Angelou's autobiographical work is extraordinary for its blending of the highly personal and the epic. The Heart of a Woman is as much about a single woman as it is about the tumultuous events of the 1950s and 1960s. By thus weaving the domestic and public dramas of her life into a single narrative, Angelou creates a document that is at once historically important and emotionally touching. Interestingly, however, Angelou links the public and private arenas to argue that both are necessary for fostering a more just society. This technique elevates the rhetoric of her entire narrative for it destroys the boundaries typically placed between the home and the professional sphere.

Another technique Angelou employs involves the vividness of her descriptions.

She brings to life an exciting era in American history by paying close attention to the smallest details of the scenes she recounts.

She gives the reader...