From an apprehensive child growing up in a small town in Arkansas, Maya Angelou has evolved into an influential, wise, and respected woman. She has overcome obstacles and has grown into one of the elite intellectual people of this country, and perhaps the world. Along her numerous struggles, various people have given her positive guidance and passed down their knowledge to her. Among these people was Mrs. Bertha Flowers, a person in which Maya respected greatly. She was a dignified person that Maya could strive to achieve the gratitude that Mrs. Flowers gave to the people around her, a sense of appreciation. In her life story, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Maya Angelou attributes her characteristics she has acquired today, being influential, wise, and respected, to Mrs. Flowers, who shows her the power of a voice, the knowledge of literature, and pride in her race, and turns a self-conscious girl, into one of the most profound writers of our time.

Mrs. Flowers enlightened Maya on the importance, and dominant effect, of expression through an individual voice. Earli

In addition to the importance of voice, Mrs. Flowers opened Maya's to literature, and the knowledge it brings. Earlier in Angelou's life, she was interested in comics and some poetry, but now a new outlook was imposed upon her, the power literature. This discovery changed her life drastically. From a child who once wished for a super hero to rescue her from the monster who was molesting her, Maya now realized the truth and what can be solved through knowledge and what can't be solved through imagination. Consequently, Maya began reading classic novels such as A Tale of Two Cities. Thus, her love for books began. She had always understood poetry greatly; especially for a poor black child who received a limited education, but never made the connection that a novel would and put it into perspective to the reality of life. With all of this understanding and appreciation in regard to literature, Maya became the acclaimed author that she is today.

er in her life, Maya was sexually molested and raped, and as a result, became dormant towards society. This was such a traumatizing event in her life that struck her obvi

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Approximate Word count = 752
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)