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A famous poem by Maya Angelou that expresses the anguish and longing of a bird in a cage and the joy of freedom. The poem compares the bird's voice to the sky, the wind, the sun and the grave of dreams, and contrasts it with the caged bird's own voice.
A poem by Maya Angelou that expresses the frustration and longing of a bird in a cage and the need to escape from the chains of racism and oppression. The poem compares the bird's voice to the sky, the wind, and the sun, and urges the reader to join the fight for freedom and justice.
- Summary
- Themes
- Structure and Form
- Literary Devices
- Caged Bird Metaphor
- Analysis, Stanza by Stanza
- Similar Poetry
‘Caged Bird’ by Maya Angelouis an incredibly important poem in which the poet describes the experience of two different birds, one free and one caged. The free bird flies around the wind currents, feeling like the sky belongs to him. On the other hand, the caged bird can barely move in its prison. It’s angry and frustrating. Its wings are clipped, ...
‘Caged Bird’ is filled with powerful themes. These include racial oppression, freedom/captivity, and happiness/sorrow. These themes are all wrapped together in ‘Caged Bird’ through Angelou’s depiction of the two birds, one free and one caged. The caged bird is an extended metaphorfor the Black community in America and worldwide. Angelou is alluding...
‘Caged Bird’ by Maya Angelou is a six-stanza poem that is separated into stanzas that range in length. Angelou chose to write the poem in free verse. This means that there is no single rhyme scheme or metrical pattern that unites all the lines. But, there are some examples of an iambic meter. This adds to the overall musicality of the poem. Iambs a...
Angelou makes use of several literary devices in ‘Caged Bird.’These include but are not limited to: 1. Alliteration: another form of repetition, but one that is solely focused on the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of multiple words. For example, “sun” and “sky” at the end of stanza one and “cage / can” in lines three and four of st...
In Maya Angelou’s ‘Caged Bird,’ the poet uses two bird metaphors. The free bird symbolizes white Americans or all free people who enjoy equal rights. The caged bird is a metaphorfor/symbolizes oppressed Black Americans who are kept captive through racist policies.
Stanza One
In the first stanza, Maya Angelou refers to nature. She describes how “a free bird leaps on the back of the wind.” She describes the bird’s flight against the orange sky. The free bird has the right “to claim the sky.” The way she describes the “orange sun rays” gives the reader an appreciation for the natural beauty of the sky, and her description of howthe bird “dips his wing” helps the reader to appreciate the bird in his natural habitat enjoying his freedom.
Stanza Two
This stanza of ‘Caged Bird’ contrasts sharply with the first. By using the word “but” to begin this stanza, the speaker prepares the reader for this contrast. Then she describes the “bird that stalks his narrow cage.” The toneis immediately and drastically changed from peaceful, satisfied, and joyful to one that is dark, unnerving, and even frustrating. She describes that this caged first “can seldom see through his bars of rage.” While the free bird enjoysthe full sky, the caged bird rarely...
Stanza Three
The third stanza reverts back to the free bird, further cementing the difference between the free bird and the caged bird in the readers’ minds. She writes that a “free bird thinks of another breeze” that he can enjoy the “sighing trees” and be free to find his own food. The tone with which she writes the first and third stanzas so sharply contrasts with the second stanza that readers can feel the difference. The first and third stanzas give the reader a sense of ecstasy and thrill, makingthe...
Readers who enjoyed ‘Caged Bird’ should also consider reading some other Maya Angelou poems. These include: 1. ‘Phenomenal Woman‘ – defies the stereotypes women often face today. It is a poem filled with strength and determination. 2. ‘Still I Rise‘ – describes, through positive and joyful language, a speaker’s allure as a woman. She has irresistib...
A poem that compares the oppression and the freedom of two birds, one free and one caged, using the metaphor of singing and the symbol of the cage. The poem explores the themes of oppression, the African-American experience, and the universal right to freedom.
- The free bird leaps. on the back of the wind. and floats downstream. till the current ends. and dips his wings. in the orange sun rays. and dares to claim the sky.
- But a bird that stalks. down his narrow cage. can seldom see through. his bars of rage. his wings are clipped and. his feet are tied. so he opens his throat to sing.
- The caged bird sings. with fearful trill. of the things unknown. but longed for still. and his tune is heard. on the distant hill. for the caged bird. sings of freedom.
- The free bird thinks of another breeze. and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees. and the fat worms waiting on a dawn bright lawn. and he names the sky his own.
A famous poem by Maya Angelou that expresses the anguish and defiance of a bird in a cage and the longing for freedom. The poem compares the bird's situation to the oppression of African Americans and the need for social change.
A comprehensive guide to Maya Angelou's memoir I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, covering its plot, themes, characters, symbols, and more. Learn about the historical and literary context of the book, the biography of the author, and the poem "On the Pulse of Morning".
