54 Angelou

LOOK UNDER THE FOLLOWING SUBJECTS IN THE CATALOG (CARD OR COMPUTER)

Angelou, Maya

Angelou, Maya—Biography

Afro-American women authors—20th century

Afro-American women authors—20th century—Biography

REFERENCE MATERIALS THAT MAY HELP (BOOKS OR CD-ROMS)

Beetz, Kirk H., ed. Beacham’s Guide to Literature for Young Adults, Vol. 2, 1989.

Collier, Laurie, ed. Authors and Artists for Young Adults, Vol. 7, 1991.

Davis, Thadious M., and Trudier Harris, eds. Dictionary of Literary Biography, Vol. 38, 1985.

Graham, Judith, ed. Current Biography Yearbook, 1994.

Marowski, Daniel G., ed. Contemporary Literary Criticism, Vol. 35, 1985.

PERIODICAL INDEXES TO SEARCH (BOOKS OR CD-ROMS)

Biography Index

EBSCO Magazine Article Summaries

InfoTrac

Readers’ Guide to Periodical Literature

WILSONDISC

ONLINE DATABASES TO SEARCH

America Online
CompuServe

Dialog

Internet

Prodigy

KEY WORDS AND DESCRIPTORS FOR PERIODICAL INDEX AND ONLINE SEARCHES

Angelou, Maya

VIDEOTAPES ON THIS TOPIC

Maya Angelou. Netche, 1982.

Maya Angelou’s America: A Journey of the Heart. PBS Video, 1993.

SUGGESTIONS FOR NARROWING THIS TOPIC

Critique “On the Pulse of Morning,” a poem composed for President Clinton’s inauguration.

Discuss the relationship of Angelou’s life and work.

Relate the early life of Maya Angelou.

SUGGESTIONS FOR RELATED TOPICS

Compare Maya Angelou with Toni Morrison, Alice Walker, Rita Dove, or

Gloria Naylor; discuss aspects of their life and work.

Find and discuss examples of metaphor in the poetry of Maya Angelou.

How does Angelou’s work express the African-American experience?

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