福师《高级英语（一）》第六课拓展资源
福师《高级英语（一）》第六课拓展资源A Lesson in Living (Part1)
About the author
Angelou, Maya (1928～ ), American author, poet, and entertainer, best known for her strong portrayals of African-American women. Born Marguerite Johnson in Saint Louis, Missouri, Angelou spent most of her childhood living with her grandmother in rural Arkansas. She moved to her mother's home in San Francisco after graduating with honors from Lafayette County Training School in 1940. At the age of 16 she graduated from high school, gave birth to her son Guy, and began a series of jobs, including cooking and waitressing. In the 1950s she became a nightclub performer and began successful careers as a singer, dancer, actor, playwright, magazine editor, civil rights activist, poet, and novelist.
Much of Angelou's writing stresses the themes of courage, perseverance, self-acceptance, and self-actualization. She frequently presents strong female role models. Her most prominent work is her series of autobiographical books that starts with I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1970), in which she describes African-American life in witty, intelligent language rich in rhythm and texture. The series continues with Gather Together in My Name (1974), Singin' and Swingin' and Gettin' Merry Like Christmas (1976), The Heart of a Woman (1981), and All God's Children Need Traveling Shoes (1986). Angelou's books of poetry include Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water 'fore I Diiie (1971), Oh Pray My Wings Are Gonna Fit Me Well (1975), And Still I Rise (1978), Shaker, Why Don't You Sing? (1983), Now Sheba Sings the Song (1987), and I Shall Not Be Moved (1990). Wouldn't Take Nothing for My Journey Now, a book of inspirational meditations on life, was published in 1993. The Complete Collected Poems of Maya Angelou appeared in 1994. Angelou has received many awards and honorary degrees. She read her poem “On the Pulse of Morning” at the inauguration of President Bill Clinton in 1993.About the book from which our text is taken:
See Note (1) in the textbook.
The story is autobiographical（自传体的）. Marguerite, the heroine in the Novel I know Why the Caged Bird Sings is the Pseudonym of the author. In the novel, she tells the story of her childhood and her bitter struggle to grow into a woman of distinction.
The novel was published in 1970, a year when the stormy black riots had more or less subsided. The 1960s were a time when the civil rights movement of the blacks in the U.S. reached its climax. Riots broke out in many cities, signaling the growth of black nationalism. Though all the riots were suppressed in cold blood, the black people, through their own militant fight against racial discrimination, realized their own power. “A Lesson in Living” is to be studied in the context of the awakening of the political consciousness of the blacks in the civil rights movement. It is not merely a personal story, but a story of how the blacks come to realize their own talents, power and strength.
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