Directions: Silently read the Maya Angelou, “Life Doesn’t Frighten Me” in your poetry packet. Answer the following questions on the poem.
1. What does the speaker say about the possible fears in her life?
2. Do you see her conquering her fears or denying that she is actually afraid of them? Why would she do this?
3. If she is in fact not afraid, why do you think this is so?
4. Should she be afraid of the things listed in the poem?
5. Why does she strongly refuse to be afraid of these things in life?
6. Do you find it interesting or even surprising that these things do not frighten the speaker? Why or Why not?
7. Is it important that the speaker is a woman? Is it a stereotype that women are afraid of these things?
8. What is the speaker saying about boys and girls her age in the fifth stanza? - Should they frighten her? Do you think she fits in with them?
9. Why do you think she keeps repeating the phrase “Life doesn’t frighten me” in the poem?
10. Would anything in this poem frighten you? Be honest.
Directions: In the box below, list some of the things that you are afraid of or have conquered. Using the following stanzas from Maya Angelou’s poem, rewrite your own “Life Doesn’t Frighten Me” poem using the lines to the left. In your poem, use one example of each: alliteration, onomatopoeia, and end rhyme
Your Fears:
Shadows on the wall _____________________________________
Noises down the hall _____________________________________
Life doesn’t frighten me at all _____________________________________
Bad dogs barking loud _____________________________________
Big ghosts in a cloud _____________________________________
Life doesn’t frighten me at all. _____________________________________
Mean old Mother Goose _____________________________________
Lions on the loose _____________________________________
They don’t frighten me at all _____________________________________
Dragons breathing flame _____________________________________
On my counterpane _____________________________________
That doesn’t frighten me at all. _____________________________________
Tough guys in a fight _____________________________________
All alone at night _____________________________________
Life doesn’t frighten me at all. _____________________________________
Panthers in the park _____________________________________
Strangers in the dark _____________________________________
No, they don’t frighten me at all. _____________________________________
Life doesn’t frighten me at all _____________________________________
Not at all _____________________________________
Not at all _____________________________________
Life doesn’t frighten me at all. _____________________________________
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